This Week in Defence (03/30/26): River-Class, VLS-Cells, CDC Limits, New Contracts, 2% Talk, New CHER Bundles

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Happy Monday Everyone!

We're a bit late tonight, and I'm sorry for that! Kept having things come up that took me away today. However I did manage to get it out at least! I refuse to have another delay.

It's a smaller week this week, but if you love Navy stuff and the River-class than this week is especially for you.

Anyways!

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• 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!

• More Looks At The New River-Class Model (UPDATED)

• Cellula Robotics USA Inc. Selected to Deliver Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Prototype Under the CAMP Defense Innovation Unit Project

• Canada Hits 2% Defence Spending, NATO Annual Report Confirms

• Canada achieves the 2% of gross domestic product defence spending benchmark

• Hanwha Ocean’s Industrial Partnerships Take on New Importance for Canada’s Defence and Economic Future

• Canada and Korea host 2nd Korea-Canada 2+2 Director-General Economic and Security Dialogue

• Zetros, French Submarines, and other Random Things

• Let's Talk A Bit About CUAS

• Defence Investment Agency awards long-term in-service support contracts for CC-330 Husky fleet

• Saab and Cohere sign memorandum of understanding on advanced AI collaboration

• Government of Canada invests $3.6M in defence sector with support for Université du Québec en Outaouais

• LARUS AWARDED $8.3M CONTRACT BY DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE TO ADVANCE AI-POWERED TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CANADIAN ARMY

• MDA SPACE PROVIDES MARKET UPDATE

• Volatus Aerospace Builds Defence Advisory Leadership with NATO Veteran Major General (Ret’d) Gary Deakin, CBE

• Rheinmetall marks 40 years of Canadian Innovation and Economic Contributions

• PwC Canada announces support for the Defence Security and Resilience Bank

• De Havilland Canada Advances CL-415 Modernization with Transport Canada Certification

• Volatus Aerospace Expands Global Training Network Through Strategic Partnership with University of Technology, Jamaica

• Dominion Dynamics and Denvr partner to build Canada's first sovereign AI simulation environment for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms

• Critical Infrastructure Technologies and Juno Industries Execute JV Agreement to Develop and Deploy Arctic-Focused Autonomous Nexus Platform

• CellCore Technologies Emerges from Stealth at DEFSEC West, announces plans for new nitrocellulose facility

• Volatus Aerospace Announces Strategic Collaboration with Sentinel R&D to Support Canadian Sovereign UAV Capability

• Building the Canadian Coast Guard’s role in National Security

• The Department of National Defence Opens Renovated Hangar 14 in Ottawa

• Arcanus Aerial Systems Secures Formal Military Evaluation Agreement with Defined Pathway to High-Volume Procurement

• Government of Canada supports Alberta’s role in growing Canadian defence industry

• Korean-Built KSS-III Submarine Departs for Canada, Marking Pacific Crossing Ahead of Joint Naval Exercise

• Arcanus Aerial Systems Secures US$3.15M Lead Investment Amid Surging Investor Demand Ahead of Imminent Series A Close

• Vard Marine Wins Contract for the U.S. Navy Next Generation Logistics Ship Concept Refinement

• Government of Canada Selects MAS for Strategic Tanker Fleet Sustainment

• The City of Oshawa wants to be a leader in Canada’s defence sector. Here’s its pitch

• Canada needs more defence autonomy in a less reliable world

• Canadian defence-procurement agency expected to reduce $100-million contract minimum

• Mark Carney and Canada’s Quest for Hard Power

• Opinion: Canada’s defence future runs through Edmonton

• ‘Opportunity for everybody’ in defence network for Arctic, military official says

• Defence tech founder warns Canada is getting “wishy-washy” about defining sovereignty

• Canadian defence startups are teaming up to build military tech

• Defence show comes to Calgary as Canada is bolstering military spending

• Advancing Arctic Sovereignty Through Indo-Pacific Defence Partnerships

• Summary Report: Canada–India Defence Co-operation: From Freeze to Forward Motion

• Ice Cream Aboard: RCN Sailor Donates Ice Cream Money to EMFRC

• What Stays With Us: A Moment in the Lookout Archives

• Top Sailor Awarded Esteemed West Coast Naval Honours

• The Legacy of the Lookout

• RCN officers stop in at home aboard Italian warship

• Reservist led Task Force GRIZZLY builds Arctic readiness during Operation NANOOK NUNALIVUT 2026

• CAF members and the Edmonton community raise money to fight veteran homelessness

