Unlike the UK and Australia, Canada’s development of the UK-origin Type 26 design will see it produce the new class of naval warships classified as destroyers, rather than their Commonwealth allies’ respective City- and Hunter-class frigates.
Canada’s future River-class destroyers will have the same length and width of BAE Systems’ original Type 26 design. So, what makes Canada’s Type 26 iteration a destroyer, instead of a frigate?
To find out why, Naval Technology spoke with Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND).
Formerly the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC), the River-class destroyers, also known as the acronym RCD by the DND, will replace the capabilities found in the four retired Iroquois-class destroyers and the 12 Halifax-class frigates within a single “combat capable” design.
The RCD will be able to meet “multiple threats on both the open ocean and in the highly complex coastal environment”, a DND spokesperson told Naval Technology.
Regarding the ‘destroyer’ designation, the DND said that this was determined based on capabilities and its likely employment.
“While the RCD is based on BAE Systems’ Type 26 warship design being built by the United Kingdom and a variant of which is being built for Australia as the Hunter-class frigate, the RCD has wide-area air defence capability among other differences.
“Furthermore, the River Class Destroyer (RCD) meets the ‘destroyer category’ as defined in Nato publication STANAG 1166 MAROPS.”
STANAG 1166 is a Nato-level ship designator system, intended to categorise warships into types, depending on capabilities. The official Nato Ship Designator for the River-class will be DDGH – a destroyer (DD), guided (G) missile, helicopter (H) capable.
“As a powerful and multi-functional ship, the River-class warship is by definition a destroyer: a fast, manoeuverable, 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,” the DND spokesperson added.
Canada’s River-class DDGH: in data
C$22.2bn bill for first three River-class DDGH
On 17 March, BAE Systems stated that a contract had been signed between the company and Irving Shipbuilding, marking the start of the next major phase on the River-class destroyer programme.
It follows the Canadian Government’s award of an implementation contract to Irving Shipbuilding 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.
Listed in the roles expected to be undertaken, BAE Systems said the River class would provide “decisive combat power” at sea and support joint force operations ashore. Other missions would include counter-piracy, counterterrorism, intelligence and surveillance, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue.
The announcement followed an earlier March statement from the Canadian government on the award of an implementation contract to Irving Shipbuilding. Valued at C$8bn ($5.56bn) including taxes, the initial contract covers the first six years of construction, delivering the first three ships along with the necessary training, spares, and maintenance support.
Following analysis, the cost to construct and deliver the first three ships is estimated at C$22.2bn, excluding taxes. The RCD project is projected to contribute C$719.3m annually to Canada’s GDP and sustain or create 5,250 jobs each year from 2025 to 2039.
In July 2024, Irving Shipbuilding commenced construction of the production test module for the Canadian Surface Combatant, now known as the River-class DDGH.
The names of the first three River class DDGH are due to be HMCS Fraser, HMCS Saint-Laurent, and HMCS Mackenzie.
