This Week in Defence (11/11/25): Budget 2025, Korean stuff, CMS-330, New sensors for the Navy, Lockheed suffering, Kongsberg.

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Happy Tuesday?

Yes I am late. I apologize! Today was very busy, and so was yesterday so our scheduling is a bit messy. I don't want to waste time, nor can I say what exactly happened yet, but I rpomise this delay was worth it!

Lets get to it!

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News

• The True North Strategic Review is currently hosting our end of the year survey! Submissions are open until November 15th!

• Budget 2025: Everything you need to know on Defence (and my thoughts)

• 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!

• Germany reportedly selects CMS-330 as new Combat Management System for the Deutsche Marine

• Team Korea concludes three day trip to Ottawa, signs new MOU and LOI

• Let's talk with Noah (11/09/25): CDC numbers, GDLS & MEDCAV, Tanks

• Canada’s Defence Awakening Still Sleeps Through Its Own Industrial Reality

• PHOTOS: HMCS William Hall demonstrates Submarine Suppoet capabilities as part of Exercise Viperfish Mercy

• ABB Azipod® propulsion to power new Canadian icebreaker, ‘Polar Max’

• Telesat invests US$5 million in Farcast to develop fully integrated User Terminals for Telesat Lightspeed satellite network (plus an update on Telesat's Q3 results)

• Canadian Air Force Visits Horizon Aircraft Indicating Growing Interest in Hybrid eVTOL

• Keel laid on Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the CCGS Sermilik

• Seaspan Shipyards partners with AYS Ship Repair to expand customer network

• Ministers of Veterans Affairs, National Defence, Indigenous Services, Crown-Indigenous Relations, and Northern and Arctic Affairs united to mark Indigenous Veterans Day

• Annual closing of Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic Marine Response Station

• HMCS Ville de Québec returns from Operation HORIZON

• Remembering and Reflecting

• Calian Group Announces Governance Changes to Support Strategic Operations Following Agreement with Plantro Ltd.

• Monitoring and surveillance activities by Canada against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers

• CCC signs strategic cooperation agreement with Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)

• Ministers of Veterans Affairs, National Defence and Public Safety mark Remembrance Day

• Canadian military will rely on an army of public servants to boost its ranks by 300,000 (we reported this back in july)

• Canada's military chief says new defence plan is open to all, not just public servants

• #Budget2025 hints at full scope of federal government’s defence agenda

• As Canada's military spending rises, London defence firm may benefit

• Canada Targets Quantum as Strategic Industry in C$334 Million Defense Push

• Employees laid off at 5 Wing military base despite military funding boost, says union

• Canadian quantum firms all make the first cut in U.S. defence program

• Bombardier opens door to defence mergers as nations boost spending

• Mark Norman: $80 billion in new defence spending is laudable, but the devil's in the execution

• Canadian Coast Guard confirms civilian role despite defence oversight

• Department of National Defence Hoping to Identify Four Unknown Newfoundland Soldiers

• Freeland tasked with tapping Canadian businesses to help rebuild Ukraine

• Honouring service at CANEX Stadacona

• In boost to mining industry, Canada commits to stockpile critical minerals as a national security priority

• The Blood Between Us: How a Donor’s Gift Saved a CAF Member and Redefined Service

• FDU(P) Supports Officer Development at Sea

• New Display at CFB Esquimalt Museum Honours Late Naval Commander Peter Godwin Chance

• The poppy: a symbol of remembrance

• Under Australia’s winter sun, Canada shows up big for Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 2025

• After decades of stalling, projects in Canada’s North gain momentum as part of defence push

• From the Arctic to the Indo-Pacific, the AOPV Demonstrates Its Global Reach

• DM/CDS Message regarding Budget 2025

• Building resilience in the information age: Defence Team hosts conference on countering misinformation and disinformation

• Presentations at the 2025 Health Expo: Navigating Your Health Journey

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Project Updates

• The DND has released documentstion informing their intent to award the Dartmouth based MetOcean a new contract for Persistent Autonomous Maritime Sensors. This Advance Contract Award Notice regards the MetOcean NiKA autonomous sensor platform and is valued at over $1m (EDIT: I put $100m by accident lolol)

• The RFP for the Mid-Shore Multi-Mission (MSMM) Vessel design contract has been updated with new Documentation.

• The Standing Offer for the provision of Maritime Propulsion Systems has been updated with new documentation.

• The ITQ for the Light Utility Vehicle project has been updated, however I don't see any noticable changes after a few glances? Likely minor updates to wording.

• A new RFP has been released looking to acquire ~a dozen 4x4 Troop Carrier vehicles for various bases.

• A new Request for Standing Offer (RFSO) has been dropped looking for 4x4 and 8x8 Arctic Mobility Amphibious Vehicle over a duration of three (3) firm years with two (2) additional one year options.

• A new Proposal has been released regarding Infrastructure at Gagetown related to the ACSV

• Niksik Leasing & Sales has been awarded a $5,116,622.35 contract for the provision of Medium Arctic Mobility Vehicles

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Lobbying Updates

• Raytheon International has filed a new record with David Pratt & Associates looking to showcase their products

• Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) has filed a new record looking to engage the government on multiple topics.

• Maritime Launch Services has filed a new record looking to enagge the government on space policy and previously commited funding.

• Coulson Aviation has filed a new record with Askella Advisory looking to engage the government on the companies capability to support against wildfires.

• KAP Minerals has filed a new record with Crestview Strategy looking for money for one of their Critical Mineral projects. I assume this is their Phosphate Mine?

• The Institute of Ocean Research Enterprise (IORE) has filed a new record with NorthStar Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on potential funding programs and COVE

• Sorel Forge has filed a new record with TACT - Intelligence-conseil looking to engage the government on possible funding to expand production capacity.

• L3Harris Technologies Canada has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on ongoing contracts, including for the River-class Destroyer and to promote their products and capabilities

• Nukik Corporation has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link.

• The Edmonton Region Defence Consortium has filed a new record with Global Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on the Defence Industrial Strategy

• Lockheed Martin has filed a new record with the Federal Government looking to engage on multiple topics, inlcuding Space and NORAD Modernization, as well as concerns regarding trade policy. They also want to promote that integration with the U.S is a good thing. Oh Lockheed… you're fucked.

• Honeywell has filed a new record with Earnscliffe Strategy Group looking to emgage the federal government on space policy, the export of space-related products and, surprisingly, ongoing issues regarding the tendering system, more specifically getting repsonses to RFP. This is a common issue a lot of people have, though the first I see it mentioned in lobbying from my side.

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Rumors & Speculation

• While the government has annoucned funding for Domestic Launch, there is expectation that an RFI/RFP regarding it will be coming out shortly.

• Kongsberg has apparently put together quite the package regarding CPSP. Something I am looking into.