The River-class destroyer is needed to address the aging and retiring fleet of Iroquois and Halifax-class warships, whose capabilities no longer meet current and future operational demands. These new ships will ensure Canada maintains a credible naval presence to support national defence, international alliances, and emerging security challenges, particularly in strategic regions like the Indo-Pacific and the Arctic.
On this week’s Expert Series podcast, Tim Addison, Director of Naval Affairs, NAC & President, Ottawa Branch, discusses the River Class Destroyer’s intended role in international deployments and sea control missions, the integration of advanced sensors and an upgraded command and control system including cooperative engagement capabilities, the potential to adapt these systems for use in other naval and Coast Guard assets, the implications of integrating the Canadian Coast Guard under the Department of National Defence, the political and financial challenges of the procurement process including cost estimation and risk of politicization, the significance of the National Shipbuilding Strategy in maintaining industrial capacity and economic benefits, and the expected technical and operational challenges associated with building Canada’s most complex warship to date. Addison’s analysis raises questions about whether Canada’s political institutions, industrial base, and public awareness are ready to support and sustain a 21st-century navy in an increasingly unstable world.
