The Department of National Defence has initiated the construction of a new facility in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, to facilitate the deployment of the upcoming River-class destroyers by the Royal Canadian Navy.
As part of a fleet modernization effort, Canada is phasing out the retired Iroquois-class destroyers and the existing Halifax-class patrol frigates with 15 newly designed River-class destroyers, to be constructed by Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax.
In an announcement on Monday, the Defence Department highlighted that the new land-based test facility at Hartlen Point will enable the navy to conduct assessments and tests on combat systems before integrating them onto the ships. Defence Minister David McGuinty emphasized the significance of this facility in advancing the River-class destroyer project.
The project is anticipated to generate around 200 employment opportunities until its completion in 2028, with a focus on non-weapon testing activities. The construction at the 10-hectare site, managed by PCL Construction in Dartmouth, commenced in November and was first disclosed in 2021.
Production on Canada’s inaugural River-class destroyer commenced in April, with the federal government estimating a total expenditure of $22.2 billion for building the initial three vessels.
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