Royal Canadian Navy advances with the construction of its first River-class destroyer
Rendering of a River-class vessel. (Photo: Irving Shipbuilding Inc)
Scheduled for delivery by 2033, HMCS Fraser will be a major surface component of the Canadian maritime combat power.
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Irving Shipbuilding Inc (ISI) have started the construction of the first River-class destroyer (RCD), HMCS Fraser, after the award in March of the C$8 billion (US$5.8 billion) full-rate production contract to cover the building of the initial batch of three new vessels.
“Based on the current estimates, we expect first ship delivery approximately in 2032/33, with a current goal of delivery of all 15 RCD ships by 2050,” an official spokesperson for the Canadian Department for National Defence (DND) told Shephard.
According to the DND, the RCDs will be the country’s “major
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Babcock onshores 85% of Canada’s submarine supply chain as it eyes future CPSP programme]()
Babcock onshores 85% of Canada’s submarine supply chain as it eyes future CPSP programme
By moving most of the Royal Canadian Navy’s submarine supply chain into Canada, Babcock Canada is driving to strengthen sovereign sustainment capabilities while preparing to compete to maintain the future Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.
-
![Naval primes dive into an underwater acquisition gold rush]()
Naval primes dive into an underwater acquisition gold rush
A cluster of acquisitions by Fincantieri, Thales, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall points to a race to secure underwater warfare, autonomy and sensing capability.
-
![India’s mine countermeasure drive triggers rush of new partnerships]()
India’s mine countermeasure drive triggers rush of new partnerships
Parallel procurement pathways for crewed mine countermeasure vessels and uncrewed systems underline a shift towards next-generation mine warfare for the Indian Navy.
