Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, committed to ensuring the Department of National Defence (DND) has stable, predictable funding. The government has delivered on this commitment. As a result of Strong, Secure, Engaged and subsequent funding increases, including funding for NORAD modernization and continental defence announced in June 2022, DND's annual budget is expected to more than double over ten years, from $18.6 billion in 2016-17 to $39.7 billion in 2026-27 on a cash basis.
Chorus Aviation has launched Cygnet Aviation Academy, a first of its kind pilot academy in Canada providing leading edge flight training with direct access to career opportunities. Cygnet, in collaboration with CAE, will deliver an all-in-one program on state-of-the-art aircraft, flight training devices, and full-flight simulators through which cadets will achieve their Integrated Airline Transport Pilot License (iATPL) and acquire an airline specific type rating over a 20-month program.
Following engagements with industry and Canada’s closest allies, the government has determined that the P-8A Poseidon is the only currently available aircraft that meets all of the CMMA operational requirements, namely anti-submarine warfare and C4ISR. This platform is a proven capability that is operated by several of Canada’s defence partners including all of its Five Eyes allies—the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand—as well as Norway, and South Korea. Germany has also recently purchased this platform.
The Government of Canada has extended Operation IMPACT until March 31, 2025. Operation IMPACT is the Canadian Armed Forces’ mission in the Middle East. Through this mission, the Canadian Armed Forces are deployed to build the military capabilities of regional partners and set the conditions for stability and security in the region. Canada’s military efforts are diverse and include contributions to the Global Coalition against Daesh; contributions to NATO Mission Iraq; and contributions to building the military capabilities of Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Aéro Montréal will hold the Global Aerospace Supply Chain Summit under the theme "A more connected supply chain, just a dream?" on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
HMCS Montréal is en route to the Indo-Pacific region – delivering on the commitment in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy to annually deploy an additional frigate to the region from Canadian Forces Base Halifax. Canada is increasing its annual naval deployments in the region from two to three frigates, and the deployment of this additional frigate from the East Coast will boost Canada's presence, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
The Power Systems division of Rolls-Royce has been selected to supply a further four of its mtu naval generator sets for the USS Congress (FFG-63), the second ship in the U.S. Navy’s Constellation Class Guided-Missile Frigate program, previously known as the FFG(X) program. Rolls-Royce has made significant investment at its production facilities in Aiken, S.C. and Mankato, Minn. to support the program and manufacture the gensets in the US.
Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions (CMPS) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force Research & Development (R&D) program for Halo-Enabled Resilient Mesh (HERMes) software and a hardware prototype. The project is designed to advance the technological capabilities of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) High-Capacity Backbone (HCB).
Global Spatial Technology Solutions (GSTS) has expanded its solution offering to ports, terminal operators and shipping lines. OCIANATM Port Optimiser, OCIANATM Terminal Optimiser and OCIANATM Vessel Optimiser provide enhanced predictability and advanced planning to improve operational efficiency.
Created in 1993, Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2) is an extremely high-readiness and precise special operations forces unit. JTF 2 protects Canadian national interests and combats terrorism and threats to Canadians at home and abroad, and is based at the Dwyer Hill Training Centre in the National Capital Region.
Several RCAF tactical fighter squadrons and support units are participating in a major exercise at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) New Orleans, Louisiana until late April. Exercise Cougar South runs from mid-March until April 24. Personnel from 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec; 4 Wing, Cold Lake, Alberta; 8 Wing, Trenton, Ontario; and 17 Wing, Winnipeg, Manitoba are participating in training that covers the full spectrum of tactical employment of the CF-18 Hornet.
For the third consecutive year, a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora aircraft with crew from 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron and personnel from 19 Wing Comox will participate in Exercise Sea Dragon at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. Running from March 15 – March 30, 2023, Sea Dragon is a premier multinational anti-submarine exercise, with participating nations competing for the coveted ‘Dragon Belt’. 407 Squadron is a back-to-back winner of this competition, having won in 2021 and 2022.
Minister announced that Canada will donate approximately 8,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition, as well as 12 air defence missiles sourced from Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) inventory, to sustain the air defence systems currently deployed in Ukraine. Canada will also donate more than 1,800 rounds of 105mm tank training ammunition. This ammunition will support the donation of Leopard 1 tanks announced by Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Chorus Aviation has announced that Colin Copp has officially begun his tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Chorus following the retirement of Joseph Randell. Mr. Copp has also been appointed to the Chorus Board of Directors in place of Mr. Randell who stepped down from the board concurrent with his retirement.
Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and U.S. Army General James Dickinson, Commander of the United States Space Command, signed an Enhanced Space Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. Brigadier-General Mike Adamson, Commander of 3 Canadian Space Division, was also on hand for the signing.
Canada is increasing its defence investments by over 70 percent between 2017 and 2026 and is making additional targeted investments in continental defence and other priority areas.
The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces are launching public consultations with all Canadians on the Defence Policy Update (DPU), announced in Budget 2022. The DPU will build on Canada’s current defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) and will enable the Canadian Armed Forces to meet any threat in the changed global security environment.
Canada has deployed seven Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Medical Technicians and Medical Assistants from Canadian Forces Health Services units to Poland, where they will train members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the skills needed to save lives effectively in combat situations.
San Diego-based EpiSci is a developer of resilient and modular Tactical AI solutions for defence, aerospace and commercial applications. This investment expands on Top Aces’ commitment of providing world-class training to the next generation of combat leaders, positioning the company at the forefront of development and training in the future ‘human-machine’ collaborative battlefield.
CMC Electronics has signed a new multi-year contract with Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, for the supply of its military Flight Management System (FMS) on several Sikorsky helicopter models including the UH-60M, HH-60M, HH-60W, S-70i and the S-70M.
Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre concluded a productive visit to Kyiv, Ukraine. While there, he met with Ukrainian and Canadian officials, observed firsthand the progress in the region, and the tangible results of Canada’s support. General Eyre also had the opportunity to discuss how Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces can contribute to Ukraine’s future needs.
IMP Aerospace & Defence proudly announces the first flight of the CT-114 Tutor Avionics Upgrade prototype aircraft. This flight follows over two years of development, design, consultation and partnership between the Royal Canadian Air Force, L3Harris, and IMP Aerospace.
The 19-year agreement allows CAE Australia to continue to support a range of ADF flight training systems across Australia. The ASIST contract provides a flexible framework under which CAE Australia delivers aircrew training, specialised engineering support, sustainment and maintenance services, as well as training system upgrades across multiple ADF aerospace platforms.
This team effort with our GDMS-C partners will modify the PRTAF five-aircraft P-3C CUP+ fleet with significant new capabilities including upgraded Identification Friend or Foe Transponder (IFFT), Link-16 communications, and Data Management System (DMS). The IMP Engineering design effort will commence immediately, with the prototype aircraft currently scheduled for induction in October 2023.
