Canada Selects Thales Anti-Stealth Sub Sonar for River-Class Destroyers

Lockheed Martin Canada has contracted Thales Canada to supply its S2087 anti-stealth submarine towed array sonar system for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future River-class destroyers.

The S2087 is designed to detect and track undersea targets at long range in littoral and open-ocean environments, enhancing Canada’s future anti-submarine warfare sensing capabilities. 

Part of the CAPTAS family of sonars, the S2087 is operational on the Royal Navy’s eight Type 23 frigates and is expected to equip the future Type 26 frigates. It has also been selected for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigates, which are based on the Type 26 design. 

With this acquisition, the system will be operational with three of the five members of the Five Eyes alliance, strengthening interoperability. Moreover, the Royal Canadian Navy becomes the 20th navy to select the CAPTAS system, with the majority of them NATO partners. 

To execute the contract, Thales will partner with the Canadian industry to support the sonar systems throughout their lifecycle, ensuring maintenance and upgrade capabilities remain under Canadian sovereign control. 

“The S2087 adds a critical layer of capability to the River‑class destroyers, ensuring Canada’s surface combatants are equipped to operate effectively in contested maritime environments,” Thales Canada CEO Ian Krepps said. 

“As we deliver this advanced sonar system, Thales remains deeply committed to Canada—investing in local expertise, strengthening sovereign capabilities, and working alongside Canadian industry to safeguard the nation’s security for decades to come."

Part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, the River-class Destroyer program is the country’s largest and most complex naval shipbuilding effort since World War II.

Irving Shipbuilding is the prime contractor, while Lockheed Martin Canada serves as the Combat Systems Integrator.

The program will deliver 15 ships, with the lead vessel expected to be commissioned in the early 2030s and the final ship slated for delivery in the 2050s. 

Based on BAE Systems’ Type 26 design and Australia’s Hunter-class frigate, the 151-meter (497-foot) River-class will replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates and retired Iroquois-class destroyers.

The warships will be armed with guns, autocannons, missiles, and torpedoes, and will accommodate about 210 personnel along with drones, helicopters, and support boats.