Overview
- The contract, announced Sunday, May 31, 2026, has Lockheed Martin Canada awarding Thales Canada the S2087 towed‑array sonar for Royal Canadian Navy River‑class destroyers.
- The S2087 is a low‑frequency variable‑depth towed array that places hydrophone sensors behind a ship to detect quiet submarines at long range in both deep ocean and shallow coastal waters.
- With Canada now the 20th CAPTAS operator, the choice aligns its sensors with those used by the British and Australian fleets and improves data sharing for Five Eyes and NATO anti‑submarine operations.
- Thales and Lockheed say the deal follows Canada’s Build‑Partner‑Buy approach and includes commitments to work with Canadian industry on maintenance, upgrades, and lifecycle support to preserve sovereign sustainment.
- Officials describe the procurement as a response to rising submarine activity and greater Arctic access, and they say the sonar will strengthen maritime surveillance, fleet serviceability goals, and jobs in Canada’s defence supply chain.