Canada has begun construction of a land-based test facility at Hartlen Point, Nova Scotia to support the Royal Canadian Navy’s River-class destroyer program. The new facility will test and integrate combat systems before they are installed aboard the ships, the Department of National Defence said.
Construction started in November 2025 and is scheduled to finish in early 2028. The site will be a key piece of infrastructure enabling Canada to bring the first in a planned fleet of River-class destroyers into service.
New Land-Based Test Facility for River-class Destroyers
The land-based test facility (LBTF) under construction at Hartlen Point, in Eastern Passage near Halifax, is tailored to support the Royal Canadian Navy’s River-class destroyer combat systems integration and commissioning.
The facility will test and integrate complex electronic, radar, and radio systems onshore before they are installed on the ships. Government sources stress that the site is not for weapons testing.
Site preparation work began in 2023 as designs matured, allowing construction to flow into full-scale building with minimal delays.
Construction Timeline and Scope
Full construction began late in 2025 and is planned to be complete by early 2028. PCL Construction of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is the lead contractor on the project, which is expected to sustain roughly 200 jobs during the build.
The facility footprint covers roughly 10 hectares of land owned by the Department of National Defence. It includes a multi-floor main building, secure access infrastructure, stormwater systems, and coastal placement that provides a 130 degree live transmission arc over the ocean required for combat system testing.
Role in Canada’s Naval Modernization
The LBTF represents early infrastructure needed to support Canada’s next-generation surface combatants. The River-class destroyer program will eventually replace the current Halifax-class frigates and the retired Iroquois-class destroyers.
Work on the River-class destroyers themselves is advancing in parallel. Design and construction planning has been underway for several years, with production expected to scale in the mid-2020s and first deliveries planned in the early 2030s.
The facility is expected to support integration of ship systems before they are installed on the vessels, helping keep the broader destroyer program on schedule.
Strategic Context
Canada’s defence planning envisions a modernized naval fleet capable of addressing maritime security at home and supporting allied operations abroad. The River-class destroyer program is a cornerstone of that effort, involving long-term infrastructure, shipbuilding, and systems work.
The LBTF adds critical test and evaluation capability onshore, reducing risk for at-sea integration and helping personnel gain familiarity with complex systems prior to deployment.
Looking Ahead
Completion of the Hartlen Point facility will mark a tangible step in Canada’s naval recapitalization. It aligns with broader investments in shipbuilding and sustained Canadian naval presence in both domestic and allied maritime operations.
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