Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz.

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor discussed deepening cooperation between Canada and Germany across defence, security, energy, and artificial intelligence (AI). Over the past year, the two countries have signed agreements on AI, quantum, and battery technologies, launched the Sovereign Technology Alliance, and secured more than six new critical minerals partnerships.

Last month, the leaders launched negotiations toward a Canada-Germany Strategic Partnership Agreement to further advance cooperation on key priorities, including security and defence, emerging technologies, supply chains and raw materials, energy, and space.

Building on their participation in the Coalition of the Willing meeting earlier today, Prime Minister Carney and Chancellor Merz reaffirmed their enduring support for Ukraine and the need to maintain pressure on Russia to achieve a just and lasting peace.

The leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

Today, on Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, participated in a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine. The meeting was hosted by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and co-chaired by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz.

The leaders reaffirmed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people and discussed their shared commitment to maintaining coordinated international support. They discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, bolster its energy security and critical infrastructure, and sustain economic pressure on Russia by continuing to implement and enforce new sanctions, including on Russia’s shadow fleet.

Prime Minister Carney reiterated Canada’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine, including through more than $2 billion in military assistance this year alone. The Prime Minister highlighted Ukraine’s role as a founding member of the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, which will reinforce long-term defence industrial cooperation among allies and partners.

The leaders underscored the urgent need to help Ukraine protect civilians and critical infrastructure from continued Russian attacks. They also discussed joint measures to strengthen Ukraine’s energy resilience, support essential infrastructure repairs, and ensure access to electricity and heating as part of broader humanitarian needs throughout the winter months.

Canada stands with Ukraine – and will for as long as it takes – to support a just and lasting peace and defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

In a rapidly changing world, Canada is setting a new course. We are building our strength at home, diversifying our trading relationships abroad, and investing in the infrastructure that will secure our future. From the ports and corridors that move Canadian goods to market, to the ships that keep our trade routes open, we are laying the foundations of a stronger, more self-reliant country.

Established trading relationships are being tested, and Canada is not standing still. We are moving fast, seizing new opportunities, and reducing our dependence on any single partner.

That is why the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, today announced the largest shipbuilding contract in Québec’s history. The Government of Canada will invest more than $11 billion to build six new program icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard in partnership with Chantier Davie Canada Inc. This historic investment grows Canada’s domestic shipbuilding industry, strengthens our ability to keep critical trade routes open, and reinforces our strategic autonomy.

All six icebreakers will be built in Canada at the Davie Shipyard in Lévis, Québec, creating nearly 5,000 good jobs in the construction phase alone and contributing nearly $650 million annually to Canada’s GDP. Under the government’s Buy Canadian Policy, these vessels will be built with Canadian steel and other domestic materials, while maximising opportunities for Canadian manufacturers, suppliers, and small and medium-sized businesses.

The program icebreakers will replace the Coast Guard’s aging heavy and medium icebreakers – the ships that work Atlantic Canada and the St. Lawrence through the depth of winter, and the Arctic through the summer season. They cut open our most vital sea lanes, answer the call of ships in distress, and come to the aid of vessels trapped in the ice.

This investment will equip the women and men of the Canadian Coast Guard – the civilian service Canadians count on to keep our waters safe – with the modern ships they need to answer the call, from search and rescue to environmental response, for decades to come. Additionally, it secures Canada’s position as the home of NATO’s largest icebreaking fleet, bolsters national security in the North, and protects Canadian interests. Construction will begin in 2027, this first ship will be ready five years later, and the full fleet will be in service by 2038.

Canada’s new government is laser-focused on building a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canadian economy that drives prosperity for all. This is our economic strategy at work. We are expanding the Port of Montréal at Contrecœur and the Port of Québec to move more Canadian products to global markets. And we are using major federal procurement, from armoured vehicles to submarines and icebreakers, to build Canadian industrial capacity, strengthen domestic supply chains, and create high-paying careers here at home.

Canada is a trading nation with the world’s longest coastline. Today, we are strengthening our capacity to build ships at home, assert our presence in the Arctic, keep our waterways open, and move Canadian resources to new markets around the world.

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Quick facts

• Chantier Davie plays a critical role in supporting Canada’s fleets, building, repairing, and maintaining ships for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and the Royal Canadian Navy through more than $7.74 billion in contracts since 2012

• As Polar Class 3 icebreakers, the program icebreakers will be designed as modern, versatile vessels capable of carrying a wide range of missions in challenging ice conditions across Canada’s waterways. They will form the next generation of Arctic capable ships, supporting growing operational demands in the North, from search and rescue and environmental response, to Northern resupply and Arctic science missions.

• In 2019, the Government of Canada announced it would be procuring six new program icebreakers under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, as part of the CCG fleet renewal.

• In 2024, the government awarded Chantier Davie a $19.6-million contract to begin initial design work for six new program icebreakers for the CCG.

• In 2025, the Government of Canada awarded a $3.25 billion contract (before tax) to Chantier Davie for the construction of the Polar Max, which will be one of the most powerful and capable heavy icebreakers in the world.

• In 2024, the Government of Canada signed the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort Pact with the United States and Finland to strengthen cooperation on the design, construction, and maintenance of Arctic and polar icebreakers, including through information sharing, workforce development, and joint research and development.

Noah Note: Colour me a bit surprised. This one felt like it came from nowhere, not that it wasn't coming soon, but it feels it just sorta happened. Of course a contract for the Programs has been sitting for a while in anguish, waiting to be picked up on by the feds. A previous contract from last year for initial work has some confused it seems. That wasnt the commitment for six, this is.

Either way, we have commitment now to six Program Icebreakers. While that was always the plan, a plan isnt a commitment until its in writing. This secures that finally, so no more room to speculate on what that final number might be. Of course, a pick-me-up after the weekend, including an announcement that can play into sovereignty and trade, isnt entirely unexpected in itself. I suspect thia was moced up a bit to play counter to that news.

Similarly I do always love acknowledging the planned largest Icebreaker fleet in NATO. Icebreaker itself as a deaignation is a real thing though, and what counts as an Icebreaker is… contentious to some. These are certainly Icebreakers, im not here to argue that, but it is a note I make when discussing numbers. Ice-Strengthened, Polar Rating does not equal an Icebreaker.

The Program themselves will be very capable vessels, supplementing the future bulk of the fleet in the MPI and the future Arpatuuq and Imnaryuaq. 20,000 nm range at 11 knots without refuelling, accommodation for up to 68 crew and program personnel, hangar and maintenance capacity for one medium CCG helicopter, and significant general and containerized cargo capacity.

They'll be excellent additions to the fleet when they come online, and that is honestly the really big thing about the story here. There is a pretty set timeline here, first delivery by 2032 and final by 2038. Essentially one delivered per year starting 2032. That alone is an insame timeline for most, least of all Levis in the midst of both modernization and their major peoject.

