This Week in Defence (05/11/26): 5080 LAV?! MCAV Update, Canadian HADES? Bill C-31, FASST-V Infobox, Lots Of Random Thoughts, TKMSxGDMSC, Lots Of UGV

May 12, 2026

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Happy Monday Everyone!

It another rumor-filed week on This Week in Defence! The Army has been a bit behind the Air Force and Navy when it came to crazy plans thanks to having to dedicate so much to Army Mod, but now that it's out we can finally add them to the lists of crazy ideas!

I guess that's the standard now. The CAF is in full 5% mode (for better or worse), and with everyone knowing Defence is a major file, it seems we're destined to see proposals beyond our wildest dreams.

Remember that you can always submit your media and press releases to us at media@truenorthstrategicreview.ca!

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Magna International has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including Issues affecting the automotive industry, including supply chain and innovation, and the Defence Industrial Strategy
Metro Supply Chain has filed a new record with Global Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings
Vard Marine has filed a new record with Rubicon Strategy looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the Defence Industrial Strategy, Shipyard Capacity, and the companies capabilities and offerings
Telesat has filed multiple new records with both themselves and CFN Consultants looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including regulatory fees charged by government for spectrum and orbital slots, new satellite programs, the creation of a National Space Council, the Strategic Innovation Fund, the Companies Capabilities and Offerings, and more.
Kepler Communications has also filed multiple records this week between themselves and StrategyCorp looking to emgage the Federal Government on just about everything including the companies capabilities and offerings, key defence focused policies, programs and initiatives related to dual-use space-based communications, space domain awareness capabilities, increased space and defence collaboration with allies, procurement vehicles, the Defence Investment Agency, strategic partnerships, procurement policies, such as the Buy Canadian Policy, and necessary security clearances. Damn Mina, you aint playing this week are you?
Hanwha Defence Canada has filed a new record with Prospectus Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project and future Land Vehicle projects
Thales has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including shipbuilding and acquisition of new capabilities by the DND and Canadian Coast Guard and a host of defence-related opportunities including in-service support, continuous capability sustainment, C4ISR and networking programs, ground vehicles, optronics, military avionics and related equipment, identity and access management solutions, and cybersecurity and AI solutions and technologies.
Aliter Technologies 3CIS has filed a new record with Global Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on potential funding opportunities
Sterling Energetics has filed a new record with Wellington Dupont Public Affairs to engage the Federal Government on their Iron Willow project, which seeks to establish a new nitrocellulose and propellants production facility in Alberta. This is gunny enough the fourth proposal floating around. If all were executed, Canada would jump from having no native nitrocellulose production capacity to one of the largest. Neat, huh? Power to them…
Reaction Dynamics has filed a new record with National Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on funding outlets and opportunities
Lockheed Martin Canada has filed a new record with McMillan Vantage looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the Defence Industrial Strategy, River-class Destroyer, the F-35, and more.
Colt Canada has filed a new record with Summa Strategies looking to engage the Federal Government on potential procurement opportunities related to Small Arms. I mean, competiton is very fierce this time of year.
Marshall Canada Holdings has filed a new record with Barrack Hill Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including Defence Policy, modernizing Canada's defence procurement process and the companies capabilities and offerings
Canadian Maritime Engineering has filed a new record with Clean Conduit looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities for the design and construction of marine transport systems in Nunavut, as well as discussions on Arctic marine transportation infrastructure, logistics, and regional economic development.
Speaking of sparky sparky boom stuff… NALAGX Corporation has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on the procurement, industrial policy, and strategic sourcing of domestic energetics production capacity. NALAGX is currently working with EURENCO to spin up an energetic facility here in Canada. Lots of those now, aint there?
Nuclea Energy has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the companies capabilities and offerings in the Nuclear sector, regulations and licensing for commercial nuclear technology, continued support for advanced nuclear research and development, development of Small Modular Reactors and Micro Modular Reactors, and supporting the companies efforts to secure a nuclear demonstration site.
Marmen has filed a new record with David Pratt and Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project
RaceRocks has filed a new record with Kit Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on potential procurement and funding opportunities
Pomerleau has filed a new communication detailing meetings with David McGuinty and Peter Hammerschmidt

• ALAV is dead. Long Live Armoured Combat Vehicle - Wheeled (ACV-W)! This new project covers both future LAV and ACSV as far as I know, merging the file into one general procurement based off a common platform. Makes sense.

ACV-W is an ongoing, continuous initiative stretching out past 2035. It aims to create a continuous procurement platform for the LAV family, with goals to more than double the fleet over the next decade.

ACV-W is still a very early concept in itself, and I can't say what of all is included. The priority will be on a agile-form of procurement, focusing on incremental improvements and upgrades to the family over a set timeline.

ACV-W will be used to also explore new, emerging technologies like hybrid-drive, Lithium Battery Systems, Next-Generation Mobile Camouflage systems amd Active Protection Systems, UxS integration, and Counter-Drone Technologies.

Armament is still being worked on but ATGM and Loitering Munitions being integrated from the start seem very liekly. Leading calibre of the main gun in currently 30mm but that could, and some are arguing should change.

The current expectations financially is set at ~$62-86 billion dollars depending heavily on how many we end uo procuring. The lowest number given is 2300, while the Army would prefer 3908 to meet NATO commitments.

The highest number though, which assukes a full of society mobilization in a major global conflict calles for a staggering 5080 LAV! Over five times the current inventory.

ACV-W is still unfunded though, and for now the numners remain flexible, esepcially considering that ACV-W will not be a one time procurement but a vehicle for sustained procurement over a decade+. Still, makes you wonder.

• Speaking of Armoured Vehicles. There is some things about MCAV that haven't really been mentioned that probably should be just for people to know. So consider this the quickfire round of information.

MCAV is expected, like LAV, to be a family of systems beyond a cavalry vehicle. Variants being explored include Ambulance, Command Post, Mortars, Engineer, Repair, and Recovery. All fairly common.

MCAV is expected to be heavily AI defined, leveraging both internal AI systems and being able to support Manned-Unmanned cooperation withAutonomous support platforms like UAS and UGV out the box.

The bottom number for MCAV is 250, yes, however the top number has now jumped up to ~800 innthe highest scenario. It is, like ACV-W, very flexible and open at the moment to what is done. However, it still presents a big opportunity for many.

• One of you called me out for it, but I guess I never mentioned them here. The Canadian Deep Sensing and EW Aircraft (CDSEA) exists. There isn't much on it, as I am told a lot of the capabilities being discussed haven't been settled on. It is described to me as ‘HADES-like’, which made me shed a tear of happiness.

So like I can't say much on it, pther than that maybe a common fleet of different Global aircraft maybe isn't far fetched, and might be closer than I dreamed. We are truly blessed. Please RCAF don't fuck this up.

• The RFI for the RCAF Air-Launched Effects Project should be dropping shortly.

• As an update, the Space-Based Moving Target Indicator (SB-MTI) Project I'm told is a but away from releasing anything.

• So Dave kinda mentioned the current mobilization proposal today, and I don't have much to add but that the 100,000 PRes and 300,000 Augment, which we were the first to report in July thank you very much, is still accurate to the current numbers. Next week I will have more to discuss.