This Week in Defence (Special Army Rumor Edition) (12/08/25): New Tanks, LUV Increase, ALAV numbers, MEDCAV options?, C9 apparently too

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Happy Monday everyone!

We're doing it early today because I know I teased a lot of you over the week that this newsletter would be special. Every so often, instead of my usual one or two rumors, I get a whole bunch dropped on me at the same time.

This week, evidently, that was the Army! The Canadian Army is in the midst of one of it's biggest expansions in decades and with that comes a whole host of new vehicles. To try and get ahead of things I spent the last week hunting down as much info as I could on many of these projects, and boy, was there a lot to be said!

From a shift on Tanks to new numbers for everyone, this is probably one of the larger rumor sections we've ever had on This Week in Defence! I know you all love gossip, so don't let me keep you from everything!

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News

• TNSR is now available on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads!

• True North Strategic Review: 2025 End-of-Year Survey Analysis & Strategic Report

• Read up on the latest edition of CanadaxEurope!

• Also if you're curious about how you can benefot from Canada’s funding to the ESA, check out this upcoming event!

• 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 about the Minerva Initiative, the Canadian Armies latest attempt at procuring Autonomous Systems.

• Canadian companies once again reavh the top as NATO DIANA announces it's 2026 Cohort. With nearly 15% of those chosen being Canadian, it's another win for us!

• ROKN Supports RCN Submariner Embark Program Aboard ROKS Ahnmu

• Government of Canada announces contract to deliver new multi-role aircraft for Royal Canadian Air Force

• Let's Talk with Noah (12/15/25): More Cyclones, Drones, What Replaces the Twotter?, NOSH

• Bombardier Celebrates Entry-into-Service of the Global 8000 Aircraft, the World’s Fastest Business Jet

• Government of Canada announces strategic partnership with MDA and Telesat to strengthen military communications in the Arctic (and lots of Noah Notes)

• CDMC Launches to Rebuild Canada’s Sovereign Defence Manufacturing Capacity

• New CMS for the German Navy – Lockheed Martin Canada and HENSOLDT cooperate on harmonising the German CMS landscape

• General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier Named Honourary Chair as Canada’s Capital Region Bids for Global Defence Security Resiliency Bank Headquarters

• Rocket Lab Awarded R&D Funding from Canadian Space Agency to Develop New Reaction Wheel for Medium-Class Satellites

• Ontario Building New Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters, Future Home of Ontario Corps

• Canadian Armed Forces search and rescue crew awarded Certificate of Commendation for Exceptional Bravery at Sea

• Department of National Defence announces funding for remediation and water treatment in North Bay

• Could Canada get CMAR next year? (probably not but maybe)

• Peterbilt Expands Electric Vehicle Portfolio with All-New Medium Duty Models 536EV, 537EV and 548EV

• Kenworth Expands Zero-Emission Lineup with New Medium Duty Battery-Electric Trucks

• ADM(Mat) provides update on the Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade (CMLU) project

• Lockheed Martin Canada Awards OSI Maritime Systems with the Implementation Phase Contract for the First Three River-Class Destroyers

• CGI to deliver secure mobile communications solution for NATO

• Joint Statement on Haiti Force Generation Conference

• Saskatchewan Polytechnic joins NATO DIANA test centre network through ICON consortium

• Canadian Armed Forces establish Canadian Joint Forces Command

• Volatus Aerospace Awarded $9M Defence Contract from NATO Partner, Accelerating Growth in Uncrewed Systems

• Canada should craft its own national-security policy

• DND investigates leak used to discredit Saab’s Gripen fighter jet

• Helping SMEs support Canada’s defence and security needs

• Canada’s Defence Firms Are Ready to Boom

• Budget 2025: Government contracting and 'buy Canadian' take center stage

• DND won’t meet with Ontario farmers concerned about new radar system

• Canada’s defence overhaul

• Canada’s defence minister responds to Trump’s new National Security Strategy

• Summary Report: Canada-India Track 1.5 Dialogue: Defence-Industrial and Security Co-operation in India-Canada Relations

• Budget prioritizes defence, but Canadians may not support huge long-term investment, experts say

• Canadian military intelligence member charged with espionage, says DND

• Building up Canada’s defence sector will depend on long-term homegrown support

• Is a Canadian defence giant possible?

• RCAF faces capability gap amid record defence spending

• Budget 2025: Government contracting and 'buy Canadian' take center stage

• Ukraine willing to share drone and military technology with Canada, envoy says

• New DND/CAF Eagle Staff Holders Make History at CFB Halifax

• RCN excellence on display: RAdm Kurtz hosts honours and awards

• Learning the tricks of the trade

• See how Canadians are showing appreciation to CAF members this holiday season

• Northern Operational Support Hubs enables the projection and sustainment of military forces in the Arctic

• DM/CDS Message: Budget 2025 – Spending review and workforce implications

• Celebrating Excellence: CAF Sports Awards 2025

• Unveiling of the “National Memorial to the Fallen”

• A ruck march for a cause: Supporting life saving pediatric care

• Officiating the 2025 National Military Soccer Championships

• Take a moment to Self-Identify

• Agile Combat Employment: RCAF’s success in TARASSIS

• National statements following Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative Principals’ Board

• Canada hosts first post-pandemic NATO Electronic Warfare Advisory Group meeting

• CAFCYBERCOM strengthens Allied cyber resilience during NATO’s Exercise CYBER COALITION 25

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Project Updates

• The DND has extended the time they're accepting Proposals from Design-Build Teams to design and construct the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) to December 23rd, 2025.