That is essentially the whole fleet delivered within the next decade, which would downright be one of the fastest shipbuilding timelines we have had from contract to final delivery, for a class of six vessels seemingly without much major support from Helsinki. That is a monumental task to ask of almost anyone really, but one I hope to see Davie rise to the challenge for.

That isnt small. It would certainly be a proving ground moment for the comoany if they can pull it off. Won't be easy, certainly.

Of course everything has to happen the week I am out of country. It wouldn't be a trip if there wasn't some drama back home!

Trade talks between Canada and the United States have failed, with both sides claiming the other's last-minute changes as the pretext for the breakdown. Now, details at this time still remain very scarce. Of course, at least this time there is no 13-hour difference for me!

I was originally just not going to talk about this, but so many of you asked that I felt the need to address it. Quite a few of you wanted my thoughts on the situation, which, while important, is still a bit out of our scope as a defence publication.

I won't pretend to be an economist, nor a trade negotiator. I leave that to the others of the world. I can't say what exactly happened here or where the faults were, though I guess we all have a collective suspicion Howard Lutnick is to blame here.

Either way, talks have collapsed. That is the important note here above all. The Prime Minister recalled negotiators the other night, and we are now staring down a further stretch of retaliatory measures and back-and-forth.

How far that goes I can't say, even on the defence side, though the defence side of things, for now, has been somewhat insulated from retaliation and actions. We've been lucky in that regard that the strategic relationship of the United States and Canada has been locked in a "tense but quiet" format.

There are no restrictions in place, cooperation continues to advance steadily, we continue to purchase American equipment, we're moving forward on the ICE Pact, and Canadian industry is still allowed unparalleled access to the American market through things like the DPSA.

While there have been some bumps along the way, such as with the recent pausing of participation in the Permanent Joint Board on Defence by the Americans (which itself hasn't met in years, to remind you), the overall relationship has remained more or less similar to the last.

Many other rumoured issues, such as the ability of American companies to get proper authorizations through things like TAA to participate in Canadian procurements, are again still rumors, and neither confirmed nor confirmed to come from malice.

Indeed, compared to many, while the industry in several aspects is being hit, the pure defence-related retaliations are likely to remain minimal in the immediate, and likely going forward still. There is, of course, little reason for the Americans to block FMS or restrict the Canadian defence industry that itself feeds primarily into the American Defence Industrial Base at a time of mass expansion and rebuilding critical stockpiles after the Iran War.

I also didn't want to comment too quickly. Details are still scarce, and the Trump administration is no stranger to causing drama on a Friday only to see the market reactions on Monday and pivot. As such, I like to wait a few days to make any clear judgements one way or the other.

Jumping in immediately with this stuff usually makes a fool out of someone later on. That is especially true of such serious discussions. So I am watching with a bit of a side-eye before I jump into comments and speculation on the future.

We've gone through these ups and downs now more times than I can count over the last year, and I am not ready to comment every time drama comes up on trade. That said, we can talk about the defence side as it relates to rumoured demands.

In this case, the Trump Administration has been clear on three major contention points with defence:

• Complete the F35 order

• Align on Golden Dome/NORAD Mod

• Purchase more from American Industry

None of these are new demands from the American side—far from it. Golden Dome has been a demand since the start. There is room to interpret a bit what the American side is asking.

I assume that they are demanding the whole 88 F35 order move forward, though there is a timeline I believe where they could accept less without much of a fuss, depending on if they perceive a reduction as breaking terms.

Yes, we are only contracted at this time for 16 F35s, with long-lead items ordered to secure our spot for a further 14. While that is all well and good for us, for the Americans the question of interpretation can mean vastly more things than for us, and it is here that the point becomes a bit open-ended.

The Americans, I imagine, see a commitment as fairly firm. If they know we planned and committed to 88, they are likely to see any significant reduction as breaking the "spiritual" agreement in place. The room for interpretation, therefore, is whether any reduction is possible under the current administration.

Would Americans be okay with 70? 65? There have even been rumors of the Americans asking us to order more, though I have yet to get any serious confirmation there beyond a few people mentioning it. Either way, as I stand here in Sweden soon to see more Gripen, the question remains also on whether the Americans really care about a mixed fleet if we stick to a significant F35 order.

And the truth is likely that it depends, and who wins out depends on who ends up carrying the influence on the file. I am sure someone like Howard Lutnick cares deeply about it, while others certainly do not. Whoever wins the faction war for the choice of a Canadian mixed fleet is yet to be decided, as that choice isn't made yet.

However, I do not see the Americans outright blocking such a choice, such as, say, restricting the export of American components present in Gripen in the event of a Canadian order. Beyond the obvious reasoning of trust and destroying confidence in American suppliers, it is also not to be ignored that the Gripen E itself still has major American components, and those same companies are unlikely to allow the United States to restrict sales without some pushback, especially not on a potentially significant order.

A custom GE F414 Engine, a display from Collins Aerospace, Moog, L3Harris, Curtiss-Wright Controls, and even critical components like the TRM on the Raven ES-05 come from American suppliers.

Gripen E still feeds into the American Defence Industrial Base quite substantially, and still supports the American desire to see Canada spend more on defence. Restricting its potential sale, especially in a heavily ordered F35 environment, is ultimately self-defeating and counterproductive to American desires, and punishes industry more than anything.

Certainly, in my own conversations with Saab, they have heard no objections or seen no reason to be concerned with potential export to Canada. Now, this administration is admittedly unpredictable and a bit self-defeating in some of their actions, but this is one where I don't think, if the stars aligned, we would see American resistance.

On Golden Dome, this is a bit of a tossup. Naturally, there are areas where cooperation is going to likely develop naturally, and those areas (Space, Effectors, C2) already make up a significant portion of the IAMD portfolio. The big thing here is, again, uncertainty.

What does alignment look like to the Americans? What sections of Golden Dome, because remember it's an initiative, do they expect cooperation in? A lot of the GD portfolio is still up in the air, and expectations between parties can easily become a tension point if not clearly defined from the start.

We get moments like this weekend, where different expectations and definitions turn into failure points when those areas are not clearly mapped out. Vague "Buy our shit to align with Golden Dome" doesn't work with a broad portfolio like IAMD, where a whole bunch of different capabilities could hypothetically be included. Does it include stuff like CUAS, for example? Does it include certain infrastructure? Would the Americans expect us to use American suppliers for, say, VLF or HF modernizations?

IAMD was always likely going to be an area where we align fairly well just by letting things naturally take their course. Much of the current environment existing is already looking fairly American in nature, and natural American primes like Lockheed, Raytheon, and the American side of BAE Systems already have a sizable foot in the door and the alignment case to existing products to be highly competitive.

So for Golden Dome, the current knowledge of what was asked is too vague to be of much debate for us. How do we align with something where a hundred or more procurements could exist over its lifetime?

Part of why I didn't want to jump in is all these unknowns. We just don't know the needed details to judge what is being asked and what hardlines may exist. There is too much uncertainty on the American side to really judge vague statements that aren't just rampant speculation on my end.

