This Week in Defence (03/16/26): SPAAAACCCE, Arctic Investments, Carney goes Scandinavia, MSMM Design Award, River-class ISS, Bridges, CHS to RCN?, Cyclone FOC, Ukraine LAV update

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Happy Monday Everyone!

Newsletter tonight is a bit late. I apologize. As some of you might have heard, Sudbury was hit with onenof our worst snowstorms in decades. After some chaos last night I spent today shovelling and trying to help out a few people who I could. That and also like nine news posts today.

I don't wanna distract like last weeks. We got a massive newsletter this week to get through after all.

Anyways!

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News

• 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 (03/10/26): New Defence Policy, CDC VLS, Roshel, Defending Satellites, CUAS

• Prime Minister Carney announces ambitious new plan to defend, build, and transform the North

• Statement from Premier Dixon on his disappointment with the Government of Canada's announcement

• Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre and Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz

• Joint statement on Strategic Cooperation between Canada and the Kingdom of Norway

• Kongsberg-led venture to design future Mid-Shore Multi-Mission Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard

• Canada and Norway strengthen defence cooperation in space

• Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and Canada

• Minister McGuinty Announces Strategic Investments in Sovereign Space Launch

• Secretary of State Fuhr to announce contract award to support Canadian Armed Forces space operations

• PAL Aerospace Appoints Simon Carroll as President

• ZenaTech’s ZenaDrone Commences Development of IQ Glider, an Autonomous Marine Drone Launch and Refueling Station for the ZenaDrone 2000 Intercept Drone

• Voyageur Aviation Corp. Awarded Contract to Support Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment Operations

• U of T partners with South Korean firm Hanwha Ocean to strengthen Canada’s maritime sovereignty

• De Havilland Canada Provides Production Update on De Havilland Canadair 515 Aircraft

• MDA SPACE ANNOUNCES INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING IN THE UNITED STATES

• Calian VENTURES and Tessellate Robotics Advance Autonomous Navigation for Arctic Defence

• Aerospace and Defence Takes Flight in Saskatchewan

• Nova Scotia is Canada’s Defence Leader, Op-Ed

• ADM(Mat) provides update on AIM-120D-3 Integration

• De Havilland Canada Signs Agreement with Asman Airlines for Refurbished Dash 8-400 Aircraft

• BDC boosts Defence Platform up to $6B after providing $92M in financing since late December, names StrongNorth Fund leader

• PrSM Increment 2 Takes Flight and Advances Army’s Moving-Target and Maritime Capability

• Where was Mr. Fuhr Today? (03/13/2026)

• Kraken Robotics Announces Closing of $402.5 Million Public Offering of Subscription Receipts

• Strengthening Atlantic Canada’s defence capabilities in Dartmouth

• Top Aces Awarded Contract for F-16 Instructor Pilot Training in Support of the Argentine Air Force

• CAE announces leadership appointments to support growth ambitions

• CANADA ROCKET COMPANY SELECTED AS A KEY PARTNER BY CANADA TO DELIVER SOVEREIGN SPACE LAUNCH CAPABILITIES

• Canada Selects Reaction Dynamics to Advance Domestic Orbital Launch Capability

• NordSpace Selected by Department of National Defence for Phase 1 Award of $8.3 Million to Advance Sovereign Space Launch

• Government of Canada Selects Spaceport Nova Scotia as Dedicated Sovereign Launch Site for National Defence

• Lockheed Martin Canada Awards SEA Canada with Implementation Phase Contract for River-class Destroyers

• Canada ‘leaving the door open’ to assist in Middle East, but no plans to engage offensively: McGuinty

• Canada pledges closer defence ties with Nordic countries: Here's what we know

• Paving the way for a Canadian defence-tech boom

• Municipalities lobby PM to use defence spending on Trans-Canada Highway

• Mixed reactions in the North to Carney's $35B defence and major projects announcement

• We need a strong, unapologetically Canadian defence industry voice—for the first time in a generation, we have one

• Defence Vulnerabilities surrounding Canada's Critical Minerals

• Canada can 'manage' Trump's call for help without being drawn into Iran war: minister

• A quantum-safe Canada can be an early win for the Defence Industrial Strategy

• Waterloo’s Rise as Canada’s Next Aerospace and Defence Hub

• Navigating Canada’s Shifting Defence Investment Landscape

• Halifax Image Techs capture national recognition

• Minister of National Defence Connects with Defence Community of CFB Esquimalt

• Rear-Admiral Patchell Hosts Premier Eby to Highlight Strategic Importance of Canada’s West Coast Naval Hub

• From Strangers to Rangers: Inside the CRBMI Course

• NDWCC Raises Over $111,000 with Defence Team

• What you need to know about HRMS leave service interruptions – March and April

• Message from the CPCC Command Team: Upholding Professional Conduct Across the Defence Team

• Operation NANOOK: Howitzers in the High Arctic

• Canadian military members graduate from senior allied leadership course

• Turning intent into action: inside CAFCYBERCOM’s Command Evolution Team

• Canada advances defence innovation through NATO DIANA

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Project Updates

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

• The Advance Procurement Notice for the NORAD Northern Basing Infrastructure (NNBI) Initiative regarding Forward Operating Locations (FOL) Inuvik and Yellowknife has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the dry docking refit of CCGS Jean Goodwill has been updated with new documentatiom

• Another RFI is out related to the In-Service Support Model for the operation of the River-class Destroyers In-Service Support Contract(s) (RCDISSC) as well as seek information and feedback from industry.

