Electronic defence upgrades for Canada’s warships worth $115.2 million were announced Friday by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan from the stern of HMCS Vancouver docked at CFB Esquimalt. “Our ships deploy around the world whether it’s for humanitarian reasons, maintaining a presence or conducting operations with NATO,” said Sajjan. “We want to make sure our people are protected.
“Our ships and our sailors can rely upon these systems to keep them safe and enable them to do their missions,” he said to sailors and media on Vancouver’s rear deck.
Sajjan announced two contracts to better equip the Royal Canadian Navy’s 12 frigates:
• $94.2 million with Lockheed Martin Canada to maintain and overhaul a system that jams radio signals used by missiles to navigate to their targets. Called the Reprogrammable Advance Multimode Shipboard Electronic Countermeasures System, RAMSES, the system will be operational into the 2030s.
• $21.1 million to Rheinmetall Canada to install a third decoy launcher on the ships to better distract and deflect inbound missiles. The Multi Ammunition Softkill System, MASS, is effective against missiles guided by radio frequencies, laser and heat sensors. A third launcher will give the ships 360-degree coverage.
Sajjan reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the national ship-rebuilding strategy, which will also re-equip the Canadian Coast Guard.
“I can assure all Canadians and industry that we are committed to the national ship building program,” said Sajjan.
“We want to enhance it to make sure the strategy, as it has been laid out, delivers ships on budget and on time,” he said.
Sajjan affirmed the Canadian Armed Forces’ commitment to assisting with emergencies at home like fighting forest fires.
The Forces have deployed 200 people to B.C. along with aircraft to transport firefighters, equipment and evacuate anyone in harm’s way.
Sajjan said his department is in contact with the B.C. government and ready to send more people if called upon.
“If additional resources are required by the province, the Canadian Armed Forces will always be there to respond,” he said.