This latest gaffe, though, does again call into question reliability, and the question of how deep the American relationship goes. How far do we take it before we say enough is enough and this is where cooperation hits its limits? All cooperation, save total integration, ends somewhere along the way. There is zero wrong with that; that's what naturally happens.

There is further debate when we look at areas such as energy and critical minerals, where American industry and investment remain heavy, but which we are also aiming to use as leverage with international allies such as Germany, Japan, and Korea to help diversify our trading relationships.

These, of course, are topics all worth their own posts, but I wanted to just get out my initial thoughts. Obviously, as more comes out, we will dive deeper into this. For now, though? We can sadly only really wait for info before discussing consequences and paths forward. I also think we should see if negotiations stay stalled long term. That, too, is another important factor in all this.

Hello all.

I hope you're all doing well. I am happy to announce that I have safely made it to Sweden! After a very long stay in Toronto, complete with an expected Air Canada delay, I have managed to get to Stockholm.

I actually got here on Tuesday afternoon; by the time you read this, it will be Thursday morning. The funny thing is I struggled more in Toronto than I have in Sweden, both in getting around and the amount of little annoyances. I don't like Pearson, not at all.

I spent most of Tuesday after arriving getting settled in, getting something to eat, etc. I did manage to get a fair bit of walking around at the least. I was very lucky to be in a central spot of the city to enjoy some of the classical architecture.

I didn't have a real plan, admittedly, but I did get a chance to cross around the zigzag of walkable paths dotted around the place. Stockholm itself is a lovely city. Absolutely one of the most beautiful I have been to. It's a beautiful mix of modern and classical architecture, and so I did take a while to walk the streets.

I love little side streets with shops. I am infatuated with them. It is a bit weird to have mixed people and vehicle traffic. I'm still not used to it myself, and so I kept finding myself getting surprised by vehicles in tight corridors.

One thing I did do on Saturday is find my way to The Royal Palace of Stockholm, completely unintentionally mind you. I didn't intend to go, but I found myself following a crowd through a little park, and somehow ended up popping up there. With nothing better to do, I decided to jump into the tour and buy a ticket.

Such a wonderful experience for under 30 dollars. Beautiful place, wonderful display of collectibles and historical artifacts, and a great history lesson being given in the silver throne room. Well worth the money if you get to it. It takes about an hour or two to go through, depending on how much you stop to see. It feels almost endless how many rooms there are, and each one has vast collections to look over and read about, as well as some of the most beautiful ceiling art I have ever seen.

Sadly, it started raining pretty hard once I left the palace. As such, I returned to my hotel to relax a bit and rest up. My day 2 was mostly travel; I went out for more walks in the morning, got around a few stores (including a cute candy store), and then was on a train to Linköping.

Here, I didn't do much; the train ride was very nice. The ride through the Swedish countryside reminds me a lot of home, lots of trees and lakes. Once I got in, I got to the hotel, had dinner, and then crashed.

So my first two days were fairly quiet, which, considering we are on day 4 and I feel drained, might be a tease for how busy day 3 and 4 were! Thank you to all of you who were curious and messaged about how I was doing. I can confirm I am alive! And doing well, even if tired and a bit sore.

Sweden is a lovely place, and it's been a very different experience being here. Swedes are very nice, very talkative, though they refuse to let me practice my Swedish! Every time I try, they switch to English. Swedes, I know, speak English very well, but sadly they do not want to talk Swedish to me, I find. Except for one very nice lady at the Palace who not only took the time to work me through some phrases, but also gave me some new phrases to use. I appreciate that.

Our day 3 and 4 posts will be far more juicy, but I did want people to have some update to know I'm doing alright. Sadly, it's been so busy I have barely had time to write! As a bit of an apology, here are some teasers for what's to come!

Less than a year after programme launch, GKN Aerospace unveils its uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator for the first time

Demonstrates rapid progress from concept to demonstrator

Brings together propulsion, aerostructures and systems integration expertise from Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK

Marks the next phase of collaboration with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces

Less than a year after launching a collaborative programme with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), GKN Aerospace today unveiled its UAV demonstrator, marking the first public presentation of the platform and a major milestone for the programme.

The initiative was announced in November 2025 with the objective of developing a UAV demonstrator and dedicated turbojet engine within 18 months. The effort brings together expertise in propulsion, aerostructures and systems integration from Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK.

The programme includes the development of a dedicated turbojet engine, airframe and onboard systems. The demonstrator has been developed as a flexible platform for testing and evaluation, supporting the exploration of future uncrewed aviation technologies while providing valuable experience in how complex aerospace systems can be developed, integrated and manufactured on accelerated timelines.

Sara Eklöf, Senior Vice President Government Solutions, GKN Aerospace, said:

The initiative builds on the long-standing collaboration between GKN Aerospace, FMV, and the Swedish Armed Forces. Development and testing activities will continue as the programme moves into its next phase, including preparations for future flight-test activities.

The public display at The Armed Forces Air Venture 2026 includes a full-scale UAV mock-up together with the dedicated turbojet engine being developed as part of the programme. The event forms part of the Swedish Air Force's centenary celebrations.

About the programme

The Swedish UAV programme, initiated by an FMV contract in November 2025, involves GKN Aerospace designing a clean-sheet UAV demonstrator and dedicated turbojet engine to accelerate rapid capability development, innovation, and scalable production.

Noah Note: An interesting concept. I had a chance to speak with the GKN team yesterday, and they were quite proud of this one. Not only was it thwir attempt to prove that they could design a common chassis for various applications, but they're also working on developing their own engine for the platform.

It isn't technically Canadian, so a bit out of our scope, but I did wanna show it off since I'm here and was able to spend a little bit of tike with folks. In the current enviornment, there is a timeline where we see something like this in Canadian service. Who knows anymore. Eother way it's a cool thing to highlight sometimes what alloes are working on and trialing.

SkyAlyne is excited to share that the first two Royal Canadian Air Force CT-157 Siskin II aircraft (Pilatus PC-21) will be present at AERO Gatineau-Ottawa 2026 airshow, taking place September 18–20 at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport.

Having recently completed production test flights and factory acceptance in Stans, Switzerland, the aircraft will be travelling to Canada for delivery to the RCAF. The planes will serve in the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program for both the Advanced Flying Training – Fixed Wing (AFT-FW) and Advanced Flying Training – Jet (AFT-Jet) courses, helping prepare the next generation of Canadian military pilots for operational service.

“This is an exciting opportunity to give people a first look at the CT-157 Siskin II and the capabilities it will bring to RCAF aircrew training,” said Harrison Ruess, SkyAlyne’s Head of Communications, Collaboration and Stakeholder Relations. “We’re proud to engage communities and help encourage young people to pursue STEM education and careers in aviation, aerospace, and defence.” 

The two-seat CT-157 Siskin II features a 1,600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine and can reach speeds of up to 685 km/h. The aircraft can sustain g-forces from positive 8G to negative 4G, providing the performance and capability required for advanced military aviation training. The avionics also include several made-in-Canada components.