• The RFP for the Common Heavy Equipment Replacement (CHER) Project Bundle 6 has been updated with new documentation.

• The RFI for the Camp Sustain (CS) Project has been updated with new documentation.

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Lobbying Updates

• Wyvern Inc has filed a new record with Global Public Affairs looking to engage satellite operators, as they say, on their capabilities as well as to promote their Satellite Imaging business.

• St. John's Dockyard has filed a new record with Joel Watson looking to engage of potential Icebreaker-related contracts and promote their Icebreaking services.

• Logistec Marine Services has filed a new record with PAA Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government on potential funding for potential expansion and diversification activities.

• DJI Canada has filed a new record with Loyalist Public Affairs regarding it's RPAS offerings to the Federal Government. Look. I don't judge the attempt. However you gotta eventually give up.

• Space Strategies Consulting has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal government on multiple different topics, including R&D funding and the companies offerings in Enviornmental Monitoring.

• Robotics Centre has filed a new record with McMillan Vantage looking to engage the Federal Government on their offerings, eith a primary focus on supporting Ukraine.

• L3 Harris Technologies has filed a new record looking to promote their offerings and engage with federal entities.

• CGI Group has filed a new.record with Compass Rose Group looking to promote their capabilities to the Federal Government.

• Ultra Electronics TCS has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on multiple topics.

• InDro Robotics has filed a new record with New West Public Affairs looking to engage the Federal Government on potential support for expanding manufacturing activities and to support Research and Development activities.

• Telesat Canada has filed a new record with Worldview Advisory looking to engage the Federal Government both as a business looking to engage on new satellite programs and federal funding programs aimed at supporting communication technologies but also to provide input regarding the Federal governments future plans for Space-based Investment.

• D-TA System has filed a new record with Crestview Strategy looking to promote it's Radar and Electronic Warfare systems to the Federal Government, as well as to engage on the future Defence Industrial Strategy

• Tactiql has filed a new record with David Pratt & Associates looking to promote their products and capabilities to the Federal Government, as well as to engage on Research and Development initiatives.

• General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada has filed a new record looking to engage the Federal Government on the Munition Supply Program, as well as on future munitions contract opportunities, as if there is much competition.

• EllisDon Construction Services has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Peter Hammerschmidt and Duncan Tooley

• St. John's Dockyard Limited has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Harry Burton and Nickolas Hautamaki

• IMT Group has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Peter Hammerschmidt and Duncan Tooley (yes, thats right)

• Reaction Dynamics has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Conor Lewis and Ezechiel Nana

• Raytheon International has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Scott Millar

• Irving Shipbuilding has filed a new communication detailing meetings with Jason Armstrong

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Rumors & Speculation

• The Leopard extension is already dead. Yes, just like the Howitzer UOR it seems like we will take the short term sacrifice, and so a true tank replacement is planned under the working name of the Heavy Direct Fire Modernization Project. The working date is for IOC ~2033. The project is in its infanxy though, as you can tell by how quickly we went from a tank modernization to a full replacement in just a few weeks. The projects initial cost estimate is placed at ~$10 Billion.

• LUV numbers have been increased yet again. They now stand at 700 for the Milverado replacement and 2200 for the G-Wagon replacement. Deliveries for the LUV COTS are still expected to start this year through a Standing Order. Timelines for the G-Wagon replacement have not changed.

• Just as a reninder to those who missed it a few months ago, a lot more LAV are on the way. 190 new ACSV were approved by Cabinet at the end of June. The Army is also requesting an initial batch of 140 ALAV. ALAV is the next phase of LAV 6 procurement.

• 1100 ALAV are reporteldy planned for delivery by 2035ish, if all goes to plan. This will be followed by ACSV 2.0 in the mid-2030s, and then a proper LAV replacement in the 2040s. The idea is to get General Dynamics in the pricess of continuous production and yearly increments, somethinf desired for a long while.

• Funny enough while GDLS is obviously pushing LAV6 MKII for both ALAV and MEDCAV theres discussion on 'reverting' ALAV back to a proper Light Armored Vehicle by removing the Bushmaster and going straight RWS with a .50 and ATGM. At least that is one option I heard.

• MEDCAV has three initial options they're reportedly considering. Thats Redback, Lynx, and CV90. Ajax was also on this list, however lets be real. Redback and CV90 seem to be leading options. One fun fact to note is that the K9 and Redback actually share about 80% commonality in their components. I have had that fact in my head for two months waiting to bring it up.

• MEDCAV numbers are still up in the air but the initial I hear is 400+. That is likely to be refined down. I Expect we will hear more over the next year.

• Oh and there’s talks about increasing on the LVM order, if that's a surprise to anyone

• Remember how we always like to acknowledge when I'm wrong? Well this might be a new record. Reportedly the Army plans to sign a contract in the next few weeks for thr delivery of CMAR by the end of next year. Now before you ask, I don't know about the Optics. I don't know what the plan is there, nor about the new forges. I also don't know quantity. All I know is there is a contract coming.

• There is also talks of a ‘C9A3' although I have no details at this time about it other than that it exists as a concept and is in the timeline for somewhere.

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