Minor MEDCAV and HDFM Updates from Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicles

Noah Note

A quick one today. The folks at Shephard Media have some updates coming in form Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicles event in Farnborough. While these events are oftentimes fairly lacking in Canadian content, it seems like we have been blessed with some minor updates.

Specifically, we have some new looks at both MEDCAV and the Heavy Direct Fire Modernization project coming out of the event. Let's start with the quote about MEDCAV:

“Canada is looking to buy more than 250 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) which could be fielded as early as before the end of the decade, according to sources at Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicles conference this month.

The original objective had been to field the vehicles in 2035 but, under details revealed at the conference, Canada is aiming to expedite the process to have the vehicles in the hands of soldiers by 2029-31.

The AFVs are for the Canadian Army’s armoured cavalry forces with a focus on STANAG Level 6 blast protection and high tactical mobility.”

While this aligns fairly well with the timeline we hav been reporting here, the new addition of some requirements and numbers is welcomed. This is the first time I am hearing any media diavussing numbers. The only numbers I have heard, as many of you know, is up to four-hundred.

We now have a low-end to work with in 250 vehicles. This is the first time I am hearing that number myself, and it provides a nice general scope of 250-400 vehicles that the MEDCAV team is likely looking at. As we have discussed before, under the current plans the future Manoeuvre Division of the Canadian Army aims to field two MEDCAV Battalions as part of the ongoing reorganization.

As we also discussed a few weeks ago three seperate options have been initially identified as fulfilling the requirements set out by MEDCAV. Those are the BAE CV90, Hanwha Redback, and Rheinmetall Lynx, All of them, after thiz initial glance, would remain in hypothetical contention.

Funny enough I also heard Ajax was an option, but like… yeah… no. Anywho, a bit of a refresher for those a bit behind on our MEDCAV rumors. We've talked about it a lot the last few Let's Talks, so it's always nice to get someone else speaking about it but myself. The timeline aligns to pur 2030/2031 timeline, which is why I always say to expect this to move fast. There's not only a desire, but a mandate to try and get this done.

As for HDFM we get this little note:

“At the same time, Canada expects to complete the upgrade of its current Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks (MBTs) to a new Leopard 2A6M standard by 2033. The country’s 103 Leopard 2A4, 2A4M and 2A6M vehicles are being supported through a contract awarded in 2024 and these are expected to remain operational until 2035.

Parallel to this, Canada plans to “identify and begin procurement” of a new platform by 2030. Under the plan, the upgraded and new MBTs will likely form the basis of an additional armoured battalion and companies, which will be fully operational by 2037”

Not necessarily something new. This is again well aligned to what we discussed last week. Of course we have a general timeline before 2035 to see deliveries, as we said before. However, again, while this isnt new information I do always like to refresh people, and highlight when projects that usually only we talk about are out there in the wider media.

1. Perhaps it is time to talk about MEDCAV properly? Maybe something for this weekend. My hands hurt a lot right now, and I feel exhausted.