Construction Begins for Canada’s New Warship Fleet – the River Class Destroyers
From: National Defence

News release
June 28, 2024 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, joined by Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Dirk Lesko, President of Irving Shipbuilding Inc., celebrated the start of construction activities for Canada’s new fleet of Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC).

Minister Blair and Vice-Admiral Topshee also announced that the new fleet of warships will be known as River-class destroyers, and the first three ships will be named His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Fraser, Saint-Laurent, and Mackenzie.

Ship names are chosen carefully, and they tell the story of the RCN. Not only are these three ships named after Canada’s most important waterways that reach the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans, they are also a tribute to previous Canadian warships with the same names – ships that made heroic wartime contributions and represented cutting-edge technological innovation. The RCN intends to foster a sense of pride in our sailors by connecting these ships to Canada’s maritime heritage.

The CSC project is the largest and most complex shipbuilding initiative in Canada since the Second World War and represents a historic investment into the recapitalization of the RCN’s surface fleet. This project will equip the RCN with new, state-of-the-art warships to bolster Canada’s naval capabilities at home, and abroad, for decades to come. The River-class will be Canada’s major component of maritime combat power, enabling us to continue to monitor and defend our own coastal waters, and contribute significantly to international naval operations alongside our Allies.

Today marked the start of construction on the production test module (PTM), through which the Government of Canada and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. will be able to test and streamline processes, and implement lessons learned into the build process, to enable the start of full rate production in 2025. Delivery of the first River-class destroyer, HMCS Fraser, is expected in the early 2030s, with the final ship expected by 2050.

The CSC project will support sustainable growth in Canada’s marine supply chain. The build phase of CSC will create and/or maintain approximately 10,800 jobs annually throughout the 25-year construction period across the country. The design phase of the project will create and/or maintain approximately 5,000 Canadian jobs annually across the economy. In total, this project will generate at least $40 billion in cumulative Gross Domestic Product.

As indicated in our renewed vision for defence, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is committed to a renewed relationship with Canada’s defence industry, based on clarity, certainty, and long-term partnership. The CSC project is an excellent example of how the Government of Canada is investing in Canada’s domestic shipbuilding industry, while also equipping the RCN with a fleet of modern and effective ships to support operations well into the future.

The CSC is based on BAE Systems’ Type 26 warship design being built by the United Kingdom and Australia. The ships will have enhanced underwater sensors, state-of-the-art radar, and modern weapons.

The official NATO Ship Designator for the River-class warship will be DDGH – a destroyer (DD), guided (G) missile, helicopter (H) capable. As the RCN’s next generation combat ship, it replaces both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class frigates. As a powerful and multi-functional ship, the River-class warship is by definition a destroyer: a fast, manoeuvrable, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine long-endurance warship, which can escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or carrier battle group and defend them against a wide range of general threats.
 

This is a rendering of the proposed River Class destroyer. Click on image to enlarge. (RCN image)

RIVER CLASS DESTROYER FACT LISTING  (Modified 2024-06-28)

SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 151.4 metres
Beam: 20.75 metres
Speed: 27 knots
Ships in class:15 (proposed)
Max Displacement: 8080 tonnes
Max Navigational Draught: ~8m
Range: 7000 nautical miles

AMENITIES
Accommodations: 210
Medical Facilities
Shipboard Wi-Fi
Dedicated Gym/Fitness Facilities

ELECTRONIC WARFARE & COUNTERMEASURES SUITE

* Laser Warning and Countermeasures System  (need photo and some data)

* NULKA  The Nulka decoy system is an integral part of the ship self defense system against active RF anti-ship
missile attacks on most ships. (Need photo and some data)

* Radar/Radio ESM Frequency Identification.  SEWIP Blk II [Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program]  The SEWIP (AN/SLQ-32) is an electronic support system that detects, identifies, and tracks adversary anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) and targeting radars. SEWIP (AN/SLQ 32 V6) Block 2 incorporates a new antenna system, enhanced processing capabilities, and a High Gain High Sensitivity subsystem to improve battlefield situational awareness. SEWIP Block 2 also added a Soft Kill Coordination System to improve decoy employment and combat system soft kill integration.

SEWIP operator's console. (Image via Lockheed Martin)

SEWIP sensor/antenna. (Image via Naval News)

SURVEILLANCE

* Solid State 3D Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar.
* Solid State Target Illuminator;
* Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems;

WEAPON SENSORS

* Solid State 3D Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar – LM SPY-7
 SPY-7 has the ability to detect, track and engage sophisticated ballistic missile and advanced air threats. It engages multiple targets simultaneously with proven interceptors.
* Navigation Radars – X and  S Band
* Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems
* Underwater Warfare Sensors: Includes towed low-frequency active and passive sonar, hull-mounted sonar (Ultra Electronics Sonar S2150-C), and sonobuoy processing systems.
*- Countermeasures: Towed torpedo countermeasures (Ultra Electronics SEA SENTOR S21700) and expendable acoustic countermeasures. The S-21700 replaces the AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed decoy system.

