Canada Awards C$2 Billion Frigate Upgrade Contracts

Canada Awards C$2 Billion Frigate Upgrade Contracts (NSI News Source Info) GATINEAU - November 10, 2008: The Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Honourable Christian Paradis, and the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced that the Government of Canada awarded two long-term contracts to Lockheed Martin Canada for the Combat Systems Integration (CSI) Design and Build and In-Service Support elements of the modernization of Canada’s 12 Halifax Class Navy frigates. “We are committed to supporting the Canadian Forces and determined to provide them with the best equipment available to do their jobs,” said Minister Paradis. “Through industrial regional benefits, this contract will also benefit the economy at a time of global economic uncertainty.” “The Conservative government considers the defence of Canada’s territorial waters a priority,” said Minister MacKay. “The modernization of our Navy frigates will ensure that our sailors are provided with first-class ships in order to defend Canada and promote Canadian interests abroad." The CSI contract, valued at approximately $1.4 billion, is for upgrading the command and control systems, redesigning the operations room and reconfiguring the ships’ mast to accommodate a new radar suite for Canada’s 12 frigates. The In-Service Support contract is valued at approximately $600 million and will ensure long-term support of the Combat Systems. The Halifax Class frigates were built in early 1990 and now require upgrades and systems modernization, particularly in the areas of marine engineering, command, control and combat systems.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Announcing its intention to award the two contracts described above, the Canadian government on Sept. 5, 2008 had said that:

“Today’s announcement is part of an overall $3.1 billion program to modernize the Halifax Class Frigates which involves the following five key contracts:

--Two contracts totalling approximately $2 billion to be awarded to Lockheed Martin (as per today’s announcement): The Combat Systems Integration contract, and the Command & Control System In-Service Support contract.

--Two Multi-ship Refit contracts totalling $900 million, awarded to Halifax Shipyards and Victoria Shipyards in March 2008.

--The Platform System Design Agent contract valued at $150 million, awarded to Fleetway Inc. in October 2006. The contractor will be required to provide industrial benefits equal to 100 per cent of the total value of the contract.”)