L3Harris has accepted two contracts to provide management and control systems for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Surface Combatant (CSC) fleet.
The CSC program was conceptualized in 2011 to replace the service’s existing Iroquois-class guided missile destroyers and Halifax-class frigates.
Nova Scotia-based Irving Shipbuilding won the deal to construct up to 15 CSC ships starting in 2024.
Integrated Platform Management System
Under the latest agreements, L3Harris will support the prime contractor by manufacturing and installing the company’s proprietary Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) into the CSCs.
The IPMS is a monitoring and control capability that enables coordination across a vessel’s electrical functions, ship propulsion, auxiliaries, damage control machinery, and power supply.
It can integrate additional technologies such as onboard training, digital closed circuit screens, battle damage control, and sustainment support systems.
L3Harris will also supply a Control & Instrumentation system to complement the IPMS platform.
Work for the contracts will be held at the company’s center in Montreal. The project is expected to support skilled jobs in the city, including roles in project management, system engineering, procurement, technical tasks, quality assurance, and customer support.
“The system provides navy vessels with real-time monitoring and reliable and effective communication capabilities, which in turn enhances safety, operational efficiency and mission success,” L3Harris Maritime International Business Development Director Manuel Perez remarked.
“Dating back to the 1980s, L3Harris was the first to implement the concept of an IPMS on the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax Frigate Program.”
“Since then, we have continued to expand the platform’s capability and now offer one of the most comprehensive and advanced Integrated Platform Management Systems available on the market today.”
Irving wrote that the latest deal will contribute 314 million Canadian dollars ($229.3 million) in contracts and investments to the region.
The Canadian Surface Combatant
The Royal Canadian Navy’s CSC will have a length of 151.4 meters (496.9 feet) and a beam of 20.75 meters (68.1 feet).
It will be powered by diesel-electric and gas engines for a top speed of 27 knots (50 kilometers/31 miles per hour) and a range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 kilometers).
The ship will have accommodations for up to 210 personnel, a flight deck for helicopters such as the CH-47 Chinook and CH-148 Cyclone, drones and medical facilities, as well as support for sea containers and support boats.
The vessel will be fitted with torpedoes, missiles, naval guns, machine guns, and autocannons.
