Irving Shipbuilding and Fleetway invite members of the naval, defence, and industrial community attending CANSEC to connect with our teams to explore the future of Canadian naval capability, from the momentum built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) to the opportunities that lie ahead for the Royal Canadian Navy.
Over the past 15 years, the NSS has fundamentally transformed Canada’s shipbuilding sector. At the Halifax Shipyard, sustained investment has resulted in the emergence of a modern, digitally enabled production yard capable of delivering complex warships at scale. New waterfront infrastructure, advanced production lines, and a highly skilled workforce now reinforce the most capable shipyard in North America. Just as importantly, the NSS has helped rebuild a domestic marine industrial base of engineering, sustainment, and supply chain partners that together form a sovereign national capability.
These investments have translated into results. Irving Shipbuilding has successfully delivered the first class of major naval ship constructed domestically in decades: the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). These ships are now in service for the Royal Canadian Navy, conducting real-world operations at sea, validating not only the ships themselves but also the industrial model used to design, build, test, and deliver them. This milestone reflects regained national confidence in Canada’s ability to execute complex naval programs.
CANSEC comes at a pivotal moment. With the AOPS program nearly completed, attention is now turning to the future fleet. The River-class Destroyer program will introduce the most advanced surface combatants Canada has ever operated, demanding new approaches to integration, sustainment, and long-term capability management. At the same time, Canada is shaping the next generation of undersea capability through the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program, while also exploring corvette and continental defence concepts essential to meeting evolving security demands.
As naval programs become more complex, digitally driven, software-intensive, and upgrade-centric, the importance of early sustainment planning, integrated governance, and strong industry-government partnerships only increases. Irving Shipbuilding and Fleetway believe Canada is well positioned to build on NSS investments to support not only ship construction, but the full lifecycle of naval capability: from design, build and integration through in-service support and capability sustainment.
At CANSEC, Irving Shipbuilding and Fleetway teams will be available to engage with readers of True North Strategic Review on lessons learned from NSS delivery, perspectives on sustaining advanced naval platforms, and how Canada’s shipbuilding enterprise can continue to evolve to meet future challenges. We welcome the opportunity to exchange views, compare approaches, and explore how today’s decisions will shape the readiness and effectiveness of Canada’s fleet for decades to come.
We look forward to meeting you at CANSEC.