BAE Systems to upgrade Canadian Naval guns

Sweden: BAE Systems has been awarded a US $50 million contract from the Canadian navy to upgrade the 57 mm guns of its 12 Halifax-class patrol frigates from the Mk2 to Mk3 configuration. The Mk3 gun can fire Bofors 57 3P ammunition with six different mode capabilities, including armor piercing mode and time mode, which can strike small fast-maneuvering surface targets and concealed on-shore targets. Each round can be individually programmed and the gun will fire 220 rounds per minute. Each Halifax-class ship is equipped with one gun, and the contract provides for the upgrading of one training gun and one spare gun as well, totaling 14 guns overall under this award. The upgrade program, which mainly will be performed at the BAE Systems Bofors facilities in Karlskoga, Sweden, will start in 2009 and is anticipated to be finalized by 2016. The guns will be installed on the frigates in Halifax and Victoria, Canada. The contract also includes an option worth US $25 million for Integrated Logistic Support products, including simulators, interface computers, a training package, documentation and spare parts. The 12 Halifax-class frigates, commissioned between 1992 and 1995, form the backbone of the Canadian Navy. The littoral environment poses challenges to sensors and weapons systems due to higher traffic density and proximity to shore-based threats. In addition, ships now face asymmetrical threats, such as terrorist attacks, that had not been envisaged when the ships were designed.