Mississauga-based Trident Maritime Systems Canada is the latest company to join Irving Shipbuilding Inc.’s supply chain, supporting the construction of the new River-class destroyers (RCD) for the Royal Canadian Navy. Trident has been awarded contracts valued at approximately $8 million to design two marine filtration systems for the RCD.
The new River-class destroyers are slated to replace the current Halifax-class frigates and will form the backbone of Canada’s naval combat capability. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the RCD will be Canada’s major component of maritime combat power, enabling the Royal Canadian Navy to monitor and defend our own coastal waters, while contributing significantly to international naval operations alongside our Allies. Construction on the production test module of the River-class began in June 2024, with full-rate production scheduled to start in April 2025.
Trident Maritime Systems Canada (formerly Aircraft Appliances and Equipment Limited) has been providing North American operators with industry leading marine filtration equipment and services for over 70 years. Originally founded in 1949, initial company operations provided aircraft component repair and overhaul, and distribution services direct to the Canadian Department of National Defence and several aircraft primes. In 1959, operations expanded into the design and manufacturing of bespoke marine filtration equipment for numerous fuel and lubricating oil applications.
Trident’s work for the Royal Canadian Navy includes support to the Victoria-class In-Service Support Contract (VISSC) through the Repair and Overhaul and Supply of bespoke specialized valves and actuators— and also support to the Joint Support Ship program through the supply of Aviation Facility Support Equipment.
Today, Trident’s marine filtration equipment can be found on almost every ship operating in the U.S. Navy fleet.
It is this longstanding experience and proven excellence that Trident is bringing to the RCD project.
Specifically, Trident will be providing two filtration systems: A Diesel Fuel Pre-filter Coalescer (forward and aft units), which uses filter technology to remove fine particulate and free water from the diesel fuel, ensuring the supply of clean and dry fuel to the vessel, and the AVCAT Filter Separator (three per ship), which ensures clean and dry fuel is delivered to support the ship’s helicopter operations.
The design, manufacturing and functional testing of these filtration systems will all take place at Trident’s facilities in Mississauga, Ontario. Importantly, the contract with Irving has created several new jobs for Trident across engineering, program management and manufacturing.
With this contract, Trident is joining the nearly 700 Canadian organizations who are receiving investments from the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). This latest contract contributes to the over $3.8 billion in contracts and investments Irving Shipbuilding, through the NSS, is delivering to Ontario alone.
“As a long-established Canadian-based supplier of military ship marine filtration equipment solutions, Trident Canada is proud and excited to be included as a part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the RCD project and the overall planned revitalization of the Royal Canadian Navy fleet and capability,” says Andrew Brand, General Manager, Trident Maritime Systems Canada. “It’s truly a generational opportunity which will help ensure the sustainability of production and in-service support jobs for the Trident Canada team and local supply chain.”
“With this latest contract award to Trident Maritime Systems Canada, Irving Shipbuilding is continuing to build a supply chain of highly qualified companies who possess a proven excellence in their fields,” says Lee Fromson, Vice President, Supply Chain and Quality, Irving Shipbuilding. “This approach will ensure the RCD is equipped with state-of the-art technology and enhanced capabilities to meet the complex needs of Canada’s navy, while maximizing the economic benefits to Canadian workforces and businesses.”