This Week in Defence (8/18/25): Topshee wants submarines, Ukraine wants Canada, Nordics everywhere, LAV & CPSP Updates

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Happy Monday everyone. Newsletter is a bit later tonight, I know. This one was very long, extremely long honestly. Its been a while since weve had this much at once! Anyways, the next few weeks look like they'll be very busy, so expect some later newsletters than usual as gathering news, especially the lobbying section, can be a lot of work.

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News

• Why not GLAAM?

• Enter the Nordic Era

• Ukrainian Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal meets with Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine

• Followup on Canada’s JLTV purchase

• C-CORE Awarded IDEaS Grant to Advance Arctic Ice Navigation

• Ministers of Veterans Affairs and National Defence mark Victory in Asia and the Pacific and the End of Second World War

• Minister of National Defence concludes visits to Canadian Armed Forces bases in Edmonton and Cold Lake

• Denmark's Greenland Committee to visit Canada.

• Next Dynamics Completes Acquisition of Integrated Launcher Solutions Inc.

• Operation North Pacific Guard wraps up unprecedented four-nation patrol of the Pacific high seas

• Minister of National Defence visits Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg

• AVSS Secures Nationwide SFOC Approval From Transport Canada for Drone Avalanche Control Technology

• Canada Secures Sovereign Path to Orbit: Maritime Launch and Reaction Dynamics Sign Pathfinder Agreement to Establish Domestic Orbital Launch Capability

• Construction Begins at NordSpace's Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX) in Canada, Ahead of First Commercial Rocket Launch

• Ontario Shipyards partners with province and Italy’s largest builder to ready bid for navy corvettes

• Canada’s naval commander wants submarine provider chosen by end of year

• Secrecy for life to be binding for thousands at DND and in Canadian Forces under new initiative

• Exclusive: Canada defense review makes case for sticking with F-35 jets, sources say

• Government to follow Canadian military's lead on F-35, defence minister says (Yeah, they sticking to the 88)

• Ottawa must prioritize climate tech in Canada’s new defence strategy

• Deterrence must be the priority of Canada’s expanded Armed Forces spending: Alex Wilner and Christopher Coates

• Feds spent at least $1.7-billion on defence contracts in the first half of 2025, about 16 per cent of which went to U.S. companies: data

• First Nations in Yukon need to be more involved in Arctic security, defence says report

• Marching with purpose: CAF reaffirms military tradition at the 2025 Nijmegen Marches

• 12 Wing hosts Naval Experience Program participants

• HMCS Ville de Québec wraps up multinational exercise off Australia

• Solar project to bring green electricity to Shearwater

• CFB Esquimalt Bids Farewell to Base Administration Commanding Officer

• Naval Reservists Take on West Coast Waters in NWO Training

• Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Welcome New Leadership

• HMCS Calgary Marks 30 Years of Service with Weekend Celebrations

• 2,300 Days at Sea

• Defence Team News | Clearing explosive mine threats in the Black Sea

• Download and save your performance agreements

• What to do if you suspect a pay issue

• Happy Public Service Pride Week 2025!

• Message from the Defence Team 2SLGBTQI+ Champions: Public Service Pride Week 2025

• Defence Team Word Puzzle | August 18

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Project Updates

• The RFP for the RCMP Next Generation - Police Coastal Patrol Vessels project has been updated with new Q&A

• The Remote Piloted Aircraft Infrastructure Project has been awarded to Bird Construction Group

• An advanced notice has been set our for several IDEaS challenge

• The Mid-Shore Multi-Mission (MSMM) vessel Design Contract has been updated with new documentation

• For those of you who like fall refits we also have new documentation for CCGS John P. Tully and Tanu

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Lobbying Updates

• Goodrich Aerospace Canada has filed a new record looking at export and regulations regarding their products.

• Seaspan Shipyards has filed a new record with Bluesky Strategy Group regarding the NSS

• Arcfield Canada has filed a new record with Summa Strategies Canada looking to promote their CUAS systems and engage of the future of F35 logistics and supply chains

• Colt Canada has filed a new record with Summa Strategies Canada regarding small arms procurement (as if there is anyone else.)

• Kongsberg Geospatial has filed a new record with Summa Strategies Canada looking to promote their products to the Government of Canada

• Bombardier Inc has filed a new record looking into several different things

• CAE inc has filed a new record aimingnto promote their capabilities and eeking funding from Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) & Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)

• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has filed a new record with Summa Strategies Canada looking at future RPAS opportunities

• General Motors of Canada has filed a new record looking at a billion new things, including participation in the LUV project

• Calian Group has filed a new record looking to engage on Canada's defence plans as well as on space, for some reason.

• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has filed a new record with StrategyCorp Inc looking for support with the CL-515 programme

• General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has filed a new communication detailing meetings with MND David McGuinty, Andrew Green, and Alexa Kalsatos in regards to LAVS and LVM

• Vancouver Shipyards Co has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Cory Pike in regards to the NSS

• Seaspan Shipyards has filed a new communications detailing meetings with Cory Pike and Quinn Rinke regarding the NSS

• Calian Group has filed a new communications detailing meetings with new Commander of the RCAF Jamie Speiser-Blanchet regarding Canadas future defence plans.

• General Morors of Canada has filed a new.recoed detailing meetings with Charles Vincent and Kendal Hembroff regarding the development of future vehicle purchase programs to support military operations.

• Bombardier Inc. has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Stephen Fuhr, Joel Lightbound, Wilder Walker-Stewart, Elisabeth D'Amours, Pavan Sapra, Michael Mills, and Mujtaba Hussain regarding procurement opportunities

• Lockheed Martin Canada has filed a new communications detailing meetings with Cory Pike regarding the F-35

• The Boeing Comoany has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Andrew Green and Renee Filiatrault regarding Boeings ITB requirements for the P8 Posideon project

• Telesat Canada has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Ross Ermel regarding Canadas Space policy

• Raytheon Company has filed a new communications detailing meetings with Jeffery Smyth regarding procurement opportunities

• Navantia, S.A., S.M.E. has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Steven Waddell regarding the CPSP project

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Rumors & Speculation

• To update from a few weeks ago. Cabinet, as you know, recently approved the procurement of 190 new LAVS. I can confirm that this was specifically for additional ACSV. The army further plans additional LAV purchases, including a request for 141 new LAV 6. There are also plans for an upgunning of the LAV 6 fleet. So praise Greg. There are a few LAV projects in the works, so its a wee but disorganized but I expect that 141 approved quickly. So for record that is 190 ACSV and 141 LAV 6 planned, with cabinet already approving the ACSV in June.

• To followup on Topshee wanting Subs this year, there is active plans in the works to accelerate timelines, and the expectation around Industry is that the navy will, at the least, shortlist two companies, likely TKMS and Team One Korea to try and expedite the process. I should have more next week :)

• To also follow up on another report, a Pacific Over-The-Horizon radar. I am told that talk of these plans are ‘premature’ and it is not an active project, which likely means this is a case of an idea thrown out there getting theough the rumor pipeline. Such happens from time to time!