On May 30, 2024, Lockheed Martin announced a $10 million USD investment in PV Labs, a Canadian firm renowned for its expertise in developing turnkey aerial imaging solutions. This investment represents one of the largest Lockheed Martin has made under Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, tied to the In-Service Support Contract for the CC-130J aircraft. The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry said: “The partnership between Lockheed Martin and PV Labs is a great example of innovative collaborations that advance Canada’s cap ..read more

Babcock Canada Inc. (Babcock), a prominent player in the Defence and Aerospace sectors, and Barnacle Systems Inc. (Barnacle), an acclaimed manufacturer of remote security and monitoring systems, initially joined forces in 2022. Their collaboration was spurred by an Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) investment aimed at finalizing Barnacle’s innovative marine vessel monitoring and security device, the ‘BRNKL Black.’ The successful launch of BRNKL Black marked a milestone for both companies, encouraging them to explore further opportunities that leverage Babcock’s proficiency in data-dr ..read more

Key Highlights: – Debut of the E-7A demonstration trailer at CANSEC – Interactive T-7A simulator experience for visitors Boeing is set to make a significant impact at CANSEC 2024, Canada’s premier event for defence, security, and emerging technologies. This year, Boeing’s exhibit will spotlight cutting-edge military capabilities designed to meet the Canadian Armed Forces’ needs, including an advanced airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system, the Future Fighter Lead-In Trainer project, and a comprehensive helicopter modernization program. Additionally, the exhibit will emphasize Bo ..read more

In a significant move to bolster the Canadian Armed Forces‘ land capabilities, Babcock Canada, a prominent defence and aerospace firm, and Roshel, a top manufacturer of specialized armoured vehicles, have entered into a Teaming Agreement. “Our team is delighted to be working with Roshel to deliver a proposal that will support the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. Leveraging our experience and expertise as a recognized leader in providing in-service support enables us to combine our extensive capabilities and deliver innovative solutions,” expressed Jerry McLean, CEO, Babcock Canada ..read more

In a bold move to support the defense sector, Zeal Motor Inc., the company behind the acclaimed FAT TRUCK®, has officially launched its latest division: FAT TRUCK® DEFENSE. This new branch of the company underscores Zeal Motor’s dedication to providing cutting-edge mobility solutions in challenging environments such as energy infrastructure, mining exploration, search and rescue, and military operations. The creation of the FAT TRUCK® DEFENSE division focuses on two primary goals. First, it aims to enhance mobility in Arctic conditions with specially designed models for cargo logistics, person ..read more

Today marked a significant event for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) William Hall was officially commissioned into service during a ceremony in Halifax, N.S. on May 16, 2024. “I join the Royal Canadian Navy in celebrating the commissioning of HMCS William Hall into Canada’s fleet. As we outlined in Our North, Strong and Free, protecting Canadian sovereignty is job number one for the Canadian Armed Forces – and these patrol vessels are an important capability that allows our Navy to fulfil this mission. As the security challenges facing Canada ..read more

After many years of writing papers to encourage real change in how Canada acquires major weapon system platforms for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), I believe that the key points raised by Lieutenant-General (Retired) Andrew Leslie may be the signposts needed to achieve major change in how these complex procurement projects are pursued:[i]   “The current prime minister of Canada is not serious about defence. Full stop. A large number of his cabinet members are not serious about defence. Full stop.” “Our NATO allies are despairing. Our American friends are frustrated… in private, th ..read more

Taking a moment for reflection, 2023 was simultaneously a year of pessimism and optimism. On the one hand, budget cutbacks were announced earlier in 2023 that adversely affected the delivery of services to Canadians. For Department of National Defence (DND) operations particularly, these cutbacks had an immediate impact on defence services.  On the other hand, many long-awaited procurements were announced in 2023, such as the Future Fighter Capability (January), Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (July), Multi-Mission Aircraft (November), and Land C4ISR (December), to name a few.  ..read more

An interview with Steve O’Brien, CD Tactical Systems Integration Lab Lead and Joe Milligan, CD, LC4ISR Support Manager. In the latest episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones is joined by Steve O’Brien, CD, Tactical Systems Integration Lab Lead and Joe Milligan, CD, LC4ISR Support Manager of General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada. After a 27-year career in the CAF, serving in both the Infantry and Signal Corps, Steve O’Brien retired as a Master Warrant Officer and joined GDMS-C shortly after as a Mission Specialist. He is currently the Lead for several teams that support the Tactical ..read more

Calian Group Ltd., a dynamic provider of a wide array of products and services spanning healthcare, communications, learning, and cybersecurity solutions, announced on May 10, 2024 that it has successfully acquired Mabway, a renowned U.K.-based entity, for a total consideration of up to CAD$41M (GBP£24M), with CAD$32.4M (GBP£19M) transacted upon closing. Mabway stands out as a frontrunner in orchestrating expansive defense role-play environments, faithfully mirroring real-world operational scenarios, while also offering specialized technical education for naval and maritime sectors. With a lon ..read more