Lockheed Martin Canada will use a shipbuilding symposium in Vancouver on April 4 to brief Western Canadian companies on how they can “prepare and position themselves to capture business opportunities from the combat systems integrator to Irving Shipbuilding for the Arctic Off-shore Patrol Ships.”

The company, which is also in the midst of delivering the $2.1 billion Halifax Class Modernization program, will meet one-on-one with area businesses to identify Western Canadian capabilities. The mid-life refit of Canada’s 12 multi-role patrol frigates for the Royal Canadian Navy involves a new command and control system, a new radar capability, a new electronic warfare system and upgraded communications and missiles, and has generated more than 300 new jobs, many in engineering and computer science, according to Lockheed Martin.

The symposium is being organized by Western Economic Diversification Canada.