SkyAlyne has ordered 19 CT-157 Siskin IIs for the RCAF FAcT program. The fleet will be based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Upon arrival in Moose Jaw, the aircraft will undergo final delivery to the RCAF, and begin work on developing and testing new elements of the FAcT program, and take on a ‘train the trainer’ role, as the FAcT team stands up an entirely new ab-initio training ecosystem for the RCAF.

Visitors to AERO Gatineau-Ottawa 2026 will have an opportunity to see the CT-157 Siskin II up close and learn more about how FAcT will transform RCAF aircrew training in Canada.

Following an initial mission stop in Vietnam, the Pacific Partnership 2026 (PP26) team, has arrived in Indonesia, the second of five mission stops across the Indo-Pacific.

Led by U.S Navy Captain Robert C. Reyes and Commander (Cdr) Genevieve Chatelois, Pacific Partnership falls under Operation HORIZON, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) contribution to promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The mission helps build humanitarian assistance and disaster response capacity, while deepening ties with Indo-Pacific countries.

Canadian personnel will work alongside participating nations including Australia, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These efforts will bolster host nation capacity to administer critical humanitarian services and support efforts to prepare and respond to potential disaster emergencies in the region.

During the deployment, the Canadian PP26 mission team will work alongside host nation and mission partners to conduct medical exchanges, community outreach, and disaster preparedness engagements. The first stop took place in Vietnam in mid-June.

Building connections in Vietnam

On June 24 during the initial stop in Quang Tri, Vietnam, mission staff visited the Gio Linh Center for Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities for a community outreach and engagement event. The Gio Linh Center for Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities provides daily care, physical therapy, and support for disabled children and Agent Orange victims. Supported by the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange and Dioxin, the center serves as a critical lifeline for vulnerable youth in the region.

The contingent spent time interacted with 47 children doing arts and crafts, playing games, and participating in other recreational activities. Cdr Geneviève Chatelois stated, “It was nice to play tic-tac-toe, hand games and draw with kids. It is impressive to see that we can connect with the community through games and arts without needing to speak the same language. As a Canadian, it was truly moving to share this moment with the Vietnamese community.”

The sentiment was shared by the Canadian Task Force Padre, Maj Innocent Inienwe, who added that, "Drawing with the children was a powerful reminder that kindness and joy transcend language and culture. It was a privilege to share this moment with them and witness the hope, creativity, and resilience they expressed through art."

As Pacific Partnership 2026 continues through the Indo-Pacific, Canadian Armed Forces members will continue working alongside host nations and international partners to strengthen disaster response capabilities, share expertise and build lasting relationships with communities across the region

KONGSBERG has signed a contract with General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada (‘GDLS-Canada’) valued at NOK 1.1 billion for the delivery of PROTECTOR RS4 Remote Weapon Systems.

20 Aug 2026

These systems will be integrated onto the Canadian Army’s Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV). The contract represents a continuation of the established partnership between KONGSBERG and GDLS-Canada. This order is a follow-on procurement of RS4 systems for the ACSV program, building on previous deliveries to the same platform.

“This contract confirms our customer’s confidence in the PROTECTOR systems and further strengthens our long-term partnership with GDLS-Canada. We are proud that the RS4 continues to be selected as a key capability for the Canadian Armed Forces’ modern vehicle fleet,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra, Executive Vice President, KONGSBERG and President of the Defence Systems division.

KONGSBERG has previously delivered RS4 systems to GDLS-Canada for integration on ACSV vehicles. The new deliveries will further enhance and expand the operational capabilities of the Canadian Army.

The RS4 is part of KONGSBERG’s PROTECTOR family of Remote Weapon Systems, providing high levels of protection, flexibility, and situational awareness for vehicle crews.

The PROTECTOR RS4 is an advanced Remote Weapon System designed to enhance survivability, precision, and operational flexibility for modern military vehicles. The system is in service with defence customers worldwide and can be integrated onto a wide range of vehicle platforms.

August 19, 2026 – Shippagan, New Brunswick – National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has officially welcomed the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Cascumpec Bay into service, strengthening search and rescue capacity in northern New Brunswick and helping crews respond quickly to mariners in distress.

Today, Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst, joined Canadian Coast Guard personnel and community members in Shippagan, New Brunswick, to dedicate the CCGS Cascumpec Bay into service. The dedication marks an important milestone for the vessel and the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which has delivered 20 new high endurance search and rescue lifeboats to the CCG.

The CCGS Cascumpec Bay was built by Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspé, Quebec, and delivered to the CCG in December 2024. Since then, it has been operating out of Shippagan, New Brunswick, supporting search and rescue operations in the region.

With all 20 Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats now delivered through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, CCG crews across the country are equipped with modern, Canadian-built vessels to carry out critical search and rescue operations. Their construction has also supported skilled Canadian jobs and strengthened Canada’s shipbuilding and marine industries.

Quotes

Quick facts

• Clarence Savoie, the vessel’s sponsor, had the honour of officially bestowing the CCGS Cascumpec Bay with its name and wishing “fair winds and good fortune” to all who will sail on the vessel, marking the beginning of its service and enduring legacy. Clarence Savoie is a highly respected member of the Acadian communities in northern New Brunswick, known for his extensive marine knowledge and strong connections to the marine environment.

• In 2018, Chantier Naval Forillon Inc of Gaspé, Quebec, and Hike Metal Products Ltd of Wheatley, Ontario, were awarded the construction of four new Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats each, in addition to the existing contract awarded in 2015 to build six Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats each. The total value of the contracts for these lifeboats was $180 million.

• The CCG’s new Search and Rescue Lifeboats are specifically designed, equipped, and crewed to respond to incidents at sea. These vessels are self-righting and can operate up to 120 nautical miles from shore, always maintaining a maximum 30-minute state-of-readiness with a typical ability to respond the moment an alert is received.

• The CCG’s high-endurance Search and Rescue Lifeboats are referred to as “Bay Class” vessels, as each one is named after a Canadian bay under the Vessel Naming Policy.

• The CCG keeps waterways safe for mariners, protects the marine environment, and responds to approximately 6,000 calls for marine assistance each year.

• To date, 30 small vessels have been delivered to the CCG under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This includes 20 Search and Rescue Lifeboats, two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels, seven Hydrographic Survey Vessels and one Coastal Research Vessel.

• The Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy is a long-term, multi-billion-dollar program focused on renewing the CCG and Royal Canadian Navy fleets. The Strategy enables Canada’s marine agencies to have the modern ships they need to fulfill their missions while revitalizing Canada’s marine industry, creating good middle-class jobs, and maximizing economic benefits across the country.

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Special Bulletin

Hey Gang.

I hope you all had a great weekend. Usually, I would do something like this in a separate post, I partially did on Saturday but wanted it to be out here in our main weekly piece. There are a few things I wanna get out there and remind upon.

First off, I want to remind everyone that I will be in Sweden this week. As such, I will be difficult to reach. There will be no Q&A because I expect to be running around this whole week pretty heavily, amd likely won't have the time. News continues as normal.

