A New Lens on Canada’s Naval Future: L3Harris Secures Key Contract for River-Class Destroyers

Canada’s shipbuilding renaissance under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) has just taken another decisive step forward. Irving Shipbuilding has awarded L3Harris a major contract to deliver the Visual Surveillance System (VSS) for the River-class destroyer (RCD) fleet—Canada’s largest and most complex shipbuilding program to date.

This milestone builds on L3Harris’ earlier role in providing the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) and Control & Instrumentation, bringing the company’s total contract value for the first three destroyers to more than $170 million. Together, these systems will form the digital nerve centre of the ships that will replace the Halifax-class frigates and become the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy’s combat fleet.

Building the Future Fleet

Construction of the first three River-class destroyers began in April, marking the full-rate production phase of a fleet that will shape Canada’s naval power for decades. Designed with advanced technologies, these ships will ensure that the Royal Canadian Navy remains ready to meet defence and security challenges at home and abroad.

The VSS adds a crucial dimension to that capability. Combining cameras, sensors, and control units into a unified network, the system provides real-time situational awareness and diagnostics across the vessel. Its integration with the IPMS ensures seamless ship-wide automation—even under degraded communications conditions. For naval operations, that means persistent awareness and survivability across uncrewed, minimally crewed, or fully crewed platforms.

Quebec at the Core

Development and manufacturing of the VSS will take place at L3Harris’ Montreal facility, cementing Quebec’s position as a critical hub in Canada’s defence-industrial base. The contract will generate new opportunities in software, electrical, and mechanical engineering while supporting workforce growth in advanced digital and automation disciplines that bridge traditional seamanship with 21st-century technology.

This work adds to the $900 million in NSS contracts and investments already flowing into Quebec, strengthening local supply chains and positioning the province as a leader in next-generation naval innovation.

More than a Contract: A National Strategy

“This contract is about much more than technology: it means more jobs here at home in Quebec, more training for our people, and more opportunities for Canadian suppliers,” says Manuel Perez, Director Maritime International Business Development, L3Harris. “From our delivery of the original IPMS on the Halifax-class fleet back in the 1980s, through to our work today, L3Harris is committed to delivering world-class capabilities and innovation for Canada’s Navy while creating economic opportunities here at home.”

The River-class destroyer program is not just about ships—it’s about re-establishing Canada’s shipbuilding industry as a driver of national prosperity. L3Harris is one of nearly 700 Canadian organizations benefitting from the NSS, which has become a catalyst for economic growth, skills development, and technological advancement nationwide.

The VSS contract reflects the Strategy’s twin objectives: to equip Canada’s Navy with world-class capabilities while creating lasting economic benefits for Canadian communities. From the Halifax waterfront to Montreal’s engineering labs, the River-class destroyers are becoming a truly national project.

“Every contract under the National Shipbuilding Strategy strengthens our domestic shipbuilding industry and a growing Canadian supply chain now stretching from coast-to-coast,” says Lee Fromson, Vice President, Supply Chain and Quality, Irving Shipbuilding. “We’re pleased to continue our strong partnership with L3Harris through this contract, which will help grow high-skilled careers and build the technological capacity needed to support our Navy for decades to come.”