• DM/CDS Message: Welcome Kevin Brosseau as Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, and Canada’s Fentanyl Czar

• Launching the National Security Studies Seminar

• Message from the DM, CDS, and Commissioner of the CCG on enhancing maritime security through Bill C-12

• CAFCYBERCOM showcases new AI cyber tool at NATO exercise

• Fueling your best self: What to know before you spend on supplements

• Message from the new Senior Associate Deputy Minister and Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard

• Surgeon General message: Measles in Canada - What you need to know

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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 RFP for Small Uncrewed Ground Vehicle Systems (SUGVS) has been uodsted with new documentation

• The RFP for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) for the CCG has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for Bundle 6 (Forklifts - Heavy, Medium, Light and Telescopic) of the Common Heavy Equipment Replacement (CHER) Project has been updated with new Q&A

• The RFP for Line of Communication Bridge Systems has been updated with new Q&A

• The RFI for Deployable Camp Infrastructure and Utilities Systems as part of Camp Sustain has been updated with new documentation

• The RFI for the Bridge and Gap Crossing Modernization (BGCM) Project has been updated with new documentation

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

• The RFP for the Radarsat Plus Next Generation Ground Segment Concept study has been updated with new documentation

• The RFI for the actual building of the future CCG Mid-Shore Multi-Mission Vessels has been updated with new documentation

• We have two new CHER Bundles! CHER bundles 2 and 3 have FINALLY been released after a long, patient time waiting

• Marine Transportation Services has been awarded a new $864,192.89 contract for the Life Extension of CCGS Dumit

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• Robotics Centre, Inc has filed a new record with McMillan Vantage looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings

• AMB Tresec has filed a new record with StrategyCorp looking to engage the Federal Government on potential procurement opportunities for DIS-related construction projects in the Arctic

• Armament Technology has filed a new record with Samuel Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on potential contract opportunities, specifically as it related to CMAR

• Vancouver Shipyards has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on potential contract opportunities and the broader National Shipbuilding Strategy

• The Nunatsiavut Government has filed a new record with Blackbird Strategies looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics. When it comes to defence the focus is on infrastructure opportunities and development.

• Top Aces has filed a new record with Crestview Strategy looking to engage the Federal Government on potential contravt opportunities, as well as foreign ownership restrictions applicable to Canadian air carriers and/or proposed amendments to Civil Aviation Directive

• Drakkar has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on potential.. stuff? They don't really say.

• Leonardo has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings

• L3Harris Technologies has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the companies capabilities and offerings as well as potential contract opportunities

• Nav Canada has filed a new record with Earnscliffe Strategies looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including coordination between civil and military airspace, support for international technology sales, and the procurement of air navigation services systems

• NordSpace has filed a new record with CFN Consultants looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the ITB policy, potential funding, and plans for domestic launch

• Telesat has filed a new record with Worldview Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including new satellite programs, federal funding programs aimed at supporting communication technologies, and space-based communications technology as it related to security and defense policy.

• TerreStar Solutions has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on the Radiocommunication Act, the Telecommunications Act and related regulations and policies with respect to spectrum management

• Trigon Pacific Terminals Limited has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings

• J-Squared Technologies has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings as well as potential contract opportunities

• TerreStar Solutions has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Ezechiel Nana, Conor Lewis, and Quinn Rinke

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• There is renewed discussion of adding another 8-cells to the River-class, and while I don't see it myself I will mention it. I have heard it a bit since new model came out. Final Design Review is set for 2028. There is theoretically still time.

However it is unlikely in my opinion. There is significant risk throwing it back in, esepecially qhen the current system of communication between everyone involved (Feds, Navy, Irving, Lockheed, BAE) is already struggling to keep pace and find the groove of cooperation, so to say.

Part of that is on a broken system but I digress. There is a desire to at least look into it for thr First-batch, however it does carry a lot of risks, removes a lot of the saved space and weight margins, and comes very late in the process.

Some people also asled why 24-cells is the safe margin. That's because that's the number on the Original British configuration for MK.41. I thought everyone knew that. My apologies for never explaining.

• At least three dozen projects are now under the DIA. I think Pippa got to this before me, maybe some others. However consider this confirmation. I don't know all the projects, FFLIT is apparently one of them (I imagine a certain someone at the DIA is really excited about that) but I can't confirm all of them. Working on it.

• The famed CDC length limit is apparently dead, not that anyone is shocked because I think we all knew it was basically dead.

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