Canada to buy SM-2 Missiles for Surface Combatant Ships

Canada could place an order for Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) Block IIIC missiles to arm the warships being built under Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project for $500 million.

On Friday, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 100 Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) Block IIIC missiles; and 100 MK 13 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) (canisters modified to employ the SM-2 Block IIIC missile). Also included is obsolescence engineering; integration and test activity associated with production of subject missiles; canister handling and loading/unloading equipment and associated spares; training and training equipment/aids; technical publications and data; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $500 million.

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Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said “this proposed sale will provide Canada with SM-2 Block IIIC missiles for installation on its planned 15 Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) ships.” The principal U.S. contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, AZ.

The new warships will replace both the retired Iroquois-class Destroyers and the Halifax-class frigates, with an estimated cost of $56-60 billion. Further costs for personnel, operations, and maintenance for the life cycle of the CSC ships are greatly influenced by the ship design and will therefore only be available later in the process. This project cost also includes necessary ammunition, training, support, and infrastructure. The construction of the first CSC vessel is expected to begin in the early-2020s.