This Week in Defence (08/25/26): Sweden, Kongsberg, New Icebreaker Order, Trade Wars, Grobs, A Host of Minerva, CDC, Alberta followup

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Hey Gang.

I hope you all had a great weekend. I have officially landed back in Canada! After a week of being stuck in Sweden, I am finally almost home, at least back to my own country lol. I know it has been… a weekend, for a lot of us. I don't wanna go give a speech here on politics and such. That isn't the positivity we want.

Instead, I hope we can focus on more of the good stuff from the week. We have lots of Sweden pictures, a firm contact on the Program Icenreakers, and some fun rumors to make up for the lack last week. So let's not wait up!

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

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• The latest episode of the Explorer Spotlight with Ethan Marcoux is now available! This week, Ethan sits down with Eliot Pence, Founder and CEO of Dominion Dynamics to discuss the companies current lineup, their future plans, the struggles of a defence startup, and more!

• 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!

• KONGSBERG to deliver Remote Weapon Systems to Canada

• Canadian Coast Guard officially welcomes CCGS Cascumpec Bay into service in Shippagan

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

• Come see the first two RCAF CT-157 Siskin II (Pilatus PC-21) at AERO Gatineau-Ottawa

• GKN Aerospace unveils UAV demonstrator within first year of the programme

• Noah In Sweden: Day 1 and 2

• On Trade & Defence & Stuff

• Prime Minister Carney announces the largest shipbuilding contract in Québec’s history

• Prime Minister Carney participates in a virtual meeting in support of Ukraine

• Prime Minister Carney speaks with Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz

• Noah in Sweden: The Weekend & The Air Show

• Canadian Armed Forces Launch Operation NANOOK NUNAKPUT to Strengthen Security Along the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

• Canada marks start of major infrastructure upgrades at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown

• Kepler Delivers Optical Infrastructure for Real-Time Space Operations

• Trade war could affect defence relationship between Canada and U.S., experts warn

• Detecting whales and submarines: how northerners could benefit from defence spending

• Building Canada’s submarine enterprise for the long term

• Aerospace industry pushes for Transport Canada certification process to keep up with expanded defence spending; Joly top-lobbied minister in July

• Fanshawe renames aerospace school to reflect growing focus on defence, information technology

• ‘We’re almost there’: military aims for 3% of personnel to be Indigenous

• Canadian companies eye speed, quick contracts from Ottawa’s new drone marketplace

• BDC planning to expand lending tied to economic sovereignty as comfort with defence sector grows

• Will the Ontario Defence Industrial Strategy (ODIS) include rights protocols, provisions for the protection of human rights defenders?

• HMCS Vancouver Observes Change of Command Ceremony

• From Space to Sea: Fitness Innovation Finds a Home on Canadian Submarines

• Raven Program Marks Another Successful Summer at CFB Esquimalt

• CANFLTANT welcomes new Fleet Chief

• HMCS Charlottetown conducts rare Demolition-at-Sea Training during Pacific Transit

• HMCS Robert Hampton Gray leads Op NANOOK departure

• One team, many nations: Canada’s significant contribution to RIMPAC 2026

• Lt(N) Hirst extinguishes truck fire during morning commute

• CAF Imagery Contest 2026: Time to share your best shots!

• CF One App brings member benefits and savings together

• Royal Military College officer cadet explores defence diplomacy in the Philippines

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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 RFI for Space Command and Control has been updated with new documentation

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

• The RFI for the Dive Tender Replacement (DTR) Project has been updated with new documentation

• The MINERVA project for Arctic Uncrewed Air Systems has been updated with new documentation

• We also have three new MINERVA projects this week, with new RFP for Uncrewed Air Systems for Cargo/Munition Drop, Uncrewed Ground Systems for Tactical Cargo Movement, and another for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Uncrewed Air Systems that have been released

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• 49North has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including funding opportunities, defence procurement policy, and discussions on multi-domain C4ISR integration, advanced sensing and radar technologies, autonomous systems, secure digital mission systems, defence-qualified electronics, and long-term in-service support

• 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

• 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)

• 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

• Nukik Corporation has filed a new record with Sussex Strategy Group looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities to develop its Hydro-Fiber link

• 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

• Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the companies capabilities and offerings, the design and delivery of unmanned and drone policies and programs, and procurement opportunities

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

• Thales Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including defence industrialization policy, procurement opportunities in shipbuilding, in-service support and capability sustainment, C4ISR and networking programs, ground vehicles, optronics, military avionics, identity and access management, and cybersecurity and AI solutions

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

• Des Nedhe Development has filed a new record with 11871722 Canada looking to engage the Federal Government on greater cooperation between government and Indigenous business ventures

• Drakkar has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on the companies capabilities and offerings as a supplier to the Department of National Defence

• J-Squared Technologies has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including contract opportunities for rugged electronic systems for the CAF and funding opportunities

• Roshel has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities for its lineup of armoured vehicles. I dont think we need to specify what.

• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has filed a new record with StrategyCorp looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities for its DHC-515 Aerial Fire Fighting Aircraft, DHC-6 Twin Otter and Twin Otter Guardian, and SD3-60 Sherpa

• Dominion Dynamics has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including the Defence Industrial Strategy, economic development of the Arctic region with respect to transportation and dual-use infrastructure, the potential contributions of Canadian-controlled defence companies to Canadian sovereignty, and procurement opportunities for the companies persistent Arctic sensing systems and autonomous collaborative platform

• Qikiqtaaluk Arctic Economic Development has filed a new record with Barrack Hill Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities to develop the Qikiqtarjuaq Deep Sea Port in Nunavut

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• There is some early talks that CDC might go through another shift, though in what ways I can't say at this time. There has been a lot of debate the last few weeks about cementing requirements for CDC, and part of that could include some last minute changes to requirements being an RFI drops.

• Following up on the topic of an Alberta MOU on Defence. We have been told to expect a number of priorities to be laid out including Alberta-specific promises in energetics, autonomous sytems, and transportation infrastructure to all be laid out. It's deeper it seems than I first expected it to be.

• To make note, we will not be speculating in American defence demands in the newsletter. I refuse to take part in the chaos and drama. Anything related to current negotiations will be done in it's own space outside the newsletter

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