AVIATION ASSETS

1 x CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter
Space for embarking Remotely Piloted Systems
Helo Hauldown and Traverse System – Indal Technologies Inc.

COMMAND & CONTROL

* Combat Management System – AEGIS Combat System with LMC CTI

LMC CTI refers to a variant of Lockheed Martin Canada’s CMS 330 combat management system that has been adapted for integration with the Aegis Combat System. In this configuration, “CTI” stands for Canadian Tactical Interface. This enhanced system is designed for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) ships, where it supports improved sensor integration, decision-making, and interoperability across the fleet.

Key points include:

CMS 330 Foundation: The base system, CMS 330, is a modern combat management system used to integrate a ship’s sensors, weapons, and communication systems.

Canadian Tactical Interface (CTI): The CTI variant is being fitted with Lockheed Martin’s Aegis system, providing additional layers of air defense and enhanced command-and-control capabilities.

Operational Benefits: This integration aims to deliver a common operational picture across various ship platforms, reduce operator workload, and streamline the training and sustainment processes for Canadian naval forces.

* USN Cooperative Engagement Capability – Sensor Netting
* Integrated Cyber Defence System
* Integrated Bridge and Navigation System – OSI
* Internal and External Communication Suite – L3 Harris

The United States Navy Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), which is a real-time sensor netting system that enables high quality situational awareness and enhance anti-air warfare capability. A complete electronic warfare and countermeasures suite;

WEAPONS (on the stern)

Lightweight Torpedoes MK54 & Twin Launch Tubes
Close-In Air Defence System – Rolling Airframe Missile
2 x Stabilized Rapid Fire 30mm Naval Gun System
Surface-to-Surface Anti-Ship Missile – Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile

WEAPONS  (on the bow)

Missile Vertical Launch System 24 Cells – LMC MK 41
Area Air Defence Missiles – Raytheon Standard Missile 2
Point Defence Missiles – Raytheon Evolved Sea Sparrow
Naval Fires Support – Raytheon Tomahawk
Main Gun System – 127mm Leonardo Vulcano
Bow-mounted sonar

UNDERWATER WEAPONS

Towed low frequency active and passive sonar, lightweight torpedoes and decoys;

RECONFIGURABLE MISSION & BOAT BAYS

1 x Rescue Boat – 9 metres
2 x Multi-Role Boats – 9-12 metres
Mission Bay Handling System – Rolls Royce
Modular Mission Support Capacity – Sea Container, Vehicles, Boats

PROPULSION & POWER GENERATION

Combined Diesel-Electric or Gas Propulsion System (CODLOG)
2 x Electric Motors – GE
1 x Gas Turbine – Rolls Royce MT 30
4 x Diesel Generators – Rolls Royce MTU
Integrated Platform Management System – L3 Harris

INTEGRATED UNDERWATER WARFARE SYSTEM

Towed Low Frequency Active & Passive Sonar – Ultra Electronics
Hull-Mounted Sonar – Ultra Electronics Sonar S2150
Towed Torpedo Countermeasures – Ultra Electronics SEA SENTOR S21700
Sonobuoy Processing System – General Dynamic Mission Systems (GDMS)
Expendable Acoustic Countermeasures

These ships will be constructed in the order shown in the table below. The fifteenth and last ship in the class is expected to be completed in 2050. The River class (type 26) will replace both the (retired) Iroquois-class destroyers and the current Halifax-class frigates.

 At this time, the NATO Ship Designator for the River-class warship will be DDGH meaning  destroyer (DD), guided (G) missile, helicopter (H) capable. Pennant numbers will be announced some time later.

A Youtube video about the River Class is available here.

Credits and References:

1) https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2024/06/
construction-begins-for-canadas-new-warship-fleet--the-river-class-destroyers.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMT
AAAR3pAMndGuNwL9Lj3vKtwE8UvLhgxPPYDXtAcQWeEwhEQiH4H2QXZYaT10s_aem_2vaKU_m36fyT5bk3um3e4g
2) https://www.canada.ca/en/navy/corporate/fleet-units/surface/river-class-destroyer/fact-sheet.html
3) https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/canada-starts-construction-on-csc-river-class-destroyers/
4) SEWIP https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2021/navy/2021sewip.pdf?ver=AEAxVk__uL1acP8tkawabw%3D%3D
5) SEWIP  antenna  https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/10/lockheed-martin-to-provide-sewip-block-2-to-japan/(
(6) CTI information via Chatfpt
(7) Uktra Electronics
 
 

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