This Week in Defence (08/17/26): The Canadian Signal Network, Updated Scheduling For The Next Two Weeks, Exercises Everywhere, Lots of Meetings, When Could The New Defence Policy Be Announced?

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Special Bulletin

Hey Gang.

I hope you all had a great weekend. Usually, I would do something like this in a separate post, I partially did on Saturday but wanted it to be out here in our main weekly piece. There are a few things I wanna get out there and remind upon.

First off, I want to remind everyone that I will be in Sweden this week. As such, I will be difficult to reach. There will be no Q&A because I expect to be running around this whole week pretty heavily, amd likely won't have the time. News continues as normal.

Second, and I will be blunt. We will be operating under a reduced schedule the first two weeks of September. Not only is it back-to-school season, but unfortunately, since my recent illness my health has continued to decline fairly noticably.

I have tried to push off anything, and have worked hard to keep myself in the game, but unfortunately I am struggling, a lot. Call it arrogance but I have long thought I didnt have to give much thought to these things, that they would clear up. Unfortunately tis not the case. I have several chronic issues that have been notably more dehabilitating, and a few new issues that have hit me fairly hard.

I have always strived to be honest with all you, because many of you are my friends and I believe as a creator, I need to be ipen and honest with all you. I feel trust is important, very important and part of that comes from being open about difficulties in work.

Truthfully, and some of you have asked me about it, I have not been in it the last two weeks. I have been admitedly checked out. Notes feel hard, posting feels hard at days. Concentration is a chore. I despise it all.

I am lucky, and blessed to have my wife. Not only has she been comforting me, acting as my support, and keeping the house down the last three weeks to allow me space and time to rest, but she has also now taken to supporting TNSR content wise.

I did about three, maybe four posts last week myself, the Newsletter, Sweden announcement, and Signal complex. I wrote out some small notes on a few posts and that was about it for me. The rest of the pressers, admittedly, I am very fortunate my wife has been willing, demanding to learn how to format and do them for me so I didn't have to. Honestly, I couldn't ever remember a lot of the news from last week because I was basically just giving her links and not reading.

I wanted to highlight that because I wanna give her some recognition. If not for her, we wouldn't have done much last week. I feel better now, a lot better since sunday, but up until yesterday afternoon? I was just out of it, no mentality, no feeling. I couldn't be bothered. She also helped for the first time on the newsletter today!

I am lucky to have her. She has always supported me in this, and she didn't have to step up and help me but she did. She took that upon herself and I am so proud and grateful for her for it.

Anyways, we will still keep to the usual, Newsletter, pressers, and Q&A but for those two weeks we will be taking a reduced schedule as I have tried to book in as much appointments and tests as possible into that timeframe.

I deeply apologize to everyone for these hiccups amd faultering in our reporting. Luckily she is willing for a few weeks to help with pressers, which is a big chunk of work off my shoulders. It might mean Noah Notes are temporarily reduced, but we will return them to their normal format.

I thank all of you for your kindness and understanding, and ask for forgiveness in the dip in quality of our reporting the last few weeks. I promise I will come back better and stringer when all is done, and in a few more weeks we will be back to our normal as God and Our Lord Tzeentch intended.

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

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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 (08/08/26): The Holy Munitions, The Navy & UxS, ARes APC, Turkish Drones, NSM, Blackhawk Mania

• Rocket Lab Inks Neutron Launch Deal with Kepler Communications

• General Rick Hillier, Former Chief of the Defence Staff, to Join National Bank as Strategic Defence Advisor

• MDA Space Opens MDA CHORUS™ Control Centre in Québec

• Launch of trilateral cooperation: Germany, Norway, Canada and TKMS begin planning phase for the 212CD program

• New technology enhances explosive threat response

• The Canadian Signal Network & The Canadian All-Domain Defence Concept

• EarthDaily Awarded Canadian Government Contract to Develop AI-Enabled Border Monitoring Demonstration Platform

• CCC, Pratt & Whitney Canada sign 5-year contract with U.S. military for T400 engine parts

• Seaspan Shipyards achieves CPCSC Level 1 Certification to strengthen cybersecurity in Canadian shipbuilding

• CAE announces the final 2026 Meeting Board of Directors election results and welcomes Bruce Ross to its Board of Directors

• Statement from Minister McGuinty on the Defence Team’s Commitment to Official Languages and the Protection of French

• Canadian Armed Forces launch Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK in Canada’s Arctic

