The age of AI warfare has dawned. Is Canada ready?
The drone looks like a small fighter jet. Artificial Intelligence is flying it, and it's firing a missile. A human approved the shot, but AI carried it out. That's not science fiction. It may be the future of modern warfare. In July, American defence company Anduril's YFQ-44A drone, known as Fury, fired an air-to-air tactical missile at a simulated target...
He carved Canada’s grief in stone. Who remembers him?
On a ridge in northern France, two great white pillars rise nearly 30 metres toward the sky. Visible for kilometres across a former First World War battlefield, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial is one of Canada’s defining symbols, an expression of sacrifice, nationhood and remembrance. Each year, nearly a million people make the pilgrimage to Vimy Ridge. The memorial’s image...
Budget raises questions about defence spending targets after 2030
This year's federal budget leaves unanswered a major accounting question on Ottawa's plans to meet its 2035 NATO spending commitments. The budget charts a path to meet alliance defence spending targets from now through to 2030 -- but the math stops there. Reaching the goal of spending five per cent of national GDP on defence by 2035 won't be cheap...
Drones, drones, drones: Why Carney wants to spend billions on flying robots
The Canadian military currently has thousands of drones at its disposal. “It’s not enough,” a senior commander admits. The Carney government wants to add some zeros to that number: It wants one million drones, at least. And in Thursday’s budget, it is committing $2.3 billion to get there.
Canada looking to Germany for 8 submarines up front and 4 later: sources
Proposal to batch order of up to 12 subs raises questions about economic benefits. Canadian negotiators have proposed to break up the purchase of Type 212CD submarines from Germany into two batches with a guaranteed upfront buy of eight boats and a proposal to acquire another four in the future, CBC News has learned.
No injuries after military chopper damaged in night landing on Canadian navy ship
Defence officials say there were no injuries after a military helicopter was seriously damaged during a night flight landing on a Canadian navy frigate. A flight safety report from the Department of National Defence says it happened Oct. 6 aboard the HMCS Ville de Quebec in the Norwegian Sea.
Mark Carney has flipped the plan on how to protect Canada and here is why I’m concerned
On Thursday, the Carney government released a paper outlining its security policy framework, a long-awaited exposition of its view on how to protect Canadians in this troubled world. It needs to be carefully considered by Canadians, as it portrays a country very different from the internationalist-minded, human-rights-conscious, effective diplomatic participant that Canada has been for countless decades; a country that...
New information challenges military’s account of deadly Wainwright fire
In its account of the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) describes an extraordinary chain of events on Oct. 17. The base, it says, was monitoring a common grass fire that erupted in “uncommonly strong winds,” with flames soon devouring a kilometre in just 30 to 60 seconds. The military called
Canada still reviewing F-35 purchase after RCAF received its first jets: minister
Defence Minister David McGuinty says the federal government's planned purchase of 88 F-35 stealth fighters remains under review, even after the military received its first two F-35s in recent days. McGuinty told reporters today the federal government will take all the time it needs to consider all factors, including industrial benefits and emerging autonomous air systems that can fly alongside...
U.K. opts against joining Canada-led defence bank, pledges co-operation
The British government has turned down Ottawa's attempts to have it join the international Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, though London says it will work in lockstep with Canada to meet NATO spending targets. The DSRB is meant to reduce borrowing costs for military spending by pooling credit strength among allies. Canada has tried for months to convince
Canada receives its first F-35 jets from U.S., as full order remains under review
Canada has received its first pair of new F-35 fighter jets, with Ottawa still deliberating on how many of the American planes it will buy. The Royal Canadian Air Force announced receiving the two Lockheed Martin jets Friday on social media with a photo from Phoenix showing one plane with a maple-leaf roundel. The air force could not immediately say...
Military could begin Arctic sensor installations next summer
National Defence plans to install 47 sensor stations across the North starting as early as next summer to bolster Norad's surveillance and early warning abilities, according to recently published regulatory filings. The planned installations would start in Yukon near the Alaskan border and follow along the Arctic coast across the Northwest Territories, reaching as far out as Alert, Nunavut, the...
Location of fire on grenade range at Wainwright stymied firefighters: officials
Canada's top soldier Gen. Jennie Carignan says she's "heartbroken" by the tragedy at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright that left four soldiers dead and dozens injured. Officials at a briefing in Edmonton say 27 remain in hospital and 13 are in critical condition. Canadian Forces Provost Marshal Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan says 30 military police are on the ground investigating but the...
CAF could take ‘9-12′ months to investigate fatal grassfire at Alberta military base
The Canadian Armed Forces says that completing its comprehensive Board of Inquiry investigation into the tragedy at CFB Wainwright could take up to a year to complete. The CAF says the Boards of Inquiry (BOI) is a “fact finding investigation which will try to determine how an incident came about and what lessons can be learned to prevent recurrence.”
