Canada partners with Lockheed Martin on next-gen warships

Canada announced Friday it had partnered with US weapons maker Lockheed Martin on a Can$185 million project to design 15 warships.

"Our government is providing the Royal Canadian Navy with the ships it needs to do its important work of protecting Canadians," Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough said in Halifax, where the ships will be built.

Based on the British-designed Type 26 frigate, developed by BAE Systems for the British defense ministry, the ships will measure 492 feet (150 meters) from bow to stern.

Armed with sea-to-air missiles and with a range of 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) and a top speed of 26 knots (48 kilometers an hour), the ships will carry crews of between 157 and 208 sailors.

The design period is expected to last three to four years, with construction due to start in the early 2020s.

While the initial contract is for Can$185 million ($139 million), the cost of building all 15 warships will rise to Can$60 billion, according to the Radio-Canada public news ...