The platform adds to more than 20 other MRAP systems commissioned under Kyiv’s military since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

The milestone follows Ottawa’s military aid to Kyiv in January 2023 worth 90 million Canadian dollars ($66.3 million) in response to the aggression, which included Senators in their basic armored personnel carrier configuration.

All 200 vehicles under the donation were delivered in April 2023, with most distributed to the Ukrainian State Border Service units stationed in the northern city of Chernihiv.

One month later, the Senator’s Ontario-based developer Roshel unveiled the platform’s new MRAP variant. The company finalized the delivery of the 1,000th Senator to Ukraine by year’s end.

The Senator MRAP

Roshel’s Senator MRAP has a length of 6 meters (20 feet), a seating capacity for up to 10 personnel, and payload support for about 2 tons of cargo.

The 4×4 vehicle is equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 330-horsepower V8 6.7-liter diesel engine.

Its chassis, based on the Ford F-550 pickup truck, is covered with NATO-standard armor that can withstand blasts from 7.62×39-caliber rifles, multi-direction mines, charged TNTs, and 155-millimeter artillery.

Additionally, the system was designed with a V-shaped body to redirect shock waves and shrapnel to the sides, increasing soldiers’ survivability during attacks.

In September 2024, Roshel revealed the integration of the Tavria 14.5 Remote Controlled Weapon System into the Senator.

The post Ukrainian Military Adopts Canadian Senator Anti-Mine Vehicles appeared first on The Defense Post.

The 600-million-euro ($669.7-million) deal includes management, spare parts supply and repairs, and accompanying technical support services to the fleet.

KNDS will also support the construction of a sustainment facility in the country to bolster future overhaul projects for the vehicles.

Canada’s procurement authority is partnering with KNDS segments in Munich and Ottawa to complete the effort.

Work for the agreement will be facilitated from September 2024 through March 2031, with an option for five additional years.

“As a system house and manufacturer of the LEOPARD 2, we have felt a strong connection with Canada and the Canadian Army for almost 20 years,” KNDS Deutschland Service Head Markus Schmidt stated.

“For KNDS, the contract for long-term support of the systems is an honor. We are aware of the responsibility of ensuring the operational readiness of 74 LEOPARD 2 battle tanks and 29 family vehicles.”

The Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank

The Leopard 2 measures 10 meters (33 feet) and is protected with armor composed of steel, tungsten, plastic, and ceramic parts.

It is equipped with a smooth-bore gun, medium machine guns, multi-barrel grenade launchers, and explosives.

The tank is powered by a NATO-standard V12 diesel engine for a top speed of 68 kilometers (42 miles) per hour and a range of 340 kilometers (211 miles).

Canada first adopted the vehicle in 2007 to replace its older main battle tank fleet, operational since the 1970s.

Currently, five variants of the Leopard 2 are in service under Ottawa’s military.

The post KNDS Wins Sustainment Contract for Canadian Army’s Leopard 2 Fleet appeared first on The Defense Post.

For four weeks, the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft and its team will monitor suspected movements in violation of UN Security Council sanctions.

The sanctions, imposed since 2006, aim to suspend Pyongyang’s weapons of mass destruction programs, ballistic missile launches, and nuclear weapon tests that have been deemed a threat to the UN’s Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty.

Canada’s campaign will include surveillance of ship-to-ship fuel transfers and screening of commodities prohibited under the sanctions.

Ottawa’s detachment to Tokyo will involve about 50 personnel. Accompanying tasks will be facilitated from September to October 2024.

Operation NEON

The Canadian Department of Defence highlighted that the Aurora deployment will operate under Operation NEON, a defense initiative launched in 2019 to enhance “international peace and stabilization” across the Asia-Pacific in collaboration with the UN and other nations.

Alongside long-range patrol aircraft, NEON utilizes naval warships and supplies assets to portions of the region where sanctions evasion by Pyongyang is prominent, including the East China Sea.

Ottawa coordinated its latest CP-140 patrol mission with Japan for the same purpose in June 2024. To date, NEON has completed 12 sorties and 103 flight hours for the effort.

Potential Increase of AUKUS Members

Canada’s latest military effort with Japan follows the government’s announcement of intent to join AUKUS, a trilateral alliance between Australia, the UK, and the US in response to threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

In April, Japan expressed its desire to become the fourth member of the AUKUS group. New Zealand also announced its interest in participating in the pact last year.

The post Canadian Aurora Maritime Patrol Aircraft to Conduct N. Korean Sanction Monitoring appeared first on The Defense Post.

Known as AUKUS, the alliance aims to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific and enhance defense capabilities through technology sharing. The initial phase of the partnership involves working on nuclear submarines for Canberra.

According to Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair, Ottawa wants to join a second pillar of the alliance, which involves collaboration on emerging military technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.

“There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations, including Japan and ourselves, might participate,” he said during his first visit to Tokyo as defense minister.

“I would respectfully wait until they’ve come to their determination, but I’m very optimistic.”

Expanded Alliance?

Talks about potentially expanding the AUKUS alliance began when Japan signified its intent to become a fourth member.

The founding nations have confirmed they were considering Tokyo’s involvement in “specific Pillar 2 defense projects,” given its substantial investments in cutting-edge military technologies.

South Korea and New Zealand have also shown interest in contributing to the second pillar, offering their expertise in areas such as AI, autonomy, undersea capabilities, electronic warfare, and cyber operations.

The US previously said it was open to allowing more countries to participate in AUKUS’ technological activities, noting its appreciation for the interest from various allies.

“I think all three countries have made clear that under the appropriate circumstances we would be prepared to work collaboratively with other partners who bring capacity to the challenge,” US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said.