BMO 'leaning into' defence more say more about what that means
BMO is expanding its focus on defence as the government looks to spend more in the sector as part of its broader build Canada agenda. Darryl White, BMO Financial Group CEO, said that the lender is "responding to the signal" from Canada's federal government amid commitments to raise defence spending. White said the bank has a long history of operating...
No immediate changes to military training after CFB Wainwright fire kills four soldiers: defence minister
Defence Minister David McGuinty said no changes have been made to military training procedures as of now, following a deadly fire at CFB Wainwright that killed four soldiers and sent 39 others to hospital during a training exercise on Saturday. Ahead of a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, McGuinty was asked whether he had directed any changes to...
What happened at Wainwright? Canada’s top general tells CTV News the inquiry findings will be made public.
Chief of the defence staff Gen. Jennie Carignan says it is her “intention” to publicly release the findings of a board of inquiry into the deadly fire at the Canadian Forces Base in Wainwright, Alta.
Timeline: How the deadly fire spread at CFB Wainwright
A fire that quickly ripped through a Canadian Armed Forces training ground in Alberta on Saturday killed four soldiers and injured 39 more. Here is what is known about how it unfolded: -- Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, said 84 members of 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were training with live munitions in...
NATO's race against time: Senior commander warns alliance must adapt faster to deter Russia
There's a nightmare that keeps one of NATO's most senior military commanders up at night and it's not what you might think. It isn't the idea of Russian tanks rolling into the Baltic states or Poland. Nor is it a sudden military confrontation in the Arctic. The scenario that keeps NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Pierre Vandier up at night...
Four dead, dozens injured in violent fire at Alberta military base: Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney says four military members were killed and dozens more were seriously injured after a violent, fast-moving fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta. He called it one of the "worst tragedies for the (Armed Forces) on Canadian soil in peacetime." "The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our Armed Forces we have lost," Carney...
‘There’s a danger in removing transparency’ amid questions about Defence Investment Agency oversight: ombud
for less accountability when it comes major defence contracts with the government’s plan to set up the Defence Investment Agency as a Crown corporation. Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic said he is “not advocating for the oversight of the DIA” by his office, but stressed that defence procurement needs a clear oversight mechanism, in an Oct. 15 interview with The Hill...
Canada war-gamed a U.S. invasion. A former NORAD commander explains why
'I think both countries are at fault. I think countries have reacted based on emotion rather than fact,' said retired General Glen VanHerck
In Canada's drone-killing 'Sandbox,' companies compete for a $1M prize
Machines do battle as Canada seeks to turbocharge drone, counter-drone industries. The Suffield Research Centre is in the heart of Alberta's Big Sky country, and is also blessed with Canada's sunniest skies, making it the perfect testing ground for one of Canada's most critical areas of innovation: drone and counter-drone technology. Once the main training ground for the tank crews...
Russia’s deadly crosshairs could be aiming at the heads of Canada’s defence contractors
Intelligence agencies have reportedly warned that Moscow is upping preparations to assassinate leaders of companies supplying drones to Ukraine
Dominion Dynamics to jointly produce Ukrainian drones in Canada
The Ottawa-based defence company Dominion Dynamics is partnering with Ukrainian robotics company Tencore to start building its ground-based drone vehicles in Canada as early as next year. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at a defence conference in Washington, D.C., today which outlines their plans to manufacture Tencore's Termit drone in Canada and install Dominion's software in the...
Billions more for defence, but Canada's military still faces an old budget squeeze
Operational spending review comes as expenses grow for salaries, equipment. The Canadian military is on the verge of another round of internal belt-tightening, despite an enormous influx of cash from the federal government, CBC News has learned. It appears to be a combination of past and current budget initiatives colliding with the expectations and demands associated with the gush of...
Ottawa to turn defence procurement agency into Crown corporation, sources say
Canada plans to turn its new agency for speeding up purchases of military gear into a Crown corporation, three sources say – a transformation that will give the organization and chief executive Doug Guzman far more authority in decision-making. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government created the Defence Investment Agency to streamline the procurement of military purchases worth $100-million or more...
Canadian Armed Forces members in Toronto removed from duty after arrest over organized crime, kidnapping charges
Two Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members based in Toronto have been removed from their military duties after being arrested on charges relating to kidnapping, organized crime and the theft of firearms and weapons, the Department of National Defence confirms. Sachintha Fernando and James Moreau were arrested on Aug. 11, 2026, according to Laura McIntyre-Grills, a spokesperson for DND. Both Fernando...
Cold reality: Canadian troops struggle in Alaska as military relearns Arctic warfare
Internal evaluations reveal gaps in winter soldiering, medical prep and equipment. A series of internal Department of National Defence documents suggest Canadian troops were ill-prepared and occasionally ill-equipped for the harsh conditions they faced last winter during a major training exercise with American forces in Alaska. The evaluation reports, obtained by CBC News, show the military has a lot to...
