L3Harris to provide communications for new Canadian ships
With a unit cost of US$2.7 billion, the first CSC ship will be expected to be delivered by the late 2020s. (Image: BAE Systems)
The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project, part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, will see the replacement of Iroquois-class destroyers and Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates under a design contract awarded to Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems in February 2019.
L3Harris has been contracted to provide the Integrated Communications System (ICS) for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), a 15-strong fleet designed to replace destroyers and patrol frigates.
The CSC programme has been led by Iriving Shipbuilding along with Lockheed Martin, which awarded the L3Harris contract, and BAE Systems. The consortium said initial deliveries of the first three ships was slated to commence in 2027.
The ships will be based on the Type 26 with design changes estimated at 10%, largely to accommodate the Lockheed Martin Canada combat system.
The total programme has been valued at C$69.8 billion ($52.7 billion) over 26 years and will be Canada’s largest shipbuilding programme in eight decades, as well as marking the country’s largest single defence procurement.
The ICS has been designed to enhance situational awareness, operational efficiency and safety aboard RCN vessels, aligning with the ship’s primary mission objectives and contributing to overall effectiveness in maritime operations.
In the past few years, several contracts have been placed for CSC subsystems such as to Leonardo for four OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano naval guns, MBDA for Sea Ceptor air defence weapon system and Ultra Electronics Maritime Sonar Systems for S2150-C Hull-Mounted Sonar.
L3Harris will be exhibiting at Eurosatory 2024 in Paris on 17–21 June.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?]()
As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?
The adaptable design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, already selected by the UK Royal Navy and Poland, has led to more orders from Indonesia while other countries continue to weigh it up.
-
![Does the increase in US firepower in the Middle East indicate another Iran strike?]()
Does the increase in US firepower in the Middle East indicate another Iran strike?
The presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf means additional naval and aerial capabilities, which provides the US with multiple attacking options.
-
![US Navy to invest more than $700 million in laser-related R&D efforts in FY2026]()
US Navy to invest more than $700 million in laser-related R&D efforts in FY2026
The US Navy’s acceleration of its laser weapon development initiatives reflects a decisive shift towards ultimately having a “laser on every ship” across tomorrow’s surface fleet.
