This Week in Defence (04/06/26): Hermes Starliner, River-class CDR, Gagetown GBAD, Canada & GCAP, First MSMM Renders, New UGV for CFHS, Lots of Lobbying

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Happy Easter Monday Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend to those of you who join me in this time of reflection and celebration. I am oberjoyed by all the wonderful messages I received, and can't thank you all enough for the love!

Even on a holy day though we still have a newsletter to do! Luckily I was able to get followup on a lot of the questions we had last week deapite the holidays, and on top of that we have an interesting new RFP out… I won't keep your time though. We have lots to cover this week!

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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!

• Let's Talk with Noah (03/31/26): Orca Replacement Official Name, KM-SAM, Future Fleet Plans, Optics, Lots of Yes & No

• Asahi: Canada to allegedly be offered spot in GCAP

• Canadian Coast Guard welcomes aviation services to Defence Team

• First Render Of The Future Mid-Shore Multi-Mission Vessel for the Canadian Coast Guard

• The Struggles of the SME, Polar-Classes and other random thoughts

• Davie Begins Construction of Polar Max in Lévis, Delivering Jobs and Industrial Benefits Across Québec and Canada

• INTURAI VENTURES FAST TRACKS COMBAT DEFENCE AND CSAR TECHNOLOGIES WITH VETERAN-OWNED VEXSL

• MetOcean Telematics Accelerates Global Expansion of Defence Solutions

• Bolstering defence capacity in New Brunswick through Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy

• Construction of the Canadian Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker advances with production start ceremony at Chantier Davie in Lévis, Québec

• Minister Thompson announces largest Canadian defence investment in Newfoundland and Labrador’s history

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

• Statement from the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal

• L3Harris Included in MDA Space Solution for RCN ISTAR Program

• PacifiCan invests $13.8 million to advance defence innovation in AI and aerospace in British Columbia

• CAE delivers world-leading Prodigy Image Generator on CH-53GS and Eurofighter military flight simulators

• Government of Canada supports aerospace and space innovation to strengthen security, boost prosperity, and enhance sovereign capabilities

• Canada invests in infrastructure at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown

• Boeing Invests in Vac Aero as part of CP8A Poseidon ITB Requirements

• Airbus seeks to expand defence footprint in Canada

• Canada's $150-billion challenge: How to build a homegrown defence sector and fast

• To meet next NATO spending target, Canada needs a credible fiscal plan, think-tank says

• Canada’s defence enters new phase, Arctic in focus: top military officer

• In Defence of Diplomacy: Why Mark Carney Should Cease the Gutting of Global Affairs Canada

• People Must Be at the Core of Canada’s New Defence Ecosystem

• What the US Space Force partnership strategy means for Canadian space defence

• Q&A: Clearpath Robotics’ Ryan Gariepy on killer robots and Canada’s defence strategy

• MP says Sudbury expertise could be a key to Canada’s new defence strategy

• From research to partnerships: uOttawa is industry-ready in defence, security and aerospace

• Where the cold reveals our strength: Reflections from a Chaplain

• Small everyday actions: 2SLGBTQI+ Defence Team Champion Message on International Transgender Day of Visibility

• From awareness to acceptance and appreciation: World Autism Awareness Day

• Ten years of Impact: Real property centralization at the heart of the CAF mission

• Making Canadian history: CAF pilot set to travel around the Moon

• Recognizing a remarkable Veteran

• Strengthening bilingualism within the Defence Team

• The future is now at DRDC

• Attention CAF members: Updates to CAF grievance policies are now in effect

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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 the acquisition of 37 Light Multipurpose Utility Vehicle (with Heating and Air Conditioning) has been updated with new documentation

• A new RFP has been released for the Canadian Forces Health Services looking to acquire 10 Commercial Unmanned Ground Vehicle to assist in CASEVAC

• 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 31 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Response Vehicles has been updated eith new Q&A with less than 24 hours to go

