CANSEC Day 1 Recap: In Photos
CANSEC
Hello everyone, and welcome to this years CANSEC Day 1 recap! I apologize that it is so late today, lots to do and I spent a few hours trying to clean some of these photos up. Today we have photos from 21 companies, a bit less than I wished, but it was also a veey busy day.
I apologize for that. I hope to have lots more tomorrow! Sadly I got caught in meetings today so could only get so many. Also, do you guys like this format? Or do you prefer an actual hosting of these images not in a regular substack post, since we will have several hundred by the time this is done.
Let me know, I won't keep you waiting, enjoy ghe photos!
Hanwha
Hanwha this year almost entirely focused on the KSS-III. It was submarines, submarines, submarines here. The booth was fairly simple, model and video accompanying. That isnt necessarily a bad setup, and the video was very informative to a lot of the technical details.
I didn't get the whole video, too crowded all day, but did get some snaps of it! I'll get more tomorrow.
Kongsberg
Kongsbergs booth this year features a lot of the same as last. I didn't get to all of it, but did snap these. A showcase video of the comoanies submarine systems, including their line of sensors that will go into the 212CD, a lifesize JSM, Hugin again, and some 360 models of thr Vanguard, not the Coast Guard version, but one of the more generic ones. I will try to get some video tomorrow of videos proper, or at least more photos. The Kongsberg team is great though, super friendly and were willing to engage a lot.
Ultra Maritime
Ultra I didn't get to talk to today. Sadly they were very busy. They did have a model of Sea Spear though! Really cool system they're working on with Anduril, a deployable acoustic array integrated with AI processing and autonomous capabilities. Cool to see!
General Dynamics
The LAV 10x10! I didnt get many photos of amything else because I was focused on this lol. Yes, GDLSC beoughr a whole LAV 10x10, woth some notable differences in the hull design, like the larger engine block, compared to her Swiss Sister. So she isn't just a swiss model.
I was shocked that they thought to bring her, honestly. I wouldn't expect in a million years to see one at CANSEC, let alone inside the main hall. That is absolutely unreal to consider. I tried to include the photo of the many LAV variants as well, for viewing pleasure. No different from last year really.
BAE Systems
Beowulf was shown with GDLS, but the people I spoke there with were BAE and it is a BAE product. So I include it here. BAE has a lot going for it this year. Beowulf is beautiful, and I got the full sit inside! I was surprised to learn just how much of it is commercial-off-the-shelf, and that both it amd the BvS10 still share a lot of commonality.
A surprising amlunt of thought went into it at least, amd I am grateful for them spekaing to me. Also included was a model of Herne, BAEs codevelopment XLUUV with Cellula Robotics. Basically Cellula provides the actual platform, which is one of their Guardian XLUUV, and BAE provides the Nautomate software.
I like Cellula, a lot, they're nice dudes. This is an area of collaboration, especially CAN-UK Collaboration, that works really well. Srcher is here, and so is a Tempest model. Funny that huh? BAE guys were happy about the Canadian interest. Gotta show off the goods!
Sig Sauer
The MG 338 and M250! Got a great chance to see these guys up close, and I couldn't be happier. Really great guns, lightweight, look beautiful. Swapping between barrels could be a speedrun, and the team there are awesome about putting in a show and showing off!
Vard
One I know many of you were waiting on..the Vigilance 105 Corvette is Vards latest offering. Lets recap a bit on the specs:
107.7m
~3000t
>23 kn
60 days Endurance
57mm Main Gun
2x 30mm RWS
2x 12.7mm Guns
8x NSM Launcher
Minimum 16 -Cell Mk41 VLS
About as true a corvette as one can make it, just breaking the 105m limit, which they confirmed is no longer bwing discussed. Aft mission space for up to 4 TEU, and a modular Boat Bay that can accompany uncrewed systems. Thales sensors stay, UAS caoable hanger with a Cyclone-rated flight deck if needed.
That 16-cells can be expanded to 32 if requested, making these a very fighty corvette if desired. Definetly not playing around. Also capable of being strengthen up to a PC 6 level if needed, can confirm.
Also included was an AOPS model and a Black Shark torpedo model. Might be forgotten that fincantieri owns Vard, but stuff like this reminds quick lol.
SAAB
SAAB BROUGHT A WHOLE ASS GRIPEN AND A CORVETTE. On top of Globaleye winning, they remain peak at CANSEC. Saab does not play. I didn't take much, because I'll see them tomorrow. So I just snapped these quick. I plan to spend some good time tomorrow, and get in the Gripen as god intended. Saab wins CANSEC based off all of this alone, as well as having Carl G to hold and the RBS-70 simulator again.
Anyways, Borealis. I have zero clue who Saab will partner with here. Irving maybe? They havent shown a design yet. This is likely an evolution of the OG Lulea concept. Features very similar to the other corvettes, 16-cells, 8-NSM, Saab sensor suite obviously. I didnt get a chance to talk to anyone, nor get a great look as the display wasnt really responding well. I will try tomorrow, but wanted to highlight.
