Canada has begun construction of a new land based test facility intended to support the introduction of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future River class destroyers.
The Department of National Defence confirmed that work is underway at Hartlen Point in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, where a dedicated Land Based Test Facility is being built to integrate and commission complex combat systems before they are installed aboard the ships. Construction began in November 2025 and is scheduled to conclude in early 2028. The project is being delivered by PCL Construction of Dartmouth and is expected to sustain around 200 jobs over the life of the build.
The facility has been developed in parallel with the design of the River class destroyers, requiring detailed technical data to ensure it can support combat systems integration. Early site preparation began in 2023 to maintain programme timelines, with access roads, utilities, grading and structural foundations already completed ahead of full construction. According to the Department of National Defence, the facility will play a central role in bringing the new warships into service.
“Having the right infrastructure in place to support a modern naval fleet is mission critical,” said Defence Minister David McGuinty. “This facility represents an important step in the River class destroyer project. Once completed, it will play a vital role in bringing the new ships into service and preparing our personnel to work with the incoming ship systems.”
He added that beginning construction marked “another step forward in providing our Canadian Armed Forces with the capabilities required to protect Canada’s sovereignty.”
The River class programme will deliver 15 new destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy, replacing the Halifax class frigates and the retired Iroquois class destroyers. The ships are intended to support domestic maritime security, contribute to allied naval operations and address emerging threats in the maritime domain. Because of the complexity of the combat systems involved, those systems must be integrated and tested ashore before installation at sea. The Department stressed that the site is not a weapons testing facility, but is designed specifically for systems integration and commissioning.
The Hartlen Point site covers approximately 10 hectares and includes secure access infrastructure, stormwater systems and a main building measuring more than 12,500 square metres across two floors and a topside level. Its coastal position allows a 130 degree live transmission arc over the ocean, a requirement for combat system testing.
Used to be a WW2 Battery and Airfield and now has a Golf Club.
I expect Forrest Trump will want to own this as well soon.
We need to get this on the #F1 calendar. The only problem is brake failure on the back straight and you’re straight into the sea!
Just a thought, could the UK use this facility?
We already have one up on Portsdown Hill, our own LBTS.
My Grandad was Stationed there “During the war” that’s how I know about It as a place. I’m sure we probably still visit but not this actual site.
T26 is using mostly mature systems so we dont really need one.
The River class destroyer is what the USN should have chosen instead of FREM.
I’m quite happy they didn’t because the last thing we needed was US defence primes jacking up the cost.
But It was never really In the running Jim.
They wanted an existing proven design.
They would’ve done the same thing. The Navy never particularly wanted a foreign design, and issues surrounding damage control were in part a smokescreen for the eventual cancellation.
If I were Canadian I’d be looking to strip out all the US systems from the River class and just build Type 26s.
Way too late and the cost’s would be horrific.
But I do believe that a lot is going on behind the scenes now that Trump has signalled his Intent.
Canada needs those systems like SPy 7 tho