Ottawa has awarded Saab Microwave Canada an $18.5 million contract for the repair and overhaul of the weapon-control radars onboard the Royal Canadian Navy’s 12 Halifax-class frigates.

The contract is part of the Halifax-class modernization project, a six-year effort to upgrade command and control systems, radar capability, electronic warfare systems, and communications technologies and missiles. The deal with Saab includes three optional one-year extensions.

In announcing the contract in Halifax, Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, noted the economic impact to the region, saying it “will provide ongoing skilled jobs for Canadians in the Halifax area and contribute to our province’s long-term prosperity.”