This Week in Defence (9/22/25): Interview with Dominic Cardy, Multiple Let's Talks with Noah, Indonesia, Update on September announcements, Multiple project updates

Want to support True North Strategic Review and my work? Consider a small donation to our Kofi or Substack Premium! Is your company interested in appearing in our newsletter? Consider one of our sponsorship plans. Limited spots available!

---

Happy… Tuesday? Im a day late this week! I'm sorry! It wasn't my intention to delay everything, however I was hopeful for some new info to come across my desk to share. I got some, but not exactly what I wanted!

This is also, officially, the longest edition of This Week in Defence! Almost 100 links in total! My fingers might hurt but I'm very proud of myself for finding the mental fortitude to sit her and copy and paste so much without going mad.

Anywho, you don't wanna hear me ramble. Lets get into the news!

---

News

• For those who missed it, I sat down with Dominic Cardy, leader of the Canadian Future Party to discuss the challenges in Canadian defence and civil society as a whole.

• I'm also gonna shout out the latest edition of the CanadaxEurope newsletter! I love it, and you should too. A wonderful look into the Canada-European defence relationship from someone in the thick of it.

• I'm also gonna shout out Steffan Watkins weekly Media and Public Relations report. Steffan works hard to keep track of everything, and deserved some love for it. I don't know how he does it, but he finds a way week in and week out!

• Let's talk with Noah (9/22/25): A400, We have to many trucks, CAMM

• Let's talk with Noah (09/29/25): Special CDC edition! (also CV90, Boeing)

• Joint Statement on the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney and the President of Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto

• Update to whats going in in September (everything is actually pushed back)

• The Royal Canadian Navy has officially Paid Off HMCS Saskatoon, Whitehorse, and Brandon. Shawinigan, Summerside, Goose Bay, Glace Bay, and Kingston will follow on October 3rd. Fair winds and following seas, Saskatoon, Whitehorse, and Brandon!

• Canada Army Run 2025: Thousands Racing with Purpose in Support of the Canadian Armed Forces

• General Dynamics Land Systems and Daimler Truck commit to a strategic partnership

• Calian Launches Canada's First Defence Innovation Orchestrator to Scale Small to Mid-Sized Enterprise

• National Defence Minister McGuinty meets with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

• CT142 Dash-8 achieves Initial Operational Capability (IOC) under the Multi-Fleet Air Traffic Management Avionics (MFATMA) project.

• CAE joins SNC team as training systems partner for the Next-Gen Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft

• Mario Baril, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman Statement to the Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN)

• MDA SPACE AND OTTAWA SENATORS ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP TO INFORM AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION – ON AND OFF THE ICE

• Seaspan and Stantec celebrate completion of outfitting pier for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy

• Irving Shipbuilding awards L3Harris new River-class destroyer contract: Visual Surveillance System

• MDA SPACE SELECTED TO DELIVER ENHANCED SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DATA SERVICES TO CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE

• NATO and Canada conclude agreement on co-location of NATO Liaison Office to the United Nations

• TELUS opens Canada's first fully Sovereign AI Factory

• Minister Anand meets with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General

• Minister McGuinty introduces legislation to modernize the military justice system

• Parliamentary Secretary Naqvi strengthens Canada’s trade and investment ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations

• Minister Anand meets with Republic of Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Article on Russian Icebreaker renewal + new Ice-Class list

• SEA Canada opens manufacturing facility in Ottawa, Ont.

• CAE signs subcontract with Lockheed Martin Canada to begin implementation phase for the River-class destroyer program

• Babcock Canada and NyRad Partner to Maximize Economic Opportunities in Canadian Patrol Submarine Project

• Telesat expands relationship with Calian to develop resilient operational data platform for Telesat Lightspeed

• Boeing Partners with Bluedrop Training and Simulation to Support CV-22

• Defence contractors have promised to invest billions in Canada. Industry is still waiting

• Canada’s $8.7B defence spend: Who’s getting in line

• Canada faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stake a serious claim in space

• Defence and security make up first pillar of Canada’s foreign policy, Anand tells UN

• Arctic Training Centre gives companies a chance to trial defence tech in northern climate

• What I’ve Learned: CAE’s newly retired CEO on defence, undercover bossing and chilling out

• AI adoption could boost Canada’s GDP to $3.65 trillion by 2035, PwC study estimates

• Canada won’t split its submarine contract between suppliers: Carney

• Ottawa still reviewing F-35 program after its summer deadline passes

• Russia not probing into Canadian airspace, federal officials say

• Arican signs agreement with Canadian consultancy

• Ex SOUTHERN CROSS 2025 - Strengthening the Canadian Ranger and Australian Defence Force partnership

• Traditional Indigenous plants hidden in plain sight at CFB Edmonton

• The journey of a sniper: Training for excellence on the battlefield

• Chief of the Defence Staff pays visit to CFB Shilo

• Canadian and U.S. forces complete combined swift water bridging exercise on Fraser River

• Canadian ships join major Baltic exercise with SNMCMG1

• Decades of service and ownership: Reflections on the Kingston class (On a side note this is a beautiful read. Please take the time to go through it.)

