Halifax frigates to get sensor upgrades
General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada has received two contracts totalling $186 million to upgrade and maintain the underwater sensors installed on the Royal Canadian Navy’s modernised Halifax-class frigates, the Canada Department of National Defence announced on 1 February.
The first contract is worth $103 million and includes the acquisition and upgrade for the first six Halifax-class frigates. The second is an $83 million in-service support contract that will maintain and sustain upgraded suites for up to 23 years, if all options are exercised.
The Halifax-class frigate sonar detects, locates and tracks surface and sub-surface threats through the continuous monitoring and collection of information via high-tech sensors. The upgrade will enhance the frigates’ ability to detect quieter targets at increased ranges.
The first installation of the upgraded underwater warfare suite is expected to be complete in 2021 and operational in 2022.
The contracts also include options to upgrade all twelve Halifax-class frigates, which would bring the acquisition portion to $170 million.
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