• Rheinmetall establishes UK-based autonomous systems centre of excellence, increasing cooperation with Canada

• Canada’s first Autonomous Collaborative Platform is taking off

• THOR’S HAMMER tests Allies against modern threats

• Canadian Armed Forces deliver first-ever care Aboard U.S. Ship at RIMPAC 2026

• CAF participates in MILOPS 2026 to advance Canada’s security through Indo-Pacific partnerships

• Changes To The Next Two Week’s Schedule

• MDA SPACE SATELLITES FOR GLOBALSTAR SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED

• HMCS Charlottetown returns from Operations HORIZON and NEON

• Canada to co-host 28th Annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference: Strengthening Collective Security: Navigating Challenges in a Dynamic Indo-Pacific Landscape

• Ocean Software to Support SkyAlyne for Royal Canadian Air Force Future Aircrew Training Program

• Canada’s largest icebreaker reaches the North Pole

• Canadian Armed Forces announces new Occupational Health and Public Health occupations

• Deloitte warns fixed-price contracts could stall Canada’s Arctic defence buildout

• Breaking the Silos Between Naval Defence and Canada’s Blue Economy

• Indigenous-Led Alliance to Deliver Arctic - Secured Energy Systems Across Canada’s North

• Billions of dollars are set to be invested in defence in Canada: Will organizations be able to benefit from this?

• Canada Conducts Several Military Operations in the Arctic

• Government of Canada Supports Modernisation of Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport

• Canada seeks to acquire long-range strike system widely used in Ukraine war

• Push for co-operation among European shipbuilders could have Canadian ripple effect

• How the RCN is preparing to fight drones

• Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) to host Christmas Daddies fundraiser run

• Indigenous Reconciliation Gathering builds understanding

• HMCS Corner Brook delivers final strike sinking decommissioned warship during RIMPAC

• Pacific Partnership 2026: Canadians making a difference across the Indo-Pacific

• Royal Canadian Sailor recognized for helping save a life during Indo-Pacific deployment

• Canada and the Philippines take defence cooperation to new heights

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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 ACAN for the dry docking and refit of CCGS Grenfell has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the Fall 2026 dry docking of CCGS Sir William Alexander has been updated with a new documentation

• The RFP for the Autumn 2026 refit of CCGS Des Groseilliers has been updated with new documentation

• We have two new MINERVA projects! We have one for Arctic Uncrewed Air Systems and another for Light Uncrewed Ground Systems for Surveillance and Reconnaissance that have been released

• The RFI for the Acquisition of a new Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) Fuel Barge has been updated with new documentation

• The RFI for the Worldwide Satellite Communications – Protected Milsatcom Tactical (WSC-PMT) Project has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the Uncrewed Aircraft System - Light has been updated with new documentation

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• L3Harris Technologies Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities

• Canada Rocket Company has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the companies capabilities and offerings, launch licences and export controls, and the development of dual-use technology in Canada

• Leonardo Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities

• Railo Technology Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including contract opportunities for technical services related to vessel capability and design, port infrastructure and terminal ice management, and Arctic port development and shipbuilding policy

• Marconi Technologies has filed a new record with The Fortin Consulting Group looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings as a sovereign manufacturer of voice, data, and radio communication systems

• 49North has filed a new record with Prospectus Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including funding opportunities, defence procurement policy, and discussions on C4ISR integration, advanced sensing and radar technologies, autonomous systems, and in-service support

• CAE has filed a new record with Prospectus Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including Canada’s potential contributions to global security, Defence Procurement Policy, defence training contracts, the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program, and the Operational Training System Program (OTSP)

• Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has filed a new record with PAA Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government in support of the companies participation in the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program

• GSCI Advanced Photonics has filed a new record with David Pratt & Associates looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities related to electro-optical sights

• Arctic Gateway Group has filed a new record with Wellington Dupont looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities to rebuild the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway

• Bombardier has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including aerospace trade agreements, aircraft certification, export permits and controlled goods, research and development tax incentives, and aircraft financing support

• Aecon Group has filed a new record with Vantage Canada looking to engage the Federal Government on public infrastructure initiatives

• ATCO has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including energy transition legislation, environmental regulation, buildings, camps, and logistical services for defence, critical infrastructure resilience and cybersecurity, and modular housing

• Port Saint John has filed a new record with The Porter O’Brien Agency looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the Port’s authorized borrowing limit and funding opportunities for port modernization

