BAE Systems and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. Sign Contract for Next Phase of Canada’s River-Class Destroyer Program

17 March 2025

(Image credit: BAE Systems)

A contract has been signed between BAE Systems and Canada’s Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI), marking the start of the next major phase of the River-class destroyer program.

It follows the Canadian Government’s award of an implementation contract to ISI for the construction and delivery of the first three of 15 planned ships as well as the development and delivery of training, spares and maintenance to support the ships in service.

The River-class destroyer program is the largest and most complex shipbuilding effort undertaken in Canada since the Second World War. It will provide decisive combat power for operations at sea and support joint-force operations ashore. The River-class will also support missions conducted, including counter-piracy, counterterrorism, intelligence and surveillance, humanitarian assistance, research, and rescue.

BAE Systems has designed the ship to meet the Royal Canadian Navy’s specific requirements and, under this new contract, will provide support and consultancy services throughout the build phase. This will ensure that ISI benefits from the expertise and learning gained across the UK’s Type 26 and Australia’s Hunter class programs.

“This contract marks a significant moment for the River-class destroyer program, and I’m hugely proud of our team for their collective hard work and determination in bringing us to this point. As we move into this next phase, our expertise and collaboration with our industry partners will be key to delivering a world-class capability for Canada. Our team will play a crucial role in ensuring the successful delivery of the first batch of three ships, and we’re looking forward to the journey ahead,” said Anderson Smith, International Programs Director, BAE Systems.

“This is a major milestone for Irving Shipbuilding and for Canada. This contract validates more than a decade of hard work by industry and government and provides stability for the hard-working men and women who design, build, and maintain Canada’s surface fleet,” said Dirk Lesko, President of Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

With the UK, Australia, and Canada all selecting the Global Combat Ship design, this collaborative program spans three nations and a potential 29-ship fleet.