• The RFP for Line of Communication Bridge Systems has been updated with new documentation

• The Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) for a new Centre for Drone Innovation (CDI) in Mirabel has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for up to 31 Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Domestic Response Vehicles has been updatedwith new Q&A as well as an extended closing date to April 1st.

• The APN for the new Ottawa Research Centre for Defence Research and Development Canada has been uodated with new documentation

• The RFP for the dry docking and repair work for CCGS Pierre Radisson has been updated with new documentation

• JRoberts Defence & Security Inc has been awarded a new $3,075,699.55 contract related to the Repair and Overhaul (R&O) of Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) Engines

• JRoberts Defence & Security Inc. was also awarded a $643,130.80 contract to do the Transmissions as well…

• Logistik Unicorp has received a $3,455,795.96 amendment to their previous contract to supply equipment as part ox thr DICE Initiative

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Lobbying Updates

• Pratt & Whitney Canada has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including thr F-35, UAV development, the Strategic Innovation Fund, funding for foreign acquisition, and export support.

• Raytheon Company has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics primarily regarding to projects and current programs including the F-35, MRR, Space-Based Initatives, AOPS, and C5ISR

• Volatus Aerospace has filed a new record with Barrack Hill Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings

• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada is back and looking to promote the companies capabilities and offerings to the Federal Government. They also want to sell the RCAF on new Twin Otters.

• Aecon Group has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on Infrastructure projects with respect to Aecon's role as a construction and infrastructure development company.

• Rolls-Royce Canada has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the companies capabilities in Aerospace and Nuclear, potnetial opportunities, tax incentives, and possible funding opportunities

• IDS North America has filed a new record with Bluesky Strategy Group looking to engage on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project

• Magnum Integrated Technologies has slid into the defence space with a new record with Catalyze4 looking to engage on modernizing Munition Supply Program and being a partner in Munition Supply

• Seaspan Shipyards has filed a new record with Bluesky Strategy Group looking to engage the Federal Government on defence and coast guard contracts under the National Shipbuilding Strategy as well as other potential procurement opportunities

• Thales Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on defence industrialization in Canada as well as opportunities in shipbuilding, in-service support, continuous capability sustainment, C4ISR and networking programs, ground vehicles, optronics, BREATH military avionics and related equipment, identity and access management solutions, and cybersecurity and AI solutions and technologies.

• LOGISTEC Marine Services has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities

• Cohere has filed a new record with PAA Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including policy and legislation as it relates to artificial intelligence (AI) and data protection, updating procurement policies, the Canada-US relationship, and AI Safety

• JML Systems and Solutions has filed a new record with The Capital Hill Group to engage the Federal Government on procuremwnt opportunities

• Petorius has filed a new record with Bluesky Strategy Group looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities for the companies dual-use (Defence/civil) unmanned aerial systems and sensor capabilities

• J.D. Irving has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on everything. I'm only half joking. Defence-wise they wanna talk about the NSS and defence supply chain opportunities.

• Theon Sensors has filed a new record with Sussex Strategy Group looking to engage the Federal Government (and i quote) to discuss how best to improve transparency and competitiveness about defense procurement in Canada. I love when people get pissy in thr Lobbying updates.

• Trigon Pacific Terminals Limited has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and what they could offer.

• EllisDon Construction Services has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Renee Filiatrault and Andrew Green

• IMT Group has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Renee Filiatrault and Andrew Green

• Vancouver Shipyards has filed a multiple new communications detailing meetings with Rob Gray, Heather Sheehy, Robb Wight, Arthur Jordan, Muntaha Ahmed, David McGuinty, Harpreet Dhaliwal, Ron McKinnon, Ron McKinnon, Andrew Green, Simone Rutherford, Quinn Rinke, and Gurbux Saini

• Draganfly has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Renee Filiatrault, Ezechial Nana, Hilary Hendriks, Samuel Serviss, and Conor Lewis

• Irving Shipbuilding has filed a new communication detailing meetings with CDS Jennie Carignan

• NAV CANADA has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Peter Hammerschmidt

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Rumors & Speculation

• A small update from a few weeks ago. It is now confirmed that the 66 LAV heading to Ukraine are indeed being taken from the LRSS stock.

• On a Cyclone update for the week… after asking around it still seems like the fleet is still set to be updated to Block 2.1 configuration this year. On the flipside FOC is now set for 2029/2030.

• There has been some talks of transferring the Canadian Hydrographic Service to the Navy as if Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not suffered enough. I don't know how serious these talks are but there is significant push and at least some government support.

• The Orca replacement apparently has a proper project title now but I don't know what it is yet. Im hoping it tells us a bit more about whats desired.

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