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Kongsberg Maritime has been awarded a contract to supply propellers for Canada’s new fleet of Type 26-based River Class destroyers, a cornerstone of the country’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Under the agreement with Irving Shipbuilding, Kongsberg will deliver twin fixed built propellers for each of the first three vessels in the program, with deliveries commencing in 2028. The wider program will see 15 ships built over two decades, replacing the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) ageing Halifax Class frigates, which have been in service since the early 1990s.
The River Class is being positioned as one of the world’s most advanced surface combatants. Equipped for anti-submarine warfare, air defence and general purpose missions, the new fleet will significantly enhance Canada’s maritime reach and interoperability with key allies including the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Björn ten Eicken, vice president – naval at Kongsberg Maritime, said the contract builds on the company’s long record of supporting major naval programs worldwide.
“We have a proud history of supplying mission-critical technology to some of the world’s most important naval programs, and we’re delighted to have been selected by Irving Shipbuilding Inc to supply our proven technology to the River Class destroyer program,” ten Eicken said.
“The River Class platform is a highly capable and versatile warship and we look forward to working with Irving Shipbuilding and the Royal Canadian Navy as propellers and other equipment are installed on this exciting project.”
This latest deal follows earlier contracts signed last year between Kongsberg and Irving Shipbuilding to supply a suite of equipment for the program, including fin stabilisers, steering gear, rudders, replenishment-at-sea systems and technical documentation.
With construction expected to extend into the 2040s, the River Class program represents the largest naval procurement in Canadian history, aimed at ensuring the RCN remains a capable blue-water force for decades to come.
The River Class destroyers are based on the BAE Systems Type 26 Global Combat Ship being built for the Royal Navy and the base design for Australia’s Hunter Class frigate fleet, with the three nations serving as the “launch” customers for the Global Combat Ship, with Norway recently signing a multibillion dollar, multi-year deal to purchase Type 26 ships from the United Kingdom
