Canada, March 17 -- A contract has been signed between BAE Systems and Canada's Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI), marking the start of the next major phase on the River-class destroyer programme. It follows the Canadian Government's award of an implementation contract to ISI for the construction and delivery of the first three of 15 planned ships as well as the development and delivery of training, spares and maintenance to support the ships in service. The River-class destroyer programme is the largest and most complex shipbuilding effort undertaken in Canada since the Second World War. It will provide decisive combat power for operations at sea and in support of joint-force operations ashore. The River-class will also support missions condu...