Second, and I will be blunt. We will be operating under a reduced schedule the first two weeks of September. Not only is it back-to-school season, but unfortunately, since my recent illness my health has continued to decline fairly noticably.

I have tried to push off anything, and have worked hard to keep myself in the game, but unfortunately I am struggling, a lot. Call it arrogance but I have long thought I didnt have to give much thought to these things, that they would clear up. Unfortunately tis not the case. I have several chronic issues that have been notably more dehabilitating, and a few new issues that have hit me fairly hard.

I have always strived to be honest with all you, because many of you are my friends and I believe as a creator, I need to be ipen and honest with all you. I feel trust is important, very important and part of that comes from being open about difficulties in work.

Truthfully, and some of you have asked me about it, I have not been in it the last two weeks. I have been admitedly checked out. Notes feel hard, posting feels hard at days. Concentration is a chore. I despise it all.

I am lucky, and blessed to have my wife. Not only has she been comforting me, acting as my support, and keeping the house down the last three weeks to allow me space and time to rest, but she has also now taken to supporting TNSR content wise.

I did about three, maybe four posts last week myself, the Newsletter, Sweden announcement, and Signal complex. I wrote out some small notes on a few posts and that was about it for me. The rest of the pressers, admittedly, I am very fortunate my wife has been willing, demanding to learn how to format and do them for me so I didn't have to. Honestly, I couldn't ever remember a lot of the news from last week because I was basically just giving her links and not reading.

I wanted to highlight that because I wanna give her some recognition. If not for her, we wouldn't have done much last week. I feel better now, a lot better since sunday, but up until yesterday afternoon? I was just out of it, no mentality, no feeling. I couldn't be bothered. She also helped for the first time on the newsletter today!

I am lucky to have her. She has always supported me in this, and she didn't have to step up and help me but she did. She took that upon herself and I am so proud and grateful for her for it.

Anyways, we will still keep to the usual, Newsletter, pressers, and Q&A but for those two weeks we will be taking a reduced schedule as I have tried to book in as much appointments and tests as possible into that timeframe.

I deeply apologize to everyone for these hiccups amd faultering in our reporting. Luckily she is willing for a few weeks to help with pressers, which is a big chunk of work off my shoulders. It might mean Noah Notes are temporarily reduced, but we will return them to their normal format.

I thank all of you for your kindness and understanding, and ask for forgiveness in the dip in quality of our reporting the last few weeks. I promise I will come back better and stringer when all is done, and in a few more weeks we will be back to our normal as God and Our Lord Tzeentch intended.

Remember that you can always submit your media and press releases to us at media@truenorthstrategicreview.ca!

• Read up on the latest edition of CanadaxEurope!

• Also CanadaxIndo-Pacific, which is a thing! How cool is that!

• The latest edition of Steffan Watkins RCN Media and Public Awareness Update is up!

• Let’s Talk with Noah (08/08/26): The Holy Munitions, The Navy & UxS, ARes APC, Turkish Drones, NSM, Blackhawk Mania

• Rocket Lab Inks Neutron Launch Deal with Kepler Communications

• General Rick Hillier, Former Chief of the Defence Staff, to Join National Bank as Strategic Defence Advisor

• MDA Space Opens MDA CHORUS™ Control Centre in Québec

• Launch of trilateral cooperation: Germany, Norway, Canada and TKMS begin planning phase for the 212CD program

• New technology enhances explosive threat response

• The Canadian Signal Network & The Canadian All-Domain Defence Concept

• EarthDaily Awarded Canadian Government Contract to Develop AI-Enabled Border Monitoring Demonstration Platform

• CCC, Pratt & Whitney Canada sign 5-year contract with U.S. military for T400 engine parts

• Seaspan Shipyards achieves CPCSC Level 1 Certification to strengthen cybersecurity in Canadian shipbuilding

• CAE announces the final 2026 Meeting Board of Directors election results and welcomes Bruce Ross to its Board of Directors

• Statement from Minister McGuinty on the Defence Team’s Commitment to Official Languages and the Protection of French

• Canadian Armed Forces launch Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK in Canada’s Arctic

• Rheinmetall establishes UK-based autonomous systems centre of excellence, increasing cooperation with Canada

• Canada’s first Autonomous Collaborative Platform is taking off

• THOR’S HAMMER tests Allies against modern threats

• Canadian Armed Forces deliver first-ever care Aboard U.S. Ship at RIMPAC 2026

• CAF participates in MILOPS 2026 to advance Canada’s security through Indo-Pacific partnerships

• Changes To The Next Two Week’s Schedule

• MDA SPACE SATELLITES FOR GLOBALSTAR SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED

• HMCS Charlottetown returns from Operations HORIZON and NEON

• Canada to co-host 28th Annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference: Strengthening Collective Security: Navigating Challenges in a Dynamic Indo-Pacific Landscape

• Ocean Software to Support SkyAlyne for Royal Canadian Air Force Future Aircrew Training Program

• Canada’s largest icebreaker reaches the North Pole

• Canadian Armed Forces announces new Occupational Health and Public Health occupations

• Deloitte warns fixed-price contracts could stall Canada’s Arctic defence buildout

• Breaking the Silos Between Naval Defence and Canada’s Blue Economy

• Indigenous-Led Alliance to Deliver Arctic - Secured Energy Systems Across Canada’s North

• Billions of dollars are set to be invested in defence in Canada: Will organizations be able to benefit from this?

• Canada Conducts Several Military Operations in the Arctic

• Government of Canada Supports Modernisation of Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport

• Canada seeks to acquire long-range strike system widely used in Ukraine war

• Push for co-operation among European shipbuilders could have Canadian ripple effect

• How the RCN is preparing to fight drones

• Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) to host Christmas Daddies fundraiser run

• Indigenous Reconciliation Gathering builds understanding

• HMCS Corner Brook delivers final strike sinking decommissioned warship during RIMPAC

• Pacific Partnership 2026: Canadians making a difference across the Indo-Pacific

• Royal Canadian Sailor recognized for helping save a life during Indo-Pacific deployment

• Canada and the Philippines take defence cooperation to new heights

This Week in Defences Project and Lobbying Updates are supported by Dominion Dynamics Aurion platform. Aurion is an open data platform designed to increase transparency across Canada's defence procurement ecosystem.