• The Base Operations team at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax recently added to its security response capabilities with the introduction of four brand new Waterborne Security Response Vessels (WSRVs)!

• A Cadet’s perspective: How military life builds resilience

• CAFCYBERCOM marks one year of cyber defence excellence

• Register now for the upcoming Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Virtual Job Fair

• 2025 Your Say Survey is now live for Regular Force and Primary Reserve members

• Supporting Indigenous Defence Team members’ mental health and well-being

• Opening of the Courts Martial Ceremony marks new judicial season

• Cyber law at the speed of operations: Inside the CAF’s legal front line in cyberspace

• Discover the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program

• Laying a foundation of trust and partnership in the Indo-Pacific

• HMCS Ville de Québec pioneers Massive Blood Transfusion training

• CAFCYBERCOM leads the charge in regional cyber defence with Sarajevo training

• Together we lead: Celebrating Women’s History Month at Defence

• Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Systemic Racism Class Action – Ongoing delay to start of claims period

• Did you know? Attending events comes with guidelines

• Continuing the discussion: Q&A on reconciliation with the Defence Co-Champions for Indigenous Peoples

• Defence Team Word Puzzle | September 29

---

Project Updates

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

• An Advance Procurement Notice has been released for the Air Force Expeditionary Capability Program

• The RFIs for CHER bundles 1 and 6 have been updated with new documentation and Q&A

• An Advance Contract Award Notice has been issued for Third Party Expert Assistance in regards to the National Shipbuilding Strategy

• The RFI for the Enhanced SATCOM Project - Polar project has been extended to 30, October 2025

• The request for Integrated Project Delivery – Design and Construction Services for the Arctic Over The Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) Project has been updated with new documentation

• Verreault Navigation has been awarded a new contract as part of CCGS Martha L. Blacks 2025 Dry Docking

• Kepler Communicatons has been awarded a new contract valued at $565,000 as part of Defence Research and Development Canadas (DRDC) Space Low Earth Orbit (SpaceLEO) initative.

• Babcock Canada Inc. has been awarded a new contract valued at $724,742.71 related to the next Extended Docking Work Period for HMCS Victoria

---

Lobbying Updates

• Leonardo Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking for advice regarding defence related activities and procurements.

• Leonardo S.p.A has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to promote the companies products and offerings in regards to defence

• Saab Canada has filed a new record looking to promote their offerings in regards to National Defence as well as promote their economic opportunities and ITB offerings.

• Telesat Canada has filed a new record looking to promote their services and offers to the federal government.

• Voltari Marine Electric Inc has filed a new record with Catalyze4 looking to promote themselves and their offerings to the federal government.

• Theon Sensors has filed a new record with Sussex Strategy Group looking to discuss fairness and transparency in the defence procurement system. Guys. You lost. It sucks, I know but come on do you really need to hire a lobbyist for this?

• BWXT Canada has filed a new record with Sussex Strategy Group looking to inquire about the Federal Governments nuclear policy and explore new opportunities.

• L3Harris Technologies Canada has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking for advice regarding defence related activities and procurements

• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has filed a new record with StrategyCorp Inc. looking for support regarding several of their ongoing programs, including the usual CL-515 but now also the Twin Otters and the SD3-60 Sherpa!

• Maritime Launch Services has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal governmwnt on multiple fronts.

• Roshel has filed a new record with Sandstone Group looking to promote its Senator, Captain, and various other armoured vehicles both domestically and abroad.

• NeesStaNan has filed a new record with Quinn Public Affairs looking to promote the NeesStaNan project before everyone goes all in on Churchill again.

• Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH has filed a new record with PAA Advisors looking to engage the Federal Government on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP)

• Roshel has filed new communications this week detailing meetings with Stephen Fuhr, Renee Filiatrault, James Rourke, and Mary Rose Brown

---

Rumors & Speculation

• There are some rumors that the GBAD project currently in the works, more specifically Enduring Phase I, which will acquire a new SHORAD battery for the army has been expanded in scope, potentially looking for more than the one battery planned. That isn't including the SHORAD UOR in the works.

With new funding comes new rumors, and renewed desire to get money spent. Several projects have apparently been proposed to be expedited in attempts to get money spent and push critical capabilities across the finish line, or into the tendering stage. While I can't speak on all of these, a few that have been brought up to me include:

• The Light Utility Vehicle project Phases I and II

• The Airborne Early Warning Aircraft project

• The Continental Defence Corvette

• The Underwater Enviornmental Assessment project

• The Domestic Arctic Mobility Enchancement project

Keep in mind that when I speak on expediting I specifically mean trying to push projects to speed up their timelines. That can include contracts but might also be as simple as getting RFI out quicker.

The hope with many is that the DPA, and the reforms that come with it will open up room for teams to move a lot faster and hopefully bring down approval times. A few projects will naturally get more attention.

Talking around, Roshel seems like a win for at least LUV Phase II. Thats an example of a ready, easy to select product that we could get out of the way quickly if we wanted to.

Other projects we already know of like CPSP or LRPS-L, both of which are expected to award within the next six months.