This Week in Defence (8/25/25): Lots of Visits, the last AOPS delivered, CDC, something is coming...

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Happy Monday everyone. Newsletter is a bit later tonight, again. I have had a lot of work today, multiple substacks and a few goodies in the background. Keep an eye out! It's gonna be a busy week, has been a busy week. We still got Carney in Germany tomorrow. That will be another live thread!

Anyways, this week is a bit lacking in some things. Its been surprisingly quiet on the project front. That happens though!

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News

• Canada in Scandinavia Livethread (Saab, Roshel, Finland)

• Roshel and Swebor sign new agreement to produce Ballistic Steel in Canada

• Canada partners with Cohere to accelerate world-leading artificial intelligence

• Canada and Finland joint statement on foreign and security policy strategic partnership

• Joint statement: Toward a strategic partnership between Canada and Sweden

• Government of Canada marks start of construction of its Polar Max icebreaker

• Minister Joly speaks on Sweden (Saab, Lockheed, Fighter Review and the Defence Industrial Base)

• Minister Anand concludes successful visit to Finland to strengthen partnerships between Canada and Nordic countries

• End of an Era: The future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, Canada’s Sixth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is Delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy

• Year-Round Shipping from Port of Churchill Focus of New Agreement Between Arctic Gateway Group and Fednav Limited

• Le Groupe ALMACO secures major contract from Davie to outfit Canadian Coast Guard's Polar Max Icebreaker

• PAL Aerospace to Acquire Airtask Group, Strengthening UK Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Capabilities and Global Reach

• An update on CDC, New CDC wikibox and a spreadsheet about Ice Classes

• The Ukraine Livethread: Statements from Canada and Ukraine on Carney’s trip to Ukraine, new commitments and agreements.

• Canada and Ukraine sign new Defence Cooperation Agreements, statements from Ukrainian MOD Denys Shmyhal

• Navantia sets dates for Industry Engagement involving CPSP

• The Polish Livethread: Carney meets with Tusk, elevating the strategic partnership, Defence show priorities

• Canada Signs a Military Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia’s Armed Forces

• MDA shows off the RCN S-100 + answering some questions on the platform

• 5 Canadian military members suspended over video showing Nazi salute

• Canadian Forces face ‘mission creep’ as domestic deployments surge

• Military artifacts dug up at PNE returned to Canadian Armed Forces at ceremony

• Canadian company pauses shipments to Israeli defence firm after sending GPS antennas last weekend

• A Canada-Japan-Korea Trilateral Framework for Arctic Defence and Critical Minerals

• Gen. Wayne Eyre on a new era for Canada's military

• North Vector Dynamics secures $4.2-million contract with National Defence for hypersonic propulsion

• Canada is running out of runway for its F-35 review

• NAV CANADA announces Micheline Pion As Vice President and CFO

• Alberta Aviation & Aerospace Council Evolves to Embrace Defence Sector

• Bold Eagle program tests graduates’ mettle

• HMCS William Hall sails north as part of CAF’s Arctic show of force

• CFHA: Introducing the brand-new Occupant Portal

• CAF soccer teams host Royal Navy in friendly summer series

• Hire a military spouse to strengthen your team

• Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group welcomes CWO Arndt

• Streamlined re-enrollment for skilled applicants

• Launch of the new DND Pool Library

• Military Spouse Employment Initiative: Explore a career that moves with you

• Show you care – Take action to prevent opioid overdose

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Project Updates

• The RFI for Program Containers (PC) for CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk has been updated with new documentation

• The RFI for the Strategic Radio Capability HF has been updated with new Q&A

• The RFI for both CHER Bundle 1 and Bundle 6 have been updated with new Q&A and documents.

• Verreault Navigation has been awarded a contract for the the summer refit work for CCGS Vincent Massey

• GALAXIA Mission Systems Inc has been awarded a contract for the Defence Research and Development Canadas (DRDC) SPACE LOW EARTH ORBIT (SpaceLEO) program

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Lobbying Updates

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

• KNDS Canada has filed a new record for the first time in a while, aiming to present their solutions to half a dozen projects including LRPS, IFM, and B&GCM

• InterOcean Systems has filed a new record with CFN Consultants aiming to explore procurement opportunities related to defence

• 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

• Arcfield Canada has filed a new record with Summa Strategies Canada aiming to promote their CUAS solutions to the Canadian government as well as engage on ISS for the F-35

• Draganfly Inc has filed a new record with Rubicon Strategy promoting their UAS solutions to the government and CAF

• Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH has filed a new record with PAA Advisors to promote the Type-212CD for CPSP

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Rumors & Speculation

• Something is happening tomorrow, apparently. Watch out.

• The Navy has a working plan to acquire a ‘New Batch’ of Orcas, likely between 6 and 8 to supplement the loss of the Kingston-class. This will be an interim solution as the Orca-class project develops itself.

• A new study on the RCAFs airlift capabilities has either began ir is about to begin soon. I have yet to hear confirmation on which one it is.