General Dynamics wins $186-million Canadian navy contract for underwater sensors

Ottawa will spend $186 million upgrading and maintaining underwater sensors for the Royal Canadian Navy’s frigates.

National Defence said in a news release Friday that global defence giant General Dynamics has been given two contracts that will involve the employment of about 120 people.

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It said the “majority of this work will occur in Canada.”

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The Halifax-class frigates use sonar to detect, locate and track surface and sub-surface threats through the continuous monitoring and collection of information.

The $186 million contracts include acquisition and upgrade for the first six Halifax-class frigates, totalling $103 million, and in-service support, which would potentially cost $83 million for up to 23 years.

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The contracts include options to upgrade all 12 Halifax-class frigates, which would bring the acquisition portion to $170 million.