{"id":57477,"date":"2021-02-26T21:38:14","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T21:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/26\/canadas-new-frigate-is-getting-heavier-more-expensive\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:15:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:15:54","slug":"canadas-new-frigate-is-getting-heavier-more-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2021\/02\/26\/canadas-new-frigate-is-getting-heavier-more-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada\u2019s new frigate is getting heavier and more expensive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Canada\u2019s next-generation frigate<\/a> is putting on weight and will cost more money than originally projected, according to a new cost analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Canadian Surface Combatant program, which is spearheaded by Lockheed Martin<\/a> and based on BAE Systems\u2019 Type 26 design, was first selected in 2018 and put under contract in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the announcement, however, the ship has gone from an estimated CA$69.8 billion (U.S. $54.8 billion) to CA$77.3 billion, according to a new cost estimate by the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. That cost is more than double the original estimate for the program in 2008, which was exceeding about CA$28 billion in that year\u2019s Canadian dollars, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ship has also packed on 900 tons, now projected to displace 7,800 tons, up from an originally projected 6,900 tons. Fully loaded, the ship is expected to weigh in at 9,400 tons \u2014 almost double the 4,700 tons of the currently fielded Halifax class, the former head of Irving Shipbuilding<\/a> told the CBC earlier this month. That shipbuilder is the project\u2019s prime contractor and had worked with the government to award a subcontract to Lockheed to finalize the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\t