The Royal Canadian Navy's future River-class destroyers will be equipped with a proven submarine-hunting system already in service with some of Canada's closest allies. Thales Canada has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin Canada to supply the S2087 towed array sonar for the fleet, adding a critical layer of anti-submarine warfare capability to what will be the backbone of Canada's surface combatant fleet.

Lockheed Martin Canada serves as the Combat Systems Integrator for the River-class program, leading a team of global partners to deliver an integrated, open-architecture combat solution tailored to the Canadian Armed Forces.

The S2087 belongs to Thales' CAPTAS family of low-frequency towed array sonars, originally developed in close partnership with the British, French, and Italian navies. It is designed to detect and track quiet submarines over long ranges in both littoral and open-ocean environments. With this contract, the Royal Canadian Navy becomes the 20th navy to select the CAPTAS system.

The selection aligns Canada with two close allies. The Royal Navy currently operates the S2087, and the Royal Australian Navy has selected it for its Hunter-class frigates. For a Navy operating within Five Eyes and NATO frameworks, shared sensor architecture has direct operational implications for interoperability and intelligence sharing.

Its integration into the River-class destroyers supports a program target of achieving 75% fleet serviceability by contributing to operational maturity and long-term supportability.

The contract aligns with Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy and the Build-Partner-Buy framework, which under the Partner stream prioritises cooperation with trusted allies, in this case the United Kingdom, while delivering industrial benefits in Canada. Thales has committed to working with Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises to support the sonar through its full lifecycle, keeping maintenance and upgrade work within Canada's sovereign industrial base.

Thales Canada CEO Ian Krepps said the S2087 ensures Canada's surface combatants are equipped to operate effectively in contested maritime environments, and described Thales as deeply committed to investing in local expertise and working alongside Canadian industry for decades to come.

Stephen Isaacs, General Manager for Lockheed Martin Canada Rotary and Mission Systems, said the River-class program delivers significant economic benefits to Canada across the Canadian supply chain, and called the sonar selection a prime example of how partners contribute to that ecosystem.

The River-class destroyers will replace the Halifax-class frigates and Iroquois-class destroyers, forming the core of the RCN's surface fleet from the early 2030s. The program covers 15 ships. The sonar selection is one of several major subsystem decisions being locked in as the program progresses through detailed design and into production.

No contract value was disclosed.

At its core, the investment is about visibility—ensuring Canada can see, understand, and respond to activity in an increasingly contested orbital environment.

By 2028, MDA Space will establish three remotely operated telescope sites across Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. These installations will provide persistent, reliable surveillance of objects in orbit, forming a critical component of Canada’s evolving space surveillance architecture.

The ground-based optical systems will operate in tandem with existing space-based sensors, creating a more resilient and comprehensive capability for monitoring space activity. This layered approach enhances Canada’s ability to detect, track, and characterize objects in orbit—whether they are satellites, debris, or potential threats.

Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, emphasized the operational significance of the capability:

“The delivery of the ground-based optical capability represents a significant advancement in Canada’s ability to monitor and safeguard the space domain. These advanced telescopes will provide persistent, reliable, ground-based surveillance and will operate in tandem with our space-based sensors under Surveillance of Space 2. Space-based systems are vital to the daily lives of Canadians and to the success of joint missions with our allies. Enhancing our space awareness directly strengthens our commitments to NORAD and to our partners as we continue to ensure the security of Canadians.”

The importance of space-based systems extends far beyond military operations. Everyday activities—from banking and communications to navigation, agriculture, and weather forecasting—depend on secure and reliable satellite infrastructure. Recognizing this, the Government of Canada is positioning space as a cornerstone of both national security and economic resilience.

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, highlighted the broader implications of the project:

“Canada’s security and prosperity depend on our ability to understand and protect the space domain. The Surveillance of Space 2 project represents a major step forward in strengthening our sovereignty, modernizing our space capabilities, and safeguarding critical satellite infrastructure that Canadians rely on every day.”

Beyond its strategic value, the contract is expected to deliver tangible economic benefits. The project will create or support close to 80 jobs annually and contribute approximately $9 million to Canada’s GDP each year over the next six years. It also reinforces Canada’s position within a rapidly expanding global space economy, projected to reach approximately $2 trillion by 2040. With Canada’s space sector already contributing an estimated $3.4 billion to GDP, investments like SofS 2 are designed to ensure Canadian companies remain competitive on the world stage.

The Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, pointed to the regional and industrial impact:

“Projects like Surveillance of Space 2 demonstrate how Canadian expertise, right here in British Columbia, pushes the boundaries of what we will achieve in space and defence. Supported by the Defence Investment Agency and guided by Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, this investment will both create highly skilled jobs in the region and will modernize Canada’s space capabilities for the challenges of tomorrow.”

The Surveillance of Space 2 contract also reflects a shift in how Canada delivers defence capabilities. By leveraging streamlined processes and existing approval authorities, the DIA was able to move the procurement forward more quickly than under traditional models. This approach is central to the government’s broader effort to modernize defence procurement—reducing delays, centralizing expertise, and accelerating the delivery of mission-critical equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Honourable Stephen Fuhr underscored the dual focus on capability and industrial growth:

“Canada’s security depends on the space-based systems that enable everything from communications and navigation to weather forecasting and emergency response. Today’s contract award to MDA Space will deliver the capabilities the Canadian Armed Forces need while growing Canada’s world-class space sector and creating good-paying jobs. With the Defence Investment Agency and our Defence Industrial Strategy, we are streamlining procurements and building the sovereign capabilities that will ensure Canada remains a leader in this crucial domain.”

Canada’s investment in space surveillance is not occurring in isolation. The capabilities delivered through SofS 2 will contribute directly to key international partnerships, including the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Multinational Force – Operation Olympic Defender. These alliances rely on shared data and coordinated awareness of the space domain to ensure collective security. By enhancing its own capabilities, Canada strengthens its role as a trusted partner in these networks.

Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer of MDA Space, reflected on the broader operational context:

“As space becomes more contested, congested and competitive, persistent surveillance and space domain awareness provide the Canadian Armed Forces and trusted allies with a better understanding of what is happening in a complex environment they can’t otherwise see. With decades of proven expertise providing defence and security, MDA Space is honoured to once again be selected as a trusted mission partner to Canada and to the Department of National Defence .”

The Surveillance of Space 2 project sits within a larger transformation of Canada’s defence ecosystem. Through the Defence Industrial Strategy and the establishment of the Defence Investment Agency, the government is aligning long-term defence spending with domestic industrial capability.

The goal is clear: build sovereign capabilities, strengthen supply chains, create high-value jobs, and ensure the Canadian Armed Forces are equipped to meet emerging threats.

As space becomes an increasingly contested and indispensable domain, Canada’s latest investment signals a long-term commitment—not only to protecting what lies above, but to securing the prosperity and safety that depend on it.