TKMS
I had a very long, in-depth talk with the TKMS folks today. I love that they're always open for conversations, deep ones here. You get to learn a lot. Sea Hake, a 212CD model, SeaSpider, and their SeaCat UUV are all here today. I gotta go back to see ORCCA.
Interesting thing was how customizable a lot of things are. Sea Hake here is the Mod4, but the future Mod5 is looking really cool, with a software-defined architecture for easy upgrades and integration of future technologies, a swapable payload architecture not just for payloads, but also for things like the battery system, allowing for customization in the choice of batteries one wants to use. They plan to come with Lithium-ion.
Like stacking blocks together lol. It was interesting to hear how customizable they will be for a torpedo. A lot of it is being built for open architecture and a decades long upgrade chain, which js interesting to me. SeaCat is also cool, a UUV with a similar Open Architecture concept and, apparently, a very large, customizable payload bay.
I also learnt that SeaSpider is almost ready for acceptance and they expect to see the first delivered next year, which is very surprising because I thought it was out until 2028? That was a big surprise to me.
Also got to hear about the 600,000 lifetime jobs that the company estimates would be created by a TKMS win in CPSP, over $80 billion in economic potential over the next 15 years. That caught my ear hearing that, because until now TKMS has been stealthy on it. Like Hanwha I wonder how they got their numbers, but it is an interesting rhing to know what numbers they're presenting the feds.
Lockheed Martin
Most of the Lockheed booth remained the same this year, a few changes with the loss of the TF-50 and the inclusion of the AutonoHawk, which is absolutely adorable. Other than that things remain relatively the same as last year. I didn't get a chance to speak with anyone, and there was a simulator there so maybe that will be for tomorrow? All in all fairly standard. Do love the missiles though, and an updated River-class Destroyer model with LEED lol.
Seaspan
Another heavy hitter today, Seaspan showcases their own in-house concept for the Continental Defence Corvette. That's right, entirely in-house by Seaspan without a design partner. Unfortunately im told this model is slightly outdated, but I still think it is cool to see.
A lot of the same here as others, sixteen cell MK.41, Aft Payload space for 4 TEU or FEU if needed, a Central Mission and Boat Bay, UAS Hanger with Cyclone-rated flight deck. A lot of it is similar to others here, including Vard and Saab. A lot of the designs are going off the minimums set by the navy when it comes to CDC.
This is a bit more basic than the other two, where I'm told a lot is just placeholders and not really much un terms of sensors or secondary armaments is set. It is still cool to see, and of course we get the usual Icebreaker models.
GM
GM is back rhis year with the LUV and LTV-C, A very unique LTV-C. I wish there was more I could say here, but is the same, standard Silverado of other years. I sadly did not get to take a picture of the video as people were in the way, but there is a 6x6 version of GMs Next-Gen Tactical Vehicle and it is as cursed as you think.
Ill try to get a photo tomorrow.
HFI Pyrotechnics
One photo, but a cool one. HFI is one of Canada’s leading Pyrotechnic companies, and one we don't really talk about here. I don't really know much about them, but I had an awesome chat with their team, where I got a walk through of their many training aids, decoys, and flares. I didn't know they had access to a 500-acre manufacturing and testing facility available to them.
It goes to show, no matter how much youre in this space, there are always lots of people who will surprise you by what the can and are doing. Such a massive facility, and apparently they have quite the extensive lost of customers, including NASA!
Telesat
Intellian with Telesat, only photo I apparently took despite the fact I thought I took more. This is their man-portable, collapsible, flat panel terminals. Intellian works eith Telesat to develop these terminals, whoch will be a core offering along with Lightspeed.
Airbus Helicopters
Airbus brought out the full display today, and it was beautiful. Airbus is committed to being Canadas major rotary supplier. The folks I talked to made it clear, they want to expand manufacturing in Canada, want to do more here, and believe they are equipped with the catalogue to provide it.
That was the core messaging I heard. I didn't get a chance to sit in sadly, their booth as you omagine was extremely busy when I was around. The H145M obviously interests me, as Airbus believes they can make a case for it's value in Canada and for the CAF as a versatile platform for both Phase 1 of NtACS and as a compelments to the wider initiative.
Take note of the rocket pod and SPIKE paired to the 145M. I was pleasently happy to hear them talk about the 145 as a potential CUAS platform utilizing things like gun pods, rockets, and non-kinetic countermeasures. I was also happy to hear that Airbus was further working on refining Manned-Unmanned Teaming directly into their future offers, with significant trsts planned soon.
I was really happy to enjoy at least five minutes speaking. Tomorrow I will try to talk more, and get some inside shots!
Roshel
If Roshel wanted to make me happy, they VERY much succeeded today. It's like they took my list of things I wanted, and delivered them directly to me.
