Army commander suggests rifles expected to be sourced from domestic supplier. A program intended to replace the entire stock of the Canadian military’s aging assault rifles is being sped up, CBC News has learned. An internal Department of National Defence presentation references a move to quickly order the first tranche of weapons under the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle program. The...
Supplementary reserve of 300,000 citizens envisioned. The Department of National Defence is scrambling to figure out how it will clothe, equip and train hundreds of thousands of new reservists envisioned under an ambitious mobilization proposal that Canada’s top military commander describes as a work in progress. Similarly, in what may be an ominous sign of the times, the department has...
Without much fanfare, the U.S. government has launched what could be a seismic shift in American foreign policy with its new National Security Strategy. And for Canada, the impact of the NSS could be profound. We already know Donald Trump’s approach to relations with Canada has complicated our economic and security environment. But the NSS tries make coherent a foreign...
Nanos conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,009 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between November 29th and December 2nd, 2025, as part of an omnibus survey. The margin of error for this survey is ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Proponents say U.S. approval — and Canada's full order of jets — would be necessary. Companies involved in the F-35 program are actively lobbying the governments of Canada and Quebec to promote potential economic benefits for the country, including maintenance facilities north of Montreal — but such benefits are only promised to materialize if the government makes good on its...
As the Canadian government reviews its commitment to purchase American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, a new poll shows what Canadians think should be prioritized in procuring replacements to the aging CF-18s. The CTV News and Nanos Research survey gauged Canadian’s views on what matters the most to them in terms of defence cooperation, in light of ongoing trade tensions...
The federal government has disclosed the first eight projects to be managed by the new Defence Investment Agency. The large military procurements include Canada's next fleet of submarines, Arctic over-the-horizon radar, and a fleet of early warning-and-control surveillance aircraft. The other projects include in-service support and software upgrades for the CC-130J Hercules transport aircraft, and satellite communications procurements -- but...
A leaked briefing document prepared for the federal Liberal caucus claims that a bill put forward by NDP MP Jenny Kwan would "decimate" Canada's defence industry and "dismantle" defence sector trade with the U.S. The briefing document, obtained by The Canadian Press, arms Liberal MPs with blunt talking points that call the legislation "misguided" and say it would introduce new...
Canada has spent 28 years trying to buy a new fighter jet: the federal government made a decision, then unmade it, then made it again. We’ve already spent more than a billion dollars on this thing, and 1,500 Canadian jobs have been created to build it. It’s the tent pole of our plans to defend ourselves and co-operate with our...
The armoured vehicles U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is purchasing from Canadian defence firm Roshel fall under Buy American provisions, the law enforcement agency said Thursday. The department's media relations team said in an emailed statement that the "production of the Roshel Senator emergency response vehicle originates in the United States." Despite numerous requests, the ICE agency did not provide...
Canada is expected to buy close to $4-billion in air strike munitions from the United States government in a sale disclosed Thursday on the eve of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s next meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington. These are the type of bombs that can be carried by fighter jets such as Canada’s aging CF-18s or the new U.S.-made...
The Canadian military is undertaking a structural reorganization designed to make the force more nimble and adaptable to new technology, the Department of National Defence said Thursday. Following the lead of allies such as Australia, it has created a new joint forces command that will house major support elements such as military health services, logistics and operational support branches and...
The cost of an initial order of U.S.-supplied equipment for Canada’s new fleet of warships has almost tripled as more American systems are being purchased, according to new information released by the U.S. government. The order for U.S. systems has increased from $1.25 billion ($900 million U.S.) to $3.6 billion ($2.6 billion U.S.), according to a public notice published by...
The public relations war between supporters of the F-35 and Gripen has taken another twist as an internal Department of National Defence document comparing the two fighter jets has been leaked. Canada’s fighter jet debate continues with still no decision from Prime Minister Mark Carney on which aircraft his government will purchase. The choice comes down to the U.S.-built F-3...
