Irving Shipbuilding reports on progress in Canada’s River-class destroyer program

January 20, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Construction of Canada’s future River-class destroyers has reached a new milestone, with early work on the first ship now advancing steadily as the program moves toward its next major phase.

Work on the first vessel is progressing at Irving Shipbuilding, where a key construction milestone was recently achieved with the handling of the initial structural unit. The activity marks continued momentum across the River-class destroyer program, which is set to deliver a new generation of surface combatants for the Royal Canadian Navy.

The shipbuilder reported that it lifted and flipped the first unit for the first River-class destroyer, the future HMCS Fraser.

Preparations are now underway for the next major phase of construction, with the keel-laying of the lead ship expected later this year.

View on Twitter.

The River-class destroyer project, formerly known as the Canadian Surface Combatant program, represents the largest and most complex shipbuilding initiative undertaken in Canada since the Second World War. The vessels are based on BAE Systems’ Type 26 warship design, which is also being constructed for the United Kingdom and Australia.

Designed to deliver advanced combat capability, the ships will be equipped with enhanced underwater sensors, sophisticated radar systems, and modern weapons. A total of 15 River-class destroyers are planned to enter service with the Royal Canadian Navy beginning in the early 2030s, replacing both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class frigates.

Each vessel will measure 151.4 metres in length with a beam of 20.75 metres and will be capable of speeds of up to 27 knots. The ships will have a full-load displacement of approximately 7,800 tonnes and a maximum navigational draught of around eight metres. Designed for long-range operations, the River-class destroyers will have an operational range of approximately 7,000 nautical miles.