• The Industry Engagement RFI for the River-class Destroyers In-Service Support Contract(s) (RCDISSC) has been updated with new documentation

• Heddle Marine Service has been awarded a new $2,326,151.27 contract for the Dry Docking and Repair Work for CCGS Vincent Massey

• GIP MARINE BASE & WAREHOUSING has been awarded a new $953,876.50 contract for the alongside refit of CCGS Louis St. Laurent

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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

• RaceRocks has filed a new record with Kit Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on potential funding opportunities related to defence procurement, innovation, workforce development, and Indigenous participation

• Boeing has filed a new record with Summa Strategies Canada looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including ITB Commitments as a part of the Canada Multi Mission Aircraft project as well as multiple procurement opportunities including Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC), Future Fighter Lead In Training, and nTACS

• Rheinmetall Canada has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings as well as to engage on potential procurement opportunities

• Ocean Group has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on the National Shipbuilding Strategy as well as potential supports for shipyards

• CAE has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including Canada's potential contributions to global security in Europe, NATO, and NORAD, the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) & Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), the Defence Industrial Strategy, and the ITB policy

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

• M1 Composites Technology has filed a new record with PAA Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings as well as potential investment opportunities

• GSCI Advanced Photonics has filed a new record with David Pratt and Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies line of electro-optical sights and why they should buy them

• Safran Landing Systems Canada has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on potential procurement opportunities as well as potential funding for Research and Development

• Maerospace has filed a new record with David Pratt and Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on support for its efforts to PENETRATE foreign markets with its high-frequency surface wave radar

• Lockmart has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the Defence Industrial Strategy, the National Shipbuilding Strategy as it applies to the combat vessels, NORAD Modernization, and the CAN-AM Defence Industrial among others.

• 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

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

• ITPS Canada has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including pilot training and aeronautical engineering and well as the companies capabilities when it comes to test pilot and tactical training services

• Draganfly has filed a new record with Integrated Strategic Partners looking to engage both the Federal and Alberta Governments on the companies capabilities and offerings

• Bombardier has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on their usual ten-thousand topics

• St. John's Dockyard has filed a new record with Joel Watson looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including Icebreaker Maintenance contracts and the companies capabilities when it comes to Icebreaking

• Airbus Canada has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including engaging with the National Research Council on R&D opportunities, potential funding for the A220-100 and A220-300 commercial aircraft program, Canadian Aviation Regulations, and aerospace industry supply chain and supply chain management.

• Saab Canada has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including Aerospace programs, Maritime/naval programs, Land domain programs, Training and Simulation programs, Research and Development opportunities and the ITB policy.

• Voyageur Aviation has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the companies capabilities and offerings as it related to aircraft related services and well as to engage with government officials on the design and delivery of aircraft support services

• Magnum Integrated Technologies has filed a new record with Catalyze4 looking to engage the Federal Government on the Munition Supply Program

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• The River-Class Destroyer has passed it's Critical Design Review, so congrats to everyone involved! Final Design Review is set for 2028 still.

• There has been some talks of CDC going beyond the rumored 20 hulls at the top-end in some plans, though I seriously doubt it myself unless we see the program revert back to something along the lines of CMMC. Still something I wanna mention.

• The Hermes Starliner that was meant for Transport Canada and finally delivered after several long years in September has officially been put under the Coast Guard banner with the rest of the ASD, we can finally confirm after months of speculatio. This means the Coast Guard is actually the first to get a new MALE in the Defence Team. This is the greatest outcome for my own personal amusement. Congrats to the CCG on your new drone Coastbros.

• Speaking on the Coast Guard’s new aircraft…. with the Federals throwing money at PAL there is renewed expextations that the current Dash fleet might get a renewal in the coming years, likely based off PALs P4 concept.

• To update from last week, I've been informed that last weeks investments into Gagetown related to a new GBAD system are tied to Infrastructure and Training for the future Enduring Phases II and III. It is not an expansion on an existing nor a new program and focused entirely on preparing for the future systems coming into service.

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