Canada Begins Construction on New Warship Fleet for Royal Navy, Targeting 2035 Operational Date

 

The Royal Canadian Navy has commenced the construction of a new fleet of warships, with the vessels projected to be operational by 2035, according to service and government officials.

Vice Admiral Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, and Defence Minister Bill Blair announced on Friday that the construction work for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) Project has started at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Irving Shipbuilding will serve as the prime contractor for the project, with Lockheed Martin Canada providing the design based on the BAE Type 26.

This project involves the construction of 15 warships to replace the existing Halifax-class frigates, which the navy will classify as destroyers. “Today, we launch construction on the largest Canadian shipbuilding project since the Second World War, marking a historic milestone for the Royal Canadian Navy,” Blair stated at a news conference in Halifax.

The construction timeline for the CSC is extensive, with the first ship expected to be delivered in the early 2030s, followed by a testing phase. Consequently, the ship will not be operational until 2035. The schedule anticipates the delivery of nine CSC ships by 2040, with the final vessel arriving in 2050.

A senior government official emphasized the urgency of acquiring the new ships due to ongoing maintenance issues with the aging Halifax-class frigates. The official also reassured that technological advancements would be incorporated over time, enhancing the ships' capabilities. Upgrades for the Halifax-class frigates are also planned, although specific details and costs were not provided.

Former assistant deputy minister for materiel at National Defence, Alan Williams, expressed concerns over the incomplete CSC design and undetermined final budget, warning that the lengthy delivery schedule could lead to complications. He noted that the combined costs of the CSC, F-35 procurement, and modernization of NORAD systems might limit funds for other major procurements.

The Department of National Defence has budgeted the CSC project between CAD $56-60 billion, but a 2022 report by Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux estimated the cost at CAD $84 billion. A final cost figure is expected by late 2024 or early 2025.

The initial construction phase will allow Irving workers to develop and test building techniques for the ships. An implementation contract for the project is expected to be signed by the end of the year, allowing for full-rate production to begin in 2025.

Vice Admiral Topshee described the commencement of initial work on the CSC as “a clear sign of tangible progress towards our future fleet.”