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earmarked millions of dollars for a bulk order for 20 armoured vehicles from Canadian defence manufacturer Roshel that are built to resist bullets and bomb blasts. U.S. government procurement records show the department laying out plans for a rush order worth the equivalent of about C$10 million for 20 Senator STANG emergency response tactical vehicles...
Is Canada going continental? This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney quietly signed Canada up for the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, part of the European Union’s plan to rebuild its military industrial base by 2030. Membership gives countries access to 150-billion euros (C$243 billion) in loans to back defence manufacturing. Canada is the first non-EU country to join. In...
A new Canadian Army equipment program that could be worth almost $500 million is designed to select only U.S.-provided equipment, despite claims by Prime Minister Mark Carney the military will be reducing purchases of American systems. The Joint Fires Modernization program will cost between $250 million and $499 million and see the acquisition of hardware and software to enable the...
This week the Pentagon issued secret contracts to American weapons-makers to build the first generation of space weapons. The contracts have not yet been publicly announced, however sources told Reuters that the list includes Lockheed Martin and Northup Grumman – two of the biggest defence companies in the world.
Witnessing the ongoing public debate about fighter jets and submarines this fall has felt a lot like watching people argue over baseball, hockey or some other team sport. Naturally, it has been particularly uncompromising online where the characteristics and quirks of each aircraft and boat have been analyzed to the nth degree with the kind of fan worship usually reserved...
Data obtained by Radio-Canada shows Lockheed Martin jet was clear winner. The American-built F-35 fighter jet dominated its Swedish rival Gripen in terms of technical and military capabilities during a competition held by the Defence Department in 2021. The competition focused on each fighter jet's capabilities in defending the North American continent and the likelihood of success in various missions...
A former chair of the House Defence Committee says the federal government should reverse course and buy Sweden’s Gripen warplane over the American F-35. There has been a full-court press trumpeting Saab’s fighter jet, which included a visit to Canada’s capital by the Swedish royal family. Canada’s selection of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 for its next fighter jet fleet is currently...
A former air force commander says Ottawa should buy its full order of 88 U.S.-made F-35s to fill an imminent gap in fighter capacity but switch to European warplanes for future purchases to provide more independence from the United States. Retired lieutenant-general Yvan Blondin, who was commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2012 until 2015, said the possibility...
At the Halifax International Security Forum this past weekend, 300 participants from the world’s democracies – ministers and legislators, military and diplomats, business and civil society, scholars and journalists — gathered for a 16th year to discuss how those democracies are faring. Not so well, based on my corridor conversations, an impression reinforced by the annual IPSOS survey. A strong...
As the international competition for Canada's lucrative submarine contract heats up, a Norwegian defence company is trying to sell Ottawa on its "alignment" with an Arctic near-neighbour. Kongsberg is supporting Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, or TKMS, in its bid to win what would be a multi-billion dollar contract to build Canada a new fleet of submarines capable of patrolling under...
The Royal Canadian Navy is considering expanding its training-ship operations to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, a move that would enable it to assist in patrolling the maritime border between Canada and the United States. Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, said as part of its modernization effort, it is weighing increasing its fleet of...
Industry Minister Melanie Joly is jetting off to Asia for a five-day trip to meet with major companies and discuss Ottawa's hunger for attracting large investments into Canada's defence-related sectors. The meetings come as Canada looks to quickly ramp up non-U.S. exports, and will include talks with one of the two bidders on Canada's major submarine procurement project. Joly is...
I went back to Ottawa this week. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the nation’s capital to talk about peace issues, so when the Senate of Canada contacted me, I had to go. Prime Minister Carney’s Budget 2025 is making its way through Parliament, and the Senate’s Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs asked me and...
There’s been a lot of debate about which fighter jet is “best,” the F-35 or the Gripen E, after Saab offered Canada the option to buy Gripens instead of more F-35s. Many want to turn it into an all-or-nothing issue, and the least serious commentators pit them against each other instead of discussing how dangerous they would be to the...
Republican lawmaker Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina says it’s all good and well that Canada is finally meeting its NATO defense spending commitments, but Canada should make up for two decades of back dues — to the tune of $300 billion. “Can we do a makeup payment for the 20 years of shortfalls as well?” Tillis told a Saturday...