• Fleet Zero has filed a new record with WinStrategies looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities supporting low and zero emissions fleet vehicle adoption

• Roshel has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Eric Sheikh, Director Support Vehicle Program Management at National Defence, Tu-Quynh Nguyen, Senior Director at Public Services and Procurement Canada, Mohan Denetto, Director General at Public Services and Procurement Canada, Lindsay Dencsak, Director Combat Support Equipment Management at National Defence, Demetrios Xenos, Director General at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and John MacInnis, General Director at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• General Motors of Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Renee Filiatrault, Senior Advisor at National Defence, David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, Judith Bennett, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence, and Kevin Brosseau, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Bell Helicopter Textron Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Judith Bennett, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence, James Cudmore, Chief of Staff at Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement

• Irving Shipbuilding has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Andrew Green, Director of Operations at National Defence

• Dominion Dynamics has filed new communications detailing meetings with Jeffery Smyth, Major-General and Chief Air and Space Force Development of the RCAF, with Denis O’Reily, Major-General and Deputy Commander of the RCAF, and with Riley Hennessey, Chief of Staff of Defence Research and Development Canada at National Defence

• Clairvest has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Renée Filiatrault, Senior Advisor in the Minister’s Office, Hilary Hendriks, Senior Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, Kevin Brosseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence, Jean-François Juneau, Acting Senior Director at National Defence, David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, and Radey Barrack, Director of Policy in the Minister’s Office

• Top Aces has filed new communications detailing meetings with Judith Bennett, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence, and with Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Lockheed Martin has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Heather Sheehy, Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence, and Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence

• Boeing Canada Operations has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Lieutenant-General and Commander of the RCAF, and Stephan Van der Mele, Policy Advisor at National Defence

• Airbus Defence and Space Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Jeff Smyth, Major-General at National Defence, Judith Bennett, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence, and Kevin Fizpatrick, Director General at National Defence

• Magellan Aerospace has filed new communications detailing meetings with Renee Filiatrault, Policy Advisor at National Defence, and with David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

• Draganfly has filed new communications detailing meetings with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Robert Gray, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence, and with Michael Wright, Lieutenant-General and Commander of the Canadian Army

• SkyCan Systems has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Ty Curran, Deputy Director General at National Defence

• Theon Sensors has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Alexa Kalsatos, Senior Operations and Regional Advisor (Ontario) to the Minister of National Defence, Conor Lewis, Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, Samuel Serviss, Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff at National Defence, and Judith Bennett, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence

• Canada Rocket Company has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Alexa Kalsatos, Senior Operations and Regional Advisor (Ontario) to the Minister of National Defence, and Conor Lewis, Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office

• CADEX Defence has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Renee Filiatrault, Senior Advisor at National Defence

• Maerospace has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Marc Mes, Assistant Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard

• Calian Group has filed new communications detailing meetings with Heather Sheehy, Associate Deputy Minister, Materiel Group at National Defence, and with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence

• Telesat has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

• Kepler Communications has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Wendy Hadwen, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Cohere has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence

• Conair Group has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Conor Lewis, Senior Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, and Quinn Rinke, Special Assistant, West and North Regional Advisor at National Defence

• Ocean Group has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Tyler Andrew, Manager at National Defence

• ITPS Canada has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Alexa Kalsatos, Senior Operations and Regional Advisor (Ontario) to the Minister of National Defence

• IMT Group has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Mark McKiel, Director General Joint Equipment Program Management at National Defence

• Stelumar Advanced Manufacturing has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Hilary Hendriks, Senior Policy Advisor in the Minister’s Office, David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, Kevin Brosseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence, and Paola Zurro, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Forces Housing Agency

• Modular Building Institute has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Paola Zurro, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Forces Housing Agency

• Nunavut Tunngavik has filed new communications detailing meetings with Gwendolyn Culver, Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Issues Management in the Minister’s Office, and with Peter Hammerschmidt, Assistant Deputy Minister at National Defence

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• There are shockingly no real rumors for this week. I had two, but went back to verification after somw doubts. Rare we have no rumors, but it does happen from time to time, esepcially the summer slowdown.

• If you want something? There is some expectation the new defence policy will be announced around budget. It is said to at least be SSE-sized, if not larger. Key items to watch are CDC, MCAV, HDFM, and Airlift apparently. Also expect some teasers of it from a few upcoming documents.

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