Increasing Threats

China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific has led many countries to view it as the biggest threat in the region.

Its aggressive stance in the South China Sea, marked by multiple maritime confrontations with Philippine Navy vessels and its mounting pressure on Taiwan, has heightened regional tensions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping previously warned against a resurgence of Cold War-era tensions in the Asia-Pacific due to increasing military cooperation among its adversaries.

The post After Japan, Canada Wants In on AUKUS Alliance to Counter China appeared first on The Defense Post.

The firm-fixed-price incentive modification contract covers the production of additional AMRAAM missiles, AMRAAM telemetry systems, initial and field spares, and other production engineering support hardware and activities. 

It builds on the previous $1.15-billion contract from 2023 to supply AMRAAM Production Lot 37 to the US Air Force, US Navy, and partner countries.  

Through foreign military sales, this 2024 contract specifies that Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the UK will also receive said equipment.

The production work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2028.

The post US Awards Raytheon $1.19B AMRAAM Missile Contract Modification appeared first on The Defense Post.

All of the export permits had been approved prior to a January ban on new sales of weapons that could be used in Gaza, as the besieged Palestinian territory faced a mounting humanitarian crisis.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said she had ordered a review of all Canadian weapons suppliers’ contracts with Israel and other countries.

“Following that, I suspended this summer around 30 existing permits of Canadian companies,” she said.

A key ally of the United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars a year in military aid, Canada drew the ire of Israeli leaders when it initially announced it would halt new arms shipments to Israel as of January 8.

Pro-Palestinian protests across Canada – at universities, political events and even the Toronto International Film Festival last week – have continued to put pressure on the government to go further.

“Our policy is clear: We will not have any form of arms or parts of arms be sent to Gaza. Period,” Joly said.

“How they’re being sent and where they’re being sent is irrelevant,” she continued, alluding to ammunition that was meant to have been produced by a Canadian division of US defense contractor General Dynamics for the Israeli Defense Forces.

Joly added that the government is in contact about this issue with General Dynamics.

The topic of arms deliveries to Israel has triggered legal proceedings in several countries around the world.

Israel has historically been a top receiver of Canadian arms exports, with 21 million Canadian dollars ($15.4 million) worth of military material exported to Israel in 2022, according to government data, following 26 million Canadian dollars ($19.1 million) in shipments in 2021.

That placed Israel among the top 10 recipients of Canadian arms exports.

Britain last week also said it would suspend some arms exports to Israel, citing a “clear risk” that they could be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law.

The post Canada Recently Blocked Weapons Sales to Israel: FM appeared first on The Defense Post.

The deal stipulates the production of the Quebec-based company’s video distribution and combat visualization systems to enable “mission-critical display” for the service’s Surface Combatant Fleet.

The package incorporates transcoding, storage, and distribution assets, enabling coordination between the navy’s Combat Information Centers and multiple warships.

Alongside the naval combat systems, Haivision’s capabilities will support the US Coast Guard’s next-generation cutters.

Work for the contract will be conducted over five years by the company’s MCS subsidiary in Atlanta, Georgia.

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the US Navy and to be entrusted with this crucial responsibility,” Haivision MCS Strategic Programs VP Robert Kaufman said.

“This award is a testament to the excellence of our technology and our dedicated team. We are committed to delivering high-quality systems that will support the Navy’s mission and enhance the operational effectiveness of its Surface Combatant Fleet.”

Extending US Navy Support

Haivision’s award builds on its existing engagement with the US Navy’s Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program, which promotes the use of a Common Computing Environment to sustain on-board network connectivity across active surface vessels.

CANES is currently leveraging the firm’s real-time video recording, encoding, transcoding, and playback technology for associated ship-wide video distribution.

In 2021, the Canadian company expanded its ongoing support for the US Department of Defense by acquiring video solutions developer CineMassive, allowing the launch of its new Mission-Critical Systems segment.

The post Quebec Company to Supply Video Processing Suites for US Navy appeared first on The Defense Post.

The ceremony completed the signing of associated documents to formally hand over the system to the service. 

After the event, the HMCS Frédérick Rolette (AOPS 434) moved from Irving’s Nova Scotia facility to the navy’s HMC Dockyard in Halifax for further evaluation prior to its commissioning.

HMCS Frédérick Rolette is named after a Provincial Marine of Upper Canada lieutenant who served during the North American War in 1812.

The officer received a fifty-guinea sword of honor due to his valor upon returning to Québec City.

“Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, our government is committed to providing members of the Royal Canadian Navy with the equipment they need to accomplish the difficult tasks we ask of them every day, while creating skilled jobs in our shipbuilding and marine industries across the country,” Canadian Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos stated.

“Today’s delivery of the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette, the fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, is an important step toward ensuring the Royal Canadian Navy’s future operational readiness.”

Canada’s Harry DeWolf Fleet

Ottawa’s 4.98 billion Canadian dollars ($3.6 billion) Harry DeWolf AOPS initiative is expected to boost the armed forces’ surveillance capabilities across the nation’s waters as well as the Arctic region.

Each of the program’s vessels is designed to sail in remote areas without escorts. In addition to domestic missions, the fleet can support international security efforts focusing on anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and humanitarian assistance.

The Royal Canadian Navy commissioned the fourth DeWolf-class ship in May 2024.

Work for the sixth and final hull, the HMCS Robert Hampton, began in August 2022. It is expected to arrive by 2026.

“The delivery of our fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette, brings the Royal Canadian Navy one step closer to completing Canada’s AOPV fleet,” Royal Canadian Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee remarked.

“These ships bring an incredible capability to the RCN, allowing us to patrol and protect Canada’s North. I would like to recognize the important work of our shipbuilders at Irving Shipbuilding, and all Canadian