Canada‘s existing fleet of fighter jets is overdue for replacement. The CF-18s have been operating continuously since the early 1980s, longer than most of their pilots have been alive. The basic existing design of the fighter is even older than that. They should have been replaced long ago. This was supposedly a priority for the Harper government. In theory, it...
Saab CEO Micael Johansson says his company's plan to set up shop in Canada to build fighter jets will depend largely on whether Ottawa buys its Gripen aircraft. Johansson tells The Canadian Press it "doesn't really make sense" to build the aircraft in a country that isn't buying the jets, which are designed to be continuously upgraded as technology evolves.
Should Canada choose to fly the Swedish-built Gripen-E, the country’s air force could receive the first aircraft as quickly — or perhaps even sooner — than the long-awaited American-manufactured F-35, the CEO of Saab signalled Thursday. Micael Johansson also said the defence giant is willing to set up not only an assembly factory in Canada, but a full-fledged manufacturing centre...
The U.S. ambassador to Canada invoked the longstanding bilateral defence partnership between Canada and the United States on Wednesday, as Canada considers diversifying its fighter jet fleet procurement.
Instructions formally submitted to German, South Korean firms. Canada has formally issued firm bidding instructions to the two companies vying to build the navy’s new submarines, CBC News has learned. The document went out to ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) of Germany and Hanwha Ocean Co. Ltd. of South Korea last week.
Canada’s top flight aviation industry and aerospace expertise makes it an ideal place to expand aircraft production, including Saab’s Gripen jet fighter, to meet the needs of Ukraine’s fledgling air force, said Sweden’s defence minister. Pals Jonson made the comments on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with his Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, and amid the ongoing debate about whether Canada...
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly pitted two giant defence companies against one another on Tuesday for the future of Canada's fighter fleet, saying the $27-billion contract to buy 88 U.S.-made F-35 jets doesn’t deliver enough jobs for workers in this country — and that the public expects a better deal.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is asking the government to change its criteria and reissue a multimillion-dollar bid for military night-vision binoculars after finding that the original terms favoured an American supplier over Canadian and European firms.
Industry Minister Melanie Joly says the Liberal government believes Canada "didn't get enough" industrial benefits out of its contract for American-made F-35 stealth fighter jets. Talking to reporters on Parliament Hill today, Joly said the government needs "more jobs created out of the F-35 contract."
Canada is “interested” in potentially procuring the Gripen fighter jet from Sweden’s Saab, Industry Minister Melanie Joly said Tuesday, adding that Canada “didn’t get enough” out of the F-35 fighter jet deals from American firm Lockheed Martin. “We’re looking at both at the same time,” Joly told reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday
Hundreds of shipments of explosives and fighter jet components have made their way from Canada to Israel by passing through the U.S. over the last two years, a new report by a group of four NGOs alleges, examining export data and U.S. Department of Defence contracts. "These exports are bypassing all of Canada’s export controls because of the way they’re...
Transferring aircraft will help Ottawa meet NATO's new spending target. Transport Canada will be surrendering most — if not all — of its aviation wing to the Department of Defence in a plan that’s shrouded in secrecy. The move of the federal department’s “core aviation services” was flagged in the recent federal budget. It has the potential to affect the...
A dozen former high-ranking air force officers sent letter backing F-35 purchase. Former high-ranking officers of the Canadian Armed Forces are mounting a defence of the planned acquisition of 88 American F-35 fighter jets, hoping to put an end to the ongoing courtship between the Canadian government and the Swedish firm Saab. According to information obtained by Radio-Canada, a dozen...
The Swedish royal family is paying a rare, three-day state visit to Canada this week, bringing with them a delegation of top government ministers and representatives from dozens of Swedish companies. King Carl XVI Gustaf -- Sweden's longest reigning monarch -- and Queen Silvia are in Ottawa and Montreal Tuesday through Thursday. It's their first trip to Canada since 2006...