• The ACAN for the dry docking and refit of CCGS Grenfell has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the Fall 2026 dry docking of CCGS Sir William Alexander has been updated with a new documentation

• The RFP for the Autumn 2026 refit of CCGS Des Groseilliers has been updated with new documentation

• We have two new MINERVA projects! We have one for Arctic Uncrewed Air Systems and another for Light Uncrewed Ground Systems for Surveillance and Reconnaissance that have been released

• The RFI for the Acquisition of a new Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) Fuel Barge has been updated with new documentation

• The RFI for the Worldwide Satellite Communications – Protected Milsatcom Tactical (WSC-PMT) Project has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the Uncrewed Aircraft System - Light has been updated with new documentation

• L3Harris Technologies Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities

• Canada Rocket Company has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the companies capabilities and offerings, launch licences and export controls, and the development of dual-use technology in Canada

• Leonardo Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities

• Railo Technology Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including contract opportunities for technical services related to vessel capability and design, port infrastructure and terminal ice management, and Arctic port development and shipbuilding policy

• Marconi Technologies has filed a new record with The Fortin Consulting Group looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings as a sovereign manufacturer of voice, data, and radio communication systems

• 49North has filed a new record with Prospectus Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including funding opportunities, defence procurement policy, and discussions on C4ISR integration, advanced sensing and radar technologies, autonomous systems, and in-service support

• CAE has filed a new record with Prospectus Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including Canada’s potential contributions to global security, Defence Procurement Policy, defence training contracts, the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program, and the Operational Training System Program (OTSP)

• Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has filed a new record with PAA Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government in support of the companies participation in the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program

• GSCI Advanced Photonics has filed a new record with David Pratt & Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities related to electro-optical sights

• Arctic Gateway Group has filed a new record with Wellington Dupont looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities to rebuild the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway

• Bombardier has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including aerospace trade agreements, aircraft certification, export permits and controlled goods, research and development tax incentives, and aircraft financing support

• Aecon Group has filed a new record with Vantage Canada looking to engage the Federal Government on public infrastructure initiatives

• ATCO has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including energy transition legislation, environmental regulation, buildings, camps, and logistical services for defence, critical infrastructure resilience and cybersecurity, and modular housing

• Port Saint John has filed a new record with The Porter O’Brien Agency looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the Port’s authorized borrowing limit and funding opportunities for port modernization

• Fleet Zero has filed a new record with WinStrategies looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities supporting low and zero emissions fleet vehicle adoption

• Roshel has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Eric Sheikh, Director Support Vehicle Program Management at National Defence, Tu-Quynh Nguyen, Senior Director at Public Services and Procurement Canada, Mohan Denetto, Director General at Public Services and Procurement Canada, Lindsay Dencsak, Director Combat Support Equipment Management at National Defence, Demetrios Xenos, Director General at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and John MacInnis, General Director at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• General Motors of Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Renee Filiatrault, Senior Advisor at National Defence, David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, Judith Bennett, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence, and Kevin Brosseau, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Bell Helicopter Textron Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Judith Bennett, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence, James Cudmore, Chief of Staff at Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement

• Irving Shipbuilding has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Andrew Green, Director of Operations at National Defence

• Dominion Dynamics has filed new communications detailing meetings with Jeffery Smyth, Major-General and Chief Air and Space Force Development of the RCAF, with Denis O’Reily, Major-General and Deputy Commander of the RCAF, and with Riley Hennessey, Chief of Staff of Defence Research and Development Canada at National Defence

• Clairvest has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Renée Filiatrault, Senior Advisor in the Minister’s Office, Hilary Hendriks, Senior Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, Kevin Brosseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence, Jean-François Juneau, Acting Senior Director at National Defence, David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, and Radey Barrack, Director of Policy in the Minister’s Office

• Top Aces has filed new communications detailing meetings with Judith Bennett, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence, and with Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Lockheed Martin has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Heather Sheehy, Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence, and Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence

• Boeing Canada Operations has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Lieutenant-General and Commander of the RCAF, and Stephan Van der Mele, Policy Advisor at National Defence

• Airbus Defence and Space Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Jeff Smyth, Major-General at National Defence, Judith Bennett, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence, and Kevin Fizpatrick, Director General at National Defence

• Magellan Aerospace has filed new communications detailing meetings with Renee Filiatrault, Policy Advisor at National Defence, and with David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

• Draganfly has filed new communications detailing meetings with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Robert Gray, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence, and with Michael Wright, Lieutenant-General and Commander of the Canadian Army

• SkyCan Systems has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Ty Curran, Deputy Director General at National Defence

• Theon Sensors has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Alexa Kalsatos, Senior Operations and Regional Advisor (Ontario) to the Minister of National Defence, Conor Lewis, Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, Samuel Serviss, Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff at National Defence, and Judith Bennett, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence

• Canada Rocket Company has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Alexa Kalsatos, Senior Operations and Regional Advisor (Ontario) to the Minister of National Defence, and Conor Lewis, Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office

• CADEX Defence has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Renee Filiatrault, Senior Advisor at National Defence

• Maerospace has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Marc Mes, Assistant Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard

• Calian Group has filed new communications detailing meetings with Heather Sheehy, Associate Deputy Minister, Materiel Group at National Defence, and with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence

• Telesat has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

• Kepler Communications has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Wendy Hadwen, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Cohere has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Conair Group has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Conor Lewis, Senior Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, and Quinn Rinke, Special Assistant, West and North Regional Advisor at National Defence

• Ocean Group has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Tyler Andrew, Manager at National Defence

• ITPS Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Alexa Kalsatos, Senior Operations and Regional Advisor (Ontario) to the Minister of National Defence

• IMT Group has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Mark McKiel, Director General Joint Equipment Program Management at National Defence

• Stelumar Advanced Manufacturing has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Hilary Hendriks, Senior Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, Kevin Brosseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence, and Paola Zurro, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Forces Housing Agency

• Modular Building Institute has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Paola Zurro, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Forces Housing Agency

• Nunavut Tunngavik has filed new communications detailing meetings with Gwendolyn Culver, Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Issues Management in the Minister’s Office, and with Peter Hammerschmidt, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence

• There are shockingly no real rumors for this week. I had two, but went back to verification after somw doubts. Rare we have no rumors, but it does happen from time to time, esepcially the summer slowdown.

• If you want something? There is some expectation the new defence policy will be announced around budget. It is said to at least be SSE-sized, if not larger. Key items to watch are CDC, MCAV, HDFM, and Airlift apparently. Also expect some teasers of it from a few upcoming documents.

Preventive Medicine Technicians (PMed Techs) have long played a critical role in protecting the health of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel. Through public and occupational health programs, they support disease prevention and surveillance, infection prevention and control, and workplace hazard identification and exposure monitoring, across the full spectrum of CAF operations.

A need for change

The PMed Tech occupation recently underwent a comprehensive occupational analysis that identified challenges with its structure, including an exceptionally broad scope of responsibilities spanning two different fields and a need for up-to-date regulatory and professional standards. These challenges made it difficult for members to maintain their full professional scope, reduced job satisfaction, and contributed to personnel turnover, creating staffing pressures and challenges in meeting CAF operational requirements.

A way forward: Introducing two new health protection occupations

As a result, the PMed Tech occupation will be retired and replaced by two new occupations: Occupational Health Technologist (OHT) and Public Health Officer (PHO). Preserving and modernizing PMed Tech expertise, these new occupations will provide distinct specialties in Force Health Protection, enabling more focused training, greater depth of expertise, and enhanced operational effectiveness.