Vampire-equipped Senator? Here. An ExtremV on-site? Here. A Senator WITH IT'S OWN INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION AS EVERYONE HAS WAITED ON? HERE. I am so happy. I am just over the moon. This booth only existed to make me happy, and I'm okay with that.
We also got our first look at the Senator LUV, which is actually utilizing a F-550 chassis, and oh boy is it something. Roshel manages, in thr F-550 footprint, to not only develop a pretty sleek, lightweight add-on armour kit but also integrate a V-shaped hull into this thing.
Yes, the SENLUV has a V-shaped hull. I was shocked to hear it too. The SENLUV takes a very COTS approach, utilizing as much base ford supply chain as possible, something we previously speculated on. It comes in both single and double cab configurations, utilizing the 6.7L V8. It can be equipped with a manual or electric turret, Night Vision System, Run-Fkat System CBRN protection, just the same as the Senator. Both utilizing the same chassis.
The SENLUV can support payloads of upwards of 4t, which is absolutely insane. All of this, mind you, in the same footprint of the standard 550, and fairly smaller than the SENRAP or SENUP. It is amazing what Roshel has bedn able to do here. Sadly, couldn't talk long but got the major details.
Roshel plans to offer the SENLUV for both Phase I and Phase II, depending on whats wanted. The Senator might take Phase II, but if not thr SENLUV acts as a backup option that still provides PMV-levels of protection. Amazing.
Not pictured here is the SENMED, which I need to take a picture inside of still. It's really cool too
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall this year once again took a model approach indoors, save the always lovely Mission Master UGV. Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear they call them. I find that cute.
Mission Master is a Canadian success, widely recognized as one of the best UGV families on the market today, built and developed in Canada eith a Canadian chassis. It is a testament to the work we can do in advanced sectirs like Autonomous systems. It is very much a Canadian product, and one im always happy to see.
Skyranger is here, obviously. Looking as beautiful as always. We also got to see the proper RCH-155. Rheinmetall is also bidding the AGM along with General Dynamics, though is utilizing Boxer as the primary vehicle it is integrated with. I do wonder if that is awkward at all. I didn't ask.
Lastly we have the Voyager D12, which is coming from UTV whom Rhein is partnered with for DAME. I was happy to get updates on the D12s development, as it is still in development. I am told the hybrid system is working excellent, has demonstrated great efficency in cold weather testing, and the platform is ready to go for any potential trials!
I was very happy to hear that, and hope we see more of the D12 in the coming months. Those I know who have been in it have been very happy with it.
Logistiks Unikorp
For the SOCEM fans. There isn't much to say. Its the same stuff we k ow is coming, and sadly no ome would talk to me. I wish there was more I could say, but it is what we already know.
CADEX
CADEX! I forgot they did night vision for a moment so was really confused when I saw it. They had a nice display of the CDX family, though sadly I could not hold any. I also could not talk very much with how busy it was there when I went.
Edison Motors
Want a Hybrid Ram? Edison has you covered. The boys at Edison are here, and it was their first CANSEC, so I had to check them out! They're a good group of down to earth boys, and I love them. I was very happy to discuss the future range of their platforms, from Defence to Mining.
The Hybrid BDE is their coming outbthst they can tackle the issue of electrification in a way that is affordable, scalable, and practical. The team was very commited to showcasing their battery systems capabilities, and boy let me tell you, they dont play.
For Edison defence is an area I think they're committed too. I got the feeling they're in this to serious compete as Canada's only Heavy-Duty manufacturer, and one that aligns with Canada's wider electrification push. I am excited to see where they go, and how far they can take this.
Volatus Aerospace
I had to see Volatus. I just had to do it. The company was more than happy to gove me the show around their lot, including both their own and their partners UAS systems. Volatus is working with several companies to Canadize and expand their peoduct offerings.
That includes the Dufour Aerospace Aero2 transport UAS, with a usable payload of 36kg. That includes their Condor UAS, Their REKAM Multirole platform, and a whole host of others I didn't get a chance to do photos of.
I have also been told work on their new manufaxturing facility on Mirabel is progressing very well, and should be able to come online as scheduled!
Awesome report….though I am sure your poor feet are feeling it. So big thanks for the report for all of us who can’t go.
Welldone Noah, could see the excitement from how quickly you took some of the shots and how happy you were to be there.
This bit caught my attention and was wondeidng if the arrival of the KS-III in Esquimalt has really put some heat on TKMS, and with only a month before the final bidder is picked, they're now ready to disclose value their platform can add beyond just an equipment sale.
"600,000 lifetime jobs that the company estimates would be created by a TKMS win in CPSP, over $80 billion in economic potential over the next 15 years".
Did you see any international militaries attend the show, I'd like to see coverage of maybe some countrys' military officials you were able to spot and maybe some things that were of interest to them at CANSEC too?
My top ones from your visit are:
1. Saab
2. Roshel
3. Airbus
4. Volatus Aerospace
5. Logistik new CAF uniform & belt.