Government of Canada makes long-term investments to protect Canadian ships and sailors with modern and efficient equipment

News release

August 17, 2018 – Esquimalt, B.C. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Through Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the Royal Canadian Navy remains an agile, multi-purpose and responsive naval force. In support of this commitment, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, highlighted the award of two contracts related to maritime equipment today.

The contracts will acquire, upgrade, and sustain defensive systems for the Royal Canadian Navy. These long-term investments will enhance and improve the Royal Canadian Navy capabilities and sustain more than 50 jobs annually for many years to come. The two contracts are as follows:

• A $94.2-million contract to Lockheed Martin Canada to maintain and overhaul, the Reprogrammable Advance Multimode Shipboard Electronic Countermeasures System (RAMSES).
• A $21.1-million contract to Rheinmetall Canada to procure and install a third launcher on the frigates, improving the current MASS configuration.

RAMSES is an electronic attack system that protects the modernized Halifax-class frigates against radio frequency guided missiles. It employs jamming signals to track and distract anti-ship missiles from hitting the ship. MASS is an integral part of the anti-ship missile defence suite. It is a firing system used to launch decoys to project vessels against anti-ship missiles guided by radio frequency, laser and infrared seekers.

Both contracts will help naval combat operators continue to protect Canadian ships and sailors with modern and efficient equipment, while helping to bolster our Royal Canadian Navy across its fleets.

Quotes

“These investments in our Royal Canadian Navy will provide our women and men in uniform with what they need for successful missions, and deliver jobs, both here in British Columbia and across Canada for years to come. Our defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, promised an agile, multi-purpose Navy and we are delivering on that promise with today's $115 million investment.”

Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister

“Our Government is committed to building a more agile, better-equipped military, while ensuring the best value for Canadians. These systems will provide the frigates of the Royal Canadian Navy with the modern equipment they need to do their jobs safely and securely in various environment, at home or abroad.”

– Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Disability

Quick facts

• The RAMSES contract will be valid until the late 2030s, If all options are exercised, and will ensure maintenance of the Halifax-class frigates' electronic attack capability.

• The MASS replaced the obsolete SHIELD system. The installation of a third launcher will enable 360° anti-ship missile defence coverage for the Halifax-class frigates.

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/08/government-of-canada-makes-long-term-investments-to-protect-canadian-ships-and-sailors-with-modern-and-efficient-equipment.html