This Week in Defence (09/14/26): Speaking with VAdm Charlebois, First DDI Contracts, Everyone in Poland, Aurora Black, Microreactors, New MCM USV, IFM Numbers

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Hey Gang.

It's another week of drones! We have the first DDI contracts for drones and UGV out this week, as well as some major movement from WB Group ahead of a potential drone deal. CSMC showed off their updated lineup of Nuclear Reactors, MDA has a new version of Aurora, and I got to talk to VAdm Charlebois about the future of the navy, Autonomous Systems, and his plans for the next year.

So yeah, bit of a busy week aint it? We got it all here, and a whole lot more, so don't let me keep you waiting!

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

• Our self-declared (ive never asked ethan) sister publication has a new spotlight this week with Josh Ogden, Co-Founder and CEO of AVSS that I highly recommend you go and read!

• Let’s Talk with Noah (09/11/26): CDC Scope, GBAD discussion, IFM Timeline, C2, nTACS Favourites, Tempering Expectations

• Let’s Talk with Noah: Vice-Admiral D.A. Charlebois, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy

• Fourteen Canadian Companies Form National Alliance, Call for a Real Test of Canadian Content in Defence Procurement

• CAE and WB Electronics advance Polish-Canadian collaboration in unmanned systems training and readiness

• The Government of Canada invests $405 million to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project and strengthen Arctic connectivity

• Minister McGuinty concludes visit to Poland, advancing Canada–Poland defence and industrial cooperation

• Scotiabank Publishes Canadian Defence Issuance Framework

• Manitoba Government Announces New Manitoba-Canada Defence Alliance

• Lockheed Martin Canada Invests $11.7 Million in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Avalon Holographics

• CSMC Unveils Three New Nuclear Reactor Platforms for Arctic Energy and Defence, Academic Research, and Lunar Infrastructure

• Elomatic appoints new President of Elomatic Consulting Inc. to lead North American Marine business growth

• Zighra Qualifies Across All Five Streams of Canada’s Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace

• Where Was Mr. Fuhr Today? (09/09/26)

• Babcock Canada Awards Sub-Contract Extension to Seaspan Victoria Shipyards on the Victoria In-Service Support Contract

• Volatus Aerospace Awarded Canadian Defence Contract for Tactical ISR Uncrewed Aircraft Systems for up to 5,000 systems

• Introducing 1st Canadian Division

• Canada and United Kingdom renew Reserve Service Agreement

• MDA SPACE UNVEILS MDA AURORA™ BLACK, A DEFENCE-FOCUSED SOFTWARE-DEFINED SATELLITE

• Canada and Ukraine to scale up drone production, build up Canada’s defence industries, and achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine

• Canadian Coast Guard welcomes first additional large vessel on the Great Lakes in over thirty years

• CIBC commits $2 billion to help Canadian defence and dual-use businesses grow

• Draganfly Selected by Government of Canada to Supply Low-Cost Tactical ISR UAS to the Canadian Armed Forces

• Prime Minister Carney to welcome Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre to Canada

• WB Group Signs New Agreements With Canadian Industry

• Robotics Centre Secures BDC Financing; moves to 365 March Rd. to support Uncrewed Systems Growth

• Maritime Launch Services and Isar Aerospace Finalize Statement of Work, Advance to Execution

• TD LAUNCHES $150 BILLION FIVE-YEAR COMMITMENT TO ACCELERATE CANADA’S INVESTMENT SUPERCYCLE

• Prime Minister Carney to visit Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to strengthen ties with France in energy and defence

• Statement on Canada’s Participation in Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity

• Canada-China defence talks not a shift in security posture, expert says

• No longer taboo, Canada’s defence industry steps into Europe’s spotlight

• Canada holds first defence co-ordination talks with China in more than eight years

• Trump’s Bombardier threat is an ‘own goal’ for Canada-U.S. defence ties, analysts say

• GlobalEye gamble: Ottawa chose surveillance plane without knowing it met military needs

• Naval Large Tugs Update: Preparing for the Future

• A message from the 2026 Halifax Region National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign Champion

• Bringing agility to 1st Canadian Division - The 3rd Canadian Light Infantry Regiment

• Register now for the upcoming Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Virtual Job Fair

• Opening of the Courts Ceremony marks the beginning of a new judicial year

• “It was a personal journey.” One member’s path to becoming a Social Work Officer

• Your photos, our CAF: Help build a more representative photo library

• Honouring quiet service: Canadian Intelligence Corps unveils Afghanistan commemorative artwork

