Canadian surface combatant

Overview

The Canadian surface combatant (CSC) project, under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, will replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates with a single class of ship capable of meeting multiple threats on both the open ocean and the highly complex coastal environment. The CSC project is the largest and most complex shipbuilding initiative in Canada since World War II.

The CSC ships will be able to conduct a broad range of tasks, in various scenarios, including:

decisive combat power at sea and support during land operations
counter-piracy, counterterrorism, interdiction and embargo operations for medium intensity operations
the delivery of humanitarian aid, search and rescue, and law and sovereignty enforcement for regional engagements

The CSC project supports National Defence’s delivery of Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. It also delivers on other important National Shipbuilding Strategy priorities, such as providing social and economic benefits for Canada through its Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy.

Project at a glance

Shipyard: Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Project status: Design phase
Number of vessels to be built: 15
Project budget: $56 to $60 billion
Start of construction activities: 2024
First vessel delivery: Early 2030s

Current status

The project is currently in the definition (design) phase. The design team from Lockheed Martin Canada (LMC) was competitively selected to provide the CSC design, which is based on BAE’s Type 26 frigate. The design team, along with ISI, continues to develop the final design for the CSC. In addition, work on developing the implementation contract for ship construction continues to advance.

The year ahead

ISI and LMC will continue the design work for Canada’s future surface combatant to support the start of construction activities in 2024
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with its partners, continues to prepare for the CSC implementation contract, with an estimated contract award date in late 2024 to early 2025

Progress of the project

October 2016: The CSC request for proposals (RFP) was released
October 2017: The amended RFP was released
July 2018: All bidders submitted final proposals, including financial bids and cured technical bids
October 19, 2018: Preferred bidder was identified
February 7, 2019: The design and design team contract was awarded to ISI and LMC
August 8, 2023: Canada announced an investment in the CSC project’s infrastructure at ISI
- The investment is expected to create or maintain over 800 jobs annually across various industries in Canada during the work period

News

Government of Canada announces investment in shipbuilding infrastructure for the Canadian surface combatant (August 8, 2023)
Economic benefits from the Canadian surface combatant project (February 8, 2019)
Government of Canada selects warship design for Canadian surface combatants (February 8, 2019)
Government of Canada delivers on its commitment to the Navy by announcing next steps in fleet procurement (October 19, 2018)
Update on the evaluation process of the Canadian surface combatant request for proposals (August 13, 2018)
Canadian surface combatant request for proposals closes (November 30, 2017)
Establishment of a closing date for the Canadian surface combatant request for proposals (September 22, 2017)
Competitive process launched to select design of Canadian surface combatant (October 27, 2016)

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