CANADIAN NAVY REVEALS LATEST MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIVER CLASS DESTROYER (RCD)
By David Dunlop, 28 March 2026
CSC TYPE 26 LM/DND RCD DESTROYER LATEST INFO GRAPHIC/CAPABILITIES AS OF 24 MARCH 2026
Here is the latest model as of 24 March 2026 for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) Type 26 RCD Destroyer weapons & systems design provided at the Calgary, Lockheed Martin (LM)/DND booth at DEFSEC West 2026. The total Leonardo Suite including the Leonardo 127mm 5” Vulcano/Lionfish & 2 x Marlin 30mm Gun systems (including the NA-30S Mk 2 systems) have been fully removed and replaced by the US Mk 45 Mod 5 (radar system center-lined on top of the Bridge) and 2 x Bushmaster British made Mk 38 Gun systems. The NSM placement has changed (again). Now located Top-side/Starboard Aft. The RAM 116 Missile system (21) is finally confirmed located Top-side Port on a plinth with a firing arc (just forward of the Port Bushmaster Gun (looks like just 1 x RAM 116 Missile system-for now). The US-AN/SLQ-32 (V) 6 EW suite is now included. ExLS System Aft of the funnel is gone and no longer part of the design. There is an, as of now, still unidentified 12 x Missile system on the Port/Fwd Waiste Area-(not known if there is also another system on the Stb’d side). The number of MK 41 VLS Cells Fwd is still at 24 Cells vice 32 but there is still room for future growth to 32 Cells. As seen by this latest graphic, the mast is taller but has lost the X Band Illumination AESA Radar. It has been identified that the X Band Illumination Radar is now not required for the CSC Destroyer as the SPY 7 (V) 3 has the capability of targeting all threats on its own. The Port/Starboard Waist areas midships are still "cut-out" to save weight no doubt (or perhaps for 'future-proofing'). The crew size is still at 210 personnel. The ship tonnage is still at 8,080 tonnes although that may not be the full-load weight (possibly around 9,400 tonnes):
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Latest CNR: Vol. 21 No. 3 (2026)
Happy New Year! Now that January is here, we all need something to look forward to – other than bills for all those things you bought for Christmas! Fret no longer, you can look forward to the upcoming CNR issue.
As usual, the new issue of CNR contains a variety of interesting articles. Our first article was the winning essay of the 2025 CNMT Essay Competition. It’s called “Pirates and Partnerships: An Examination of Maritime Non-State Actors,” by Edward Khitab. Khitab uses the example of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to examine the nature and increasing number of maritime non-state actors -- and concludes that the RCN needs to start paying attention to them.
The second article, “The Strategic Utility of Aircraft Carriers in China’s Ambitions in East Asia,” discusses the rapid growth of China’s aircraft carrier capability and how and where Beijing would likely use them in the case of war. The third article is “Why Does Canada have a Navy? Reflecting on the Canadian Leaders at Sea Program.” In this article, the author addresses a simple question that was asked while he was participating in the CLaS program, and considers what a navy represents and why Canada has one. The final essay, “SS Nerissa: A Tragic Footnote to History,” tells the little-known story of the last voyage of SS Nerissa that was sunk by a U-boat while transporting troops and civilians across the Atlantic in the Second World War.
If that isn’t enough to spark your interest, we have our usual Making Waves commentaries. We have a commentary about hydrography in the Arctic. Sound boring? It’s not. If Canada is getting submarines that are expected to operate in the Arctic, Ottawa needs to act now to map the seafloor there. We have a commentary about the many historic discussions about moving the Coast Guard into the defence department. We have a commentary about the unthinkable – i.e., having naval ships that can act as ‘tripwires’ in the event that the United States decides to blockade Canada. We have an account of a conference in Australia, Canadian interest in East Asia, and preparing for Russia in the Arctic.
And, of course, we have our regular columns. “A View from the West” looks at North Korea’s increasing focus on its navy. “Dollars and Sense” examines the defence-related parts of Budget 2025, and “Warship Developments” updates us on several interesting recent naval decisions.
In addition to all this great information, we have our usual amazing photos!
Stay tuned. In a few weeks, the issue will be in the mailbox of people who are lucky enough to be subscribers! It’s not too late for you to subscribe. See here for the Table of Contents.
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