This Week in Defence (7/28/25): Kingston-class and Orca news, a Pacific Radar system, Groupe Ocean, new MMSM Vessel Timeline

Happy Monday everyone. There was a lot of surprising news, which meant a lot of hunting for this newsletter! I am sad to see the MCDV go. They have been a constant to me my whole life, but we got lots this week, so let's look to the future!

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News

• For those who missed the news on the Kingston-class. The RCN will start divesting of them this August. Eight will be leaving this year, and the rest gradually until 2028.

• For those qho want an update on the Korean Special Delegation to Canada, since both the media amd federal government won't cover it.

• Seaspan signs MoU with Ontario-based Stigterstaal Canada & Algoma Steel

• Supporting Quebec's maritime sector - Quebec supports the growth of Groupe Océan

• Governments Of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Arctic Gateway Group Sign Agreement to Bolster Northern Trade

• Canadian Rangers’ rifles to be upgraded next year

• OPERATION GRIND FOR GUNNERS: Pedaling with a purpose for Canadian Forces charity

• Losses on Canadian and Turkish helicopter programmes sting Lockheed

• N.L. tech companies optimistic they'll see benefit from Ottawa's increased defence dollars

• His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Ville de Québec Completes Rearmament in Australia while participating in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25

• Defence Minister McGuinty participates in the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group

• INTEC and UVAD Technologies collaborate to bring the Falcon Supersonic UCAV to Europe

• PAL Aerospace to Deliver SATCOM, CarteNav and HENSOLDT to Collaborate on ISR Operations

• Chorus Aviation to Acquire Elisen & Associates Inc.

• ITPS Canada Partners with SYPAQ Systems to Enhance Global UAS Capabilities

• The little-known Canadian military operation saving Ukrainian lives

• Shipbuilding, aerospace to be priorities in federal strategy to transform defence sector, Joly says

• Military police watchdog calls public hearing into alleged civilian detention at Montreal base

• Clearview Township chosen as transmit and receive site for the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar project

• Canadian Armed Forces firefighting crews to arrive in Sask. by Saturday

• Minister Sees Potential for National Defence Operations at Bull Arm Site

• A candle in the night: Honouring the legacy of Cpl Francisco Gomez

• A new approach to 24/7 support from the SMSRC

• On July 20, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) issued an alert about a serious security issue affecting Microsoft SharePoint servers. Microsoft has released emergency guidance to reduce risk while they work on a permanent security update.

• RCN’s Lt(N) Moors embarks on Antarctic voyage aboard L’Astrolabe

• Defence Team Word Puzzle | July 28

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Project Updates

• The RFP for SAR Satellite Systems Next Generation Concept Studies has been updated with new Q&A

• A new RFI for Program Containers (PC) for CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk has dropped! Everyone loves containers.

• The Enhanced SATCOM Project - Polar project has been updated to extend the industry engagement period to 29th September 2025.

• The RFI for the Mid-Shore Multi-Mission (MSMM) vessels has been updated with new information and an updated timeline. A design contract is currently set to be awarded in January with a construction contract set for Summer 2028. (we will be talking about them later.)

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Lobbying Updates

• Calian Group has filed a new record looking at government policy regarding defence as well as space.

• Telesat has filed a new record aiming to engage the governmwnt on space amd defence policy.

• Saab Canada has filed a new record exploring procurement opportunities as well as ITB policy. There is a particular focus on the Canadian Patrol Submarine project.

• Ocean Group, after a week of big news, has filed a new record with PAA Advisory looking to engage on the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Ocean is one of the larger shipyards pushing for reforms to the NSS.

• Inkas Group has filed a new record with Shimon Fogel looking at multiple topics. This includes procurement opportunities in CAF

• Calian Group has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Micheal Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army.

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Rumors & Speculation

• A lot of speculation is coming off the Kingston-class. Thats understandable. It was quite the thing to drop within no announcements. Not a shock, minus how many are being paid off in a single go, but nevertheless there was a lot of talk about thr future of the Orca.

The press release detailed that training duties done by the Kingston would be taken over by an expanded Orca fleet. This got me a few questions, as the last Orca was commissioned back in 2008.

Nevertheless I can confirm that there is a plan to expand the Orca fleet with new vessels, eventually. The idea would be to move up the Orca-class replacement project and instead expand the existing fleet with new vessels, operating both these and the original Orcas alongside each other.

There are a few preliminary plans and isnt funded. Options are currently being explored but the idea would result is a similar class of vessels. This might also turn into a full renewal. In the meantime the exist Orca will be taken over an expanded role, and will likely receive some additional updates and upgrades to accommodate an increased workload.

Nevertheless losing the Kingstons cant be replaced with just the current fleet, and with almost no new major vessels coming online in the next decade there is a pressing need to get more training vessels online.

• There has been some discussion of a new radar system for the West Coast. This would complement the existing Arctic/Polar OTHR and provide Canada a Pacific Over-The-Horizon capability. This is a concept, not a funded plan, or even on the books AFAIK. It might be part of current IAMD discussions. Its a bit confusing from those I spoke with. The system would be similar to the Long Range Discrimination Radar based in Alaska. In fact it is likely the system WOULD be a Canadian version of the LRDR, given it shares commonality with the River-class.

• The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada Mélanie Joly has been very much in the news ahead of the release of the Defence Industrial Strategy, which should be dropping in the next few months. Some gossip around is that the Minister is pushing for Canada to ditch the F-35 in favour of another system.

Obviously taken with a grain of salt, and no clue what she would be thinking, but Joly has apparently had multiple meetings with officials from Saab, Dassault, Eurofighter, Boeing and of course Lockheed about options and alternatives. KAI has apparently not been contacted.