Canada Awards $8 Billion Contract to Irving Shipbuilding for New Navy Destroyers

The initial deal funds the first six years of construction for three River-class destroyers, with total costs projected at $22.2 billion.

The Canadian government has signed an $8 billion contract with Irving Shipbuilding to begin construction on three River-class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy.
The project is the largest shipbuilding initiative in Canada since World War II and is expected to create over 5,000 jobs annually across the country.
The first three ships, named HMCS Fraser, Saint-Laurent, and Mackenzie, will feature advanced underwater sensors, radar systems, and modern weaponry, including support for a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.
The River-class destroyers are based on the BAE Systems Type 26 design and are intended to replace Canada’s retired Iroquois-class destroyers and aging Halifax-class frigates.
A new land-based testing facility in Halifax is planned to support the destroyers' development, with construction set to begin this summer and completion expected by 2027.