Company backed by Donald Trump Jr. invests in Saskatchewan’s Draganfly
ust weeks after winning a lucrative government contract to supply thousands of drones to the Canadian Armed Forces, a Saskatchewan-based company announced a major investment from a high-profile American backer. Draganfly, a leader in cutting-edge drone solutions, announced this week it received a $10-million investment from an unnamed American firm and Unusual Machines, a company backed by Donald Trump Jr.
‘Nobody wants to escalate’: German minister responds to Russia’s ‘hybrid’ attacks
As European leaders warn that Russia may increase its so-called hybrid attacks against NATO member countries, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul insists that no members of the defensive alliance want to escalate tensions. The comments come as debate grows among European countries about how best to label and respond to increasing Russian-backed operations on the continent. In an interview airing...
Ottawa takes next step in negotiations on possible GlobalEye radar plane purchase
The Liberal government has taken another step forward in talks with the Swedish defence company Saab as it considers acquiring its advanced radar planes for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Ottawa and Saab agreed on a non-binding term sheet that supports more detailed negotiations on a fleet of GlobalEye aircraft. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced at the CANSEC defence expo...
'Zero chance' U.S. attacks Canada, Alaska governor tells conference
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy says it would be shocking to the average American to see the United States invade Canada. Dunleavy made his remarks in an onstage discussion at the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alta., days after Prime Minister Mark Carney told the New York Times that his government has studied the "extreme tail risk" of U.S.-led military action...
Ottawa signs preliminary deal with Swedish firm Saab for 6 GlobalEye aircraft - Detection aircraft would be built in Canada
The federal government has announced a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of six GlobalEye detection aircraft that would be built in Canada by the Swedish firm Saab in collaboration with Canada’s Bombardier. In a statement on Friday, the government said the agreement will serve as the basis for final negotiations surrounding the purchase of these radar aircraft and the production...
What Carney’s revelation of preparing for a U.S. attack tells us about his evolving Trump strategy
We’ve known for months that Canada’s Armed Forces have done some thinking about the admittedly remote possibility that Donald Trump’s United States might launch some kind of military action against this country. Anonymous government officials told the Globe and Mail back in January that the military had modelled a “hypothetical” U.S. invasion, apparently for the first time in a century...
Canadian government uses hundreds of Chinese-made drones, documents reveal
The Canadian government is using at least 1,600 Chinese-made drones across more than a dozen public service departments with varying security protocols, documents tabled in Parliament show. The RCMP is the biggest user by far with 1,027 of the drones, but says it has avoided using them in national security operations and will look elsewhere as it prepares to use...
Defence minister downplays PM's comments on prospect of U.S. military action
A day after Prime Minister Mark Carney told a U.S. media outlet his government has studied the possibility of U.S.-led military action in Canada, Defence Minister David McGuinty says all militaries analyze such risks. McGuinty is downplaying the significance of comments Carney made to the New York Times on Wednesday indicating Ottawa has examined the possibility of American military action...
Canada’s first F-35 takes flight in Texas — with barely a word from Ottawa
Canada’s first F-35 has taken to the skies. It’s the first new model of fighter jet with Canadian markings in 44 years. But a milestone that would normally be heavily promoted, passed with barely a word from Canada’s military. The historic first flight took place Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas, home to Lockheed Martin’s final assembly plant.
Gen. Jennie Carignan not selected for senior NATO post
NATO chiefs of defence have elected German Gen. Carsten Breuer as the next chair of the alliance's military committee, over Canada's top military commander. Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan ran against Breuer for the top NATO position. NATO chiefs of defence met in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday to choose the next chair. It's a prestige posting but it...
NATO defence chiefs to decide whether to tap Gen. Carignan for senior NATO post
NATO chiefs of defence are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, today to choose the next chair of the alliance's military committee, and Canada's top military commander is in the running. Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan is running against German Gen. Carsten Breuer for the top NATO position. It's a prestige posting but it doesn't carry the same level...
Canada's top general is up for a senior NATO post. Will Trump get in her way?
Top military commanders from 32 Western nations will vote Saturday on whether they prefer Canada's chief of the defence staff or her German counterpart to lead a significant NATO committee. Gen. Jennie Carignan and Gen. Carsten Breuer are vying for the top job at the NATO Military Committee, a post not held by a Canadian in almost two decades.
Securing the continent: The case for renewing the US–Canada defense compact
The United States–Canada relationship is being directly affected by a global reordering that is impacting all aspects of international relations. The prevailing Canadian view was that the centerpiece of that relationship was its trade agreements — first the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), then the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) — which had provided prosperity to Canada for several decades...