The OHT occupation will focus on managing occupational health hazards in Defence Team workplaces through prevention and surveillance. This includes identifying, inspecting, and responding to occupational exposures and environmental conditions that may pose health risks, such as mould, lighting, thermal stress, vibration, radiation, laser exposure, noise, indoor air, and ventilation issues. OHTs will also support occupational health programs and workplace health protection initiatives, contributing to CAF personnel readiness.

The PHO occupation will focus on managing communicable diseases and public health hazards across the Department of National Defence. This includes identifying, inspecting, and responding to public health risks related to food, water, waste, insects or other pests that can spread disease, and infectious disease threats. PHOs will also support commanders in identifying and reducing health threats to personnel at home and abroad.

Benefits and next steps

These new occupations will reflect similar professions in the civilian workforce, improving alignment with recognized professional standards and practices. This is expected to increase attraction and retention of CAF personnel by offering clear career pathways and increased professional recognition both within and outside the military.

To begin this transition, current PMed Techs will undergo a Compulsory Occupational Transfer into either OHT or PHO based on personal preferences, qualifications, and service requirements. Career management support and training pathways have been developed to ensure continuity in the delivery of force health protection services, minimize disruptions to operational capabilities, and to support members’ continued service within the CAF.

For more information on these occupation changes, please contact the implementation team at OHTPHOimpl-ImplTHTOSP@forces.gc.ca.

August 17, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard

Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Louis S. St-Laurent, Canada’s largest, most powerful icebreaker, reached the North Pole on August 16 as part of its 2026 Arctic deployment.

The transit supports Canada’s work to define the country’s continental shelf and map its outer limits under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea. As part of the ongoing 2024-2027 missions in support of Natural Resources Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent is collecting high-resolution geoscience and hydrographic data in the Arctic. The mission demonstrates Canada's ability to operate safely and effectively in one of the world's most challenging environments while advancing important national interests in the Arctic.

Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers are among the most capable and powerful in the world, operated by some of the most experienced crews, and able to reach remote and hard-to-access areas across Canada’s Arctic. Through its enduring presence and operations in Canada’s Arctic waters, the Canadian Coast Guard reinforces Canada’s sovereignty and security in the North.

The Canadian Coast Guard’s summer operational season runs annually from June to November to support Northern communities, carry out services, and support Government of Canada Arctic missions.

Quotes

Noah Note: Not mentioned here, or really much anywhere, but this is part of the Canada-Sweden Arctic Ocean Expedition. CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent was joined this year, as last by the Swedish Icebreaker Oden. Oden has actually been a featured friend for several years in the Canadian Arctic, and this is the second consecutive year she joined Louis to the North Pole.

Here are some of the photos from the Swedish side of the expedition from this year and last:

August 19, 2026 // Melbourne, Australia and Ottawa, Canada — Ocean Software has been selected by SkyAlyne to provide the Resource Management and Scheduling (RM&S) capability as part of the training system supporting Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Under the agreement, Ocean will deliver its FlightPRO and TAMS solutions to support the planning, scheduling and management of training operations across the FAcT program, with implementation activities expected to commence in the coming months.

SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace, is the Prime Contractor for the FAcT program, which will modernize pilot and aircrew training for the RCAF. The program will operate from 15 Wing Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan), 15 Wing Southport (Manitoba), and 17 Wing Winnipeg (Manitoba), and includes introducing five new training aircraft fleets – with 71 total new aircraft. The program is managed jointly by industry, RCAF, and government from a Joint Management Office in Ottawa (Ontario).

Today’s announcement builds on more than 20 years of partnership between Ocean and the RCAF, with FlightPRO supporting training management, personnel readiness, scheduling and operational coordination across the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) and Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) programs, the predecessors to FAcT.

“Canada has been one of Ocean’s most important defence partnerships for more than 20 years,” said Pete Smith, CEO of Ocean Software. “We are proud to be working with SkyAlyne in support of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s transition to the Future Aircrew Training program. FAcT represents a significant investment in the future of Canadian military aviation, and we are pleased to contribute proven capability already trusted across the RCAF enterprise.”

“FAcT represents a significant step forward in how Canada trains its future pilots and aircrew,” said Kevin Lemke, General Manager of SkyAlyne. “Ocean Software’s long-standing experience across existing RCAF training programs provides a strong foundation as we modernise training and deliver a world-class capability for the Royal Canadian Air Force.”

ABOUT

Ocean Software

With more than 30 years of defence experience, Ocean Software delivers mission-critical operational readiness solutions supporting air, land, maritime and joint domains. Ocean’s proven expertise and dependable delivery underpin use in 17 nations across the globe.

Learn more: ocean.software

SkyAlyne: The Future of Aircrew Training

SkyAlyne is the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program provider for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). SkyAlyne is a team of defence, training, simulation, and aviation industry experts assembled from across Canada, working to prepare the next generation of RCAF Pilots and Aircrew. SkyAlyne was formed in 2018 as a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace, two Canadian aviation, training, and defence leaders.

Learn more: SkyAlyne.ca

August 17, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The 28th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) conference will be held in Victoria, Canada from August 31 to September 2, 2026. The conference will be co-hosted by Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, and the Commander of United States (U.S.) Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo.

This year’s theme, “Strengthening Collective Security: Navigating Challenges in a Dynamic Indo-Pacific Landscape” will bring together senior miliary leaders, practitioners and regional experts to discuss regional security issues, including non-defence and non-military perspectives.

A total of 32 countries have been invited to participate this year. Held annually since 1998, the conference brings together senior military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability among allies and partners.

When: Monday, August 31 to Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Where: Victoria Conference Centre, 20 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 3M7

August 17, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia, following a six-month deployment from February to August 2026 to the Indo-Pacific region in support of Operations HORIZON and NEON.

While deployed, HMCS Charlottetown strengthened interoperability with 15 allied and partner nations through multinational exercises such as KAKADU, BALIKATAN, and VALIANT SHIELD, cooperative engagements, and maritime security activities, including a range of maritime, aviation, and diving operations.

The deployment demonstrated the Royal Canadian Navy's ability to deploy and sustain combat-ready forces globally, alongside allies and partners, strengthening regional security and reaffirming Canada's commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Quotes

Quick facts

• During its six-month deployment, HMCS Charlottetown spent more than 150 days at sea, sailed over 45,000 nautical miles across the Indo-Pacific, and visited 13 ports in 10 countries.

• HMCS Charlottetown conducted live-fire surface engagement exercises, demonstrated anti-submarine warfare capabilities, carried out helicopter training, and performed engineering diving operations.

• As part of Operation HORIZON, HMCS Charlottetown supported Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy through increased military presence, exercises, and defence cooperation in the region.

• As part of Operation NEON, HMCS Charlottetown contributed to the multinational effort to implement United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, upholding international law and supporting regional maritime security.

• HMCS Charlottetown is a Halifax-class frigate crewed by approximately 240 sailors and aviators, including an embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter detachment.

• Halifax-class frigates form the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy's surface fleet and support operations at home and around the world.

First set of eight satellites for Globalstar 2-R mission deployed to low Earth orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the beginning of the commissioning phase

TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2026 /CNW/ -- MDA Space Ltd. (TSX: MDA) (NYSE: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, confirms the successful deployment of the initial eight replenishment satellites for Globalstar Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GSAT) existing low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation. Developed and fully integrated and tested in Montréal, the satellites were launched on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at 9:12 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and will now undergo a series of in-orbit tests as part of the commissioning phase.

This marks a defining moment in MDA Space history, as these LEO satellites are the first to be delivered by MDA Space as a prime contractor for commercial communications constellations.

"This program for Globalstar marked a major transformation in our design and high-volume satellite production process, enabling us to accelerate development and manufacturing," said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. "With the execution of this constellation nearing completion, and with our new high-volume manufacturing facility now in operation, we are ramping up even further, giving us the capacity to meet customer requirements as market demand increases."

The remaining nine satellites on order are in the final stages of integration at MDA Space. Once fully operational on orbit, they will enable Globalstar to extend the life of its existing constellation, which supports direct-to-device satellite-enabled services on select mobile phones and IoT applications.

ABOUT MDA SPACE

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA; NYSE:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global defence and space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The global MDA Space team of more than 4,000 space experts has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission--bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that's been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we'll take you there. For more information, visit mda.space.

I hope you're all doing well. As we come closer to the end of the Summer, I've been working on several projects of interest that I think will be exciting for you all. Among those is another trip!

I will be heading to Sweden from the 18th-25th to attend this years centennial Jubilee Air Show in Linköping, Sweden. While I am there, I will also get a chance to meet qith various officials from Swedish governmentand Industry! While I can't go into detail yet on what we will be doing, I can say that it'll be fun.

Secondly, the Week of the 23rd we will have a new Interview go up, which I know will be our first in a fair while. I can't say who it'll be just yet, but I promose it'll also be really fun!

Because of that, we will be under limited posting mext week, as well we won't have a Q&A put up next week as I expect to be running around a lot while over there. I apologize. To make up for it, we will be having a lot of Swedish frontline content going up! Including coverage of the Air Show on the 22nd.

Keep in mind, this will also mean limited availability for myself next week! Same as Korea. I will try to keep in touch with folks if I can.

A Canadian Defence Team delegation participated in the 37th annual international Military Law and Operations (MILOPS) strategic engagement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from August 3 to 6, reinforcing Canada's commitment to addressing shared security challenges alongside allies and partners.

The delegation, comprising seven Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and one civilian Defence Team member, was led by Lieutenant-General Derek Macaulay, Canada's Senior Military Representative to the Indo-Pacific, and Major-General Robin Holman, Judge Advocate General.

Co-hosted by U.S. Pacific Command and the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, MILOPS brought together approximately 250 military, legal, and policy professionals from more than 30 nations. Through 55 guest speakers and expert panels, participants explored the intersection of law, military operations, and policy while sharing practical approaches to strengthening legal interoperability, operational cooperation, and regional security.

For Canada, participation in MILOPS reflects the priorities outlined in Our North, Strong and Free and Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. Both recognize that Canada's security and prosperity are strengthened through cooperation with allies and partners, respect for international law, and collective responses to shared security challenges.

Lieutenant-General Macaulay participated in the panel, The Future Security of the Polar Regions, where discussions examined how strategic competition, technological change, climate change, and international law are reshaping the Arctic. He highlighted Canada's approach to safeguarding Arctic sovereignty through sustained military presence, modernized capabilities and close cooperation with allies, including through NORAD and NATO.

"Canada's security is strengthened through trusted partnerships. Whether in the Arctic or the Indo-Pacific, we work alongside allies and partners to uphold international law, reduce the risk of conflict, and promote regional stability," said Lieutenant-General Macaulay.

Major-General Holman joined the panel, Contemporary Legal Challenges and Opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, where discussions focused on the role of international law in maintaining regional stability. He highlighted how shared legal frameworks and legal interoperability enable partners to respond effectively to evolving security challenges while supporting a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

"International law is more than a legal framework. It builds trust, strengthens interoperability, and enables partners to operate together effectively in support of peace and security. MILOPS provides an invaluable opportunity to deepen those relationships," said Major-General Holman.

The value of MILOPS extends well beyond the conference venue. The Indo-Pacific is home to many of Canada's largest trading partners and some of the world's busiest maritime trade routes, making regional stability important to Canada's economy and national security. At the same time, safeguarding Canada's Arctic remains essential to protecting Canada's sovereignty and the defence of North America.

By participating in MILOPS, the Canadian Defence Team strengthened the relationships, legal interoperability, and shared understanding that help allies and partners respond collectively to emerging challenges. Those efforts support Canada's national interests and contribute to a safer, more secure future for Canadians.

When referring to Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime biennial exercise, the medical component may not be what comes to mind. However, RIMPAC 2026 marked a significant milestone: for the first time, Canadian medical personnel provided real-world medical care to patients aboard USS Essex (LHD 2), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Forward Surgical Team (FST), consisting of a trauma surgeon, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, anesthesiologist and transfusion medicine specialist, emergency physician, operating room nurse, and operating room technician, embarked USS Essex on July 2 for approximately one month to provide combined Role 2 medical capabilities, at sea to allied and partner personnel participating in RIMPAC 26.

Lieutenant-Commander Sebastian Vuong, Anesthesiologist and Transfusion Medicine Specialist with 1 Canadian Field Hospital, was impressed by how quickly the teams came together.

"Most of us had never met before the start of RIMPAC. Within just a few days, we had integrated seamlessly into mixed surgical teams made up of Canadian, and U.S. personnel."

Aboard USS Essex, the CAF FST worked alongside U.S. Navy Fleet Surgical Team 5, the U.S. Army 105th Surgical Augmentation Detachment, and the Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team (CMERT), operating as a single multinational medical capability. Led by Major Nadine Verwey, CMERT is a medical evacuation and en route critical care capability. that bridges the gap between the point of injury (Role 1) and higher-level medical facilities (Role 2 or Role 3).

The combined teams participated in a humanitarian assistance and disaster response mass casualty exercise. This provided an opportunity to become familiar with the ship's extensive medical facilities, which include four operating rooms, a 15-bed intensive care unit, a 36-bed ward, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, a blood bank, dental services, pharmacy, and primary care facilities.

Master Corporal Claire MacDonald, an Operating Room Technician, reflected on the opportunity: "It's been an incredible opportunity to sail aboard a U.S. Navy ship and work alongside a multinational surgical team. I look forward to bringing those experiences back to Canada, helping us continue to build an even stronger and more interoperable surgical capability."

The successful integration of Canadian personnel demonstrated Canada's growing role as a trusted partner in multinational expeditionary medical operations and highlighted the CAF's ability to deliver advanced healthcare capabilities in complex maritime environments.

RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. 30 nations, 30 ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft, and more than 30,000 personnel participated in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands from June 24 to July 31.