Overview
- Irving Shipyard in Halifax held a ceremonial keel‑laying for the first River‑class destroyer on Friday, June 12, 2026, marking the formal start of production for the 15‑ship program.
- The future HMCS Fraser will begin full production after earlier test‑module work and is slated to enter service in the early 2030s, with the government projecting nine ships by 2040 and all 15 completed by 2050.
- Royal Canadian Navy commander Vice‑Admiral Angus Topshee said the new ships will carry space‑capable radar, long‑range missiles and full anti‑submarine warfare systems to provide integrated air and missile defence.
- Irving was awarded the initial contracts, including an $8 billion implementation contract in March 2025 for early construction, and officials estimate the RCD program will cost $56–60 billion while supporting thousands of domestic jobs and economic activity.
- The keel‑laying ceremony included traditional coin welding and came as Defence leaders cited recent retirements of older destroyers as a reason to try to speed up deliveries, so observers should watch future production rates and batch delivery schedules.