This Week in Defence (12/23/25): Merry Christmas! Saab vs. Lockheed lobbying, Confirmation on Transport Canada’s aircraft fleet, future JSS, Lots of Lobbying, Steel

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Happy Tuesday everyone!
Before we sign off for the holidays, I just wanted to send a quick note of thanks to everyone who has supported TNSR this year.
Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just joined us recently, your support means the world. Wishing you and your families a wonderful Christmas and a relaxing holiday season. We have some exciting projects and deep dives scheduled for early next year that I can't wait to share with you.
Thank you for being part of the journey. Have a wonderful holiday season!
News
True North Strategic Review: 2025 End-of-Year Survey Analysis & Strategic Report
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 (12/22/25): Lasers, Huskys, Harbour Protection, Why is CPSP taking so long?
New Torpedoes for the Type 212CD and Inocea buying a German yard?
Correcting myself from Yesterday: TKMS, Marmen, and Canadian production of 1.3964 Grade steel.
The Department of National Defence Acquires Additional Apartment Complex in British Columbia
Ontario Launches Bid to Make Toronto Home to Defence, Security and Resilience Bank
Canada could reportedly get up to an 80% share in SAFE projects, Euractiv reports
Canadian and Icelandic Coast Guards sign agreement to increase cooperation
Minister Champagne strengthens trade and defence ties with key European partners
Breaking: BDC introduces platform to provide $4B to boost Canada’s defence and security ecosystem
Christiane Fox named new Deputy Minister of National Defence
SAFE: member states endorse agreement on the participation of Canada
Analysis shows climate impacts will increasingly strain Canada’s Arctic defence infrastructure
Military considers permanent bases in Latvia as part of Canada's NATO commitment
How to equip Canada’s defense industrial base to meet NATO’s Hague summit commitments
Queen’s Centre for International and Defence Policy announces new advisory council
Canada hired an ex-Goldman Sachs banker to revive its military. Investors are excited
New FedNor funding aims to help northern Ontario companies get into national defence supply chain
Building military aircraft in Canada would create more than 12,000 jobs, Saab says.
Prime Minister Carney's message to members of the Canadian Armed Forces
DM/CDS Message: New Deputy Minister of National Defence announced
Project Updates
The RFI for the Camp Sustain (CS) Project has been updated with new documentation.
The University of Manitoba has been awarded a new IDEaS contract valued at $500,227
Photon-IV has been awarded a new IDEaS contract valued at $287,500
Qoherent has been awarded a new IDEaS contract valued at $1,436,626
Lobbying Updates
Vancouver Shipyards has filed new communications detailing meetings with Quinn Rinke, Conor Lewis, Renee Filiatrault, Meryem Nailli, and Jonathan Moor
D-TA System has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Conor Lewis and Alexa Kalsatos
NAVAL Group has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Renee Filiatrault
MDA SPACE has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Ross Ermel
Saab Canada has filed new communications detailing meetings with Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Stefanie Beck, David McGuinty, Renee Filiatrault, Radey Barrack, and Heather Sheehy
Maritime Launch Services has filed new communications detailing meetings with Debbie McCosham, Stefanie Beck, Scott Millar, Renée Filiatrault, Cory Pike, Andrew Green, and Claire Fisher
Roshel has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Wendy Hadwen and Heather Sheehy
Bombardier Inc has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Jaspinder Komal
Rumors & Speculation
• TNSR can now confirm that Transport Canada’s aircraft fleet is being transferred to the DND. This appears to include the Dash and King Air fleets, as well as the singular Hermes StarLiner MALE UAS. Ironically, this could mean the DND receives a new MALE UAS before the CQ-9B SkyGuardian enters service. Hilarious.
• While we have previously reported on the Royal Canadian Navy’s desire to acquire more Joint Support Ships, we are told that the working number is no longer four, but five vessels. The Navy is also exploring new vessels to fulfill this role beyond the Berlin-class design. Maybe GLAAM or similar?
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Dominion Dynamics is developing Canada's next-generation Arctic command layer, unifying sensors, autonomous systems, and operators across all domains into a single real-time operating picture. Their energy- efficient, low-latency C2 architecture is purpose-built for extreme northern conditions and fully interoperable with both legacy and future systems, strengthening sovereign capabilities, improving joint decision-making, and enabling adaptable, integrated defence and security operations across Canada's Arctic.



GLAAM seems so optimized for our Arctic role that I question the utility elsewhere.
Back to the original JSS concept maybe?