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Canada is considering saving money on its future warship fleet by stripping equipment from its surplus destroyers and Halifax-class frigates, according to a document obtained by the Citizen.

The Canadian Surface Combatant or CSC will form the backbone of the future navy from 2025 onwards.

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But, worried about a lack of government funding, the Department of National Defence is looking at stripping off parts from the existing Halifax-class frigates and the 44-year-old Iroquois-class destroyers.

Because of a government-imposed cap of $26 billion on the CSC project, there is a risk that not enough ships would be built for the navy’s needs, the May 2015 DND document points out.

Solutions to that problem could include reducing some capabilities on the vessels and looking at the “re-use of Iroquois and Halifax Class equipments,” it noted.

The Conservative government has approved the building of “up to 15” of the new warships. Industry and military representatives have repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of money.