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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 the Light Forces Enhancement (LFE) project has been updated with a new Q&A

• The RFP for the National Combat Rations Program Long Term Solutions has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the Space Based Optical Capability (SBO) – Surveillance of Space 2 has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the Design, Development and Characterization of Electro-Optical Systems has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the alongside refit of CCGS John P Tully has been updated with new documentation

• The RFP for the alongside refit of CCGS Captain Goddard has been updated with new documentation

• The ACAN for First Person View (FPV) quadcopter drones for the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre (CADTC) has been updated with new documentation

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

• We have two new releases this week! We have one DDI project for Autonomous Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Uncrewed Surface Vehicles, and another for the alongside refit of CCGS M Charles that have been released. Unfortunately, I have not been given access to the MCM USV documentation.

• The first contracts under the Defence Drone Initiative have been awarded! For Complex Terrain Uncrewed Ground Vehicle systems, 18159866 Canada Corp has been awarded a new contract valued at $389,463.35, Twenty20 Insight a new contract valued at $441,688.00, and Beonyx Robotics a new contract valued at $481,644.86

• For Low-Cost Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, AVSS has been awarded a new contract valued at $466,295.25, 18159866 Canada Corp a new contract valued at $604,200.00, Volatus Aerospace a new contract valued at $496,001.00, OBJEXIS AI a new contract valued at $612,400.00, and Draganfly a new contract valued at $439,851.55

• AirMatrix has been awarded a new contract valued at $2,579,477.60 for the Libra Autonomous Surveillance Decision System (ASDS)

• AVSS has been awarded a new contract valued at $2,596,700.00 under the Innovative Solutions Canada Testing Stream

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• SkyCan Systems has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including funding opportunities to purchase drones for donation to Ukraine, and defence procurement policy for the domestic manufacture and export of remotely piloted aircraft systems

• Zighra has filed a new record with PAA Advisors looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities for its explainable AI, multi-sensor fusion and electronic threat detection products

• Honeywell Aerospace has filed a new record with Earnscliffe Strategy Group looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including export control rules for space products, procurement policy, and funding and contract opportunities for its aerospace and satellite communication products

• COLT Canada has filed a new record with Summa Strategies Canada looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities for the procurement of small arms and on funding opportunities

• Laboratoire Reaction Dynamics has filed a new record with NorthStar Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities to support a domestic launch capability

• MHI RJ Aviation has filed a new record with Crestview Strategy looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities for aircraft related services

• QV Studio has filed a new record with StrategyCorp looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities for dual-use quantum and AI technologies

• Canada Rocket Company has filed a new record with Massey Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including sovereign launch missions, talent retention, and dual-use technology development

• GHGSat has filed a new record with Crestview Strategy looking to engage the Federal Government on contract and funding opportunities for its satellite services

• Les dirigeables flying whales Québec has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on funding opportunities to develop a 60-tonne capacity airship

• Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities for its security technology products and services

• Rheinmetall Canada has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities and the sustainment of Canada’s defence industrial base

• C3RiOS Systems has filed a new record with TACTIX Government Relations & Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities to provide sovereign defence capabilities for upcoming Canadian programs

• Hologate has filed a new record with Chimera Group looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities for extended reality firearms and combat training simulation systems

• Voyageur Aviation has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on procurement opportunities for aircraft support services

• ITPS Canada has filed a new record with Edelman looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities for test pilot and tactical training services

• Lockheed Martin has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics including NORAD modernization, defence procurement reform, the defence industrial strategy, Industrial and Technological Benefits policy, and the National Shipbuilding Strategy

• RaceRocks has filed a new record with Kit Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on funding and contract opportunities for marine and aerospace training and simulation services

• Railotech has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities for vessel capability and design, port infrastructure, and terminal ice management

• EllisDon has filed a new record with Enterprise Canada looking to engage the Federal Government on contract opportunities

• GHGSat has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Gwendolyn Culver, Director of Arctic Policy at National Defence

• Railotech has filed a new communication detailing a meeting with Kit Hancock, Portfolio Director OOSV and MPV at the Canadian Coast Guard, and Jarett Hunt, Project Manager at National Defence

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• The rumor for this week is that at least part of IFM has been approved at a budget of 1.3$ billion. No idea the scope or such, but such a number is ridiculously low. I have heard this from multiple sources, but don't know the scale.

• There is an expectation that at least own announcement will come out of PM Carneys trip to Europe. There are a few possibilities here, including our lost Polish Drone Deal. Working on things.

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