In Canada, the start of construction activities on the new Canadian surface combatant ships (CSC), which will be known as River-class destroyers, was celebrated in Halifax.
The first three ships will be called His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Fraser, Saint-Laurent and Mackenzie and a total of fifteen units are expected to be built.
The CSC project is the largest and most complex shipbuilding initiative in Canada since the Second World War and represents a historic investment in the recapitalization of the RCN’s surface fleet.
This project will equip the RCN with new state-of-the-art warships to strengthen Canada’s naval capabilities for decades to come. The River class will be the primary component of Canada’s maritime combat power, enabling it to continue to monitor and defend coastal waters and contribute significantly to international naval operations alongside Allies.
Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is scheduled to begin full-rate production in 2025. Delivery of the first River-class destroyer, HMCS Fraser is scheduled for the early 2030s, while the final ship (the fifteenth) is scheduled for 2050.
The CSC is based on the BAE Systems Type 26 warship design, currently being built in the UK and Australia. The ships will be equipped with improved underwater sensors, cutting-edge radar and modern weapons.
The official NATO designation for the River-class warship will be DDGH, meaning a destroyer (DD), guided missile (G), helicopter (H). As the RCN’s next-generation combat ship, she replaces both the long-decommissioned Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class frigates still in service.
The River-class DDGHs will have an light displacement of 8,000 tonnes, a length of 151.4 metres, a beam of 20.75 metres, an operating draft of 8 metres and will have the capacity to accommodate up to 210 crew members.
Characteristics of the River class DDGH
The ships will reach a maximum speed of approximately 27 knots and will have a range of 7,000 nautical miles thanks to the Rolls Royce MT30 gas turbine and two General Electric electric motors (CODLOG or COmbined Diesel eLectric Or Gas architecture), together with four MTU diesel generators.
The main sensor will be a LM SPY-7 solid-state AESA 3D radar and there will be S- and X-band navigation radars in addition to the electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) surveillance suite and a Nulka electronic warfare system for protection against anti-ship missiles.
The combat command and management system will be of the Aegis type that will be integrated with the USN Cooperative Engagement Capability-Sensor Netting, with a cyber defense system, with a navigation system and with the internal and external protected communications system.
The River class will feature S2150 bow-mounted sonar, Ultra Electronics low-frequency towed active and passive sonars, Sea Sentor S2170 torpedo countermeasures system, as well as a flight deck and hangar sized for the operation of a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter plus space to carry Remotely Piloted Systems.
Armament will consist of a 24-cell Mk 41 VLS vertical launch missile system for Standard SM-2 and ESSM surface-to-air missiles, as well as Tomahawk precision long-range attack cruise missiles.
On board will be installed two quadruple launchers for Naval Strike Missiles, a RIM-116 RAM launcher for point defense, a Leonardo 127/62 mm LW cannon, two stabilized 30 mm Rapid Fire systems and two twin torpedo launchers for deployable Mk 54 torpedoes also from the CH-148 Cyclone.
Finally, a multifunctional bay is planned that can be reconfigured depending on the mission, capable of hosting boats (in addition to the 9-metre rescue vessel and the two 9-12 metre Multi Role RHIBs supplied), naval containers and vehicles.
Source and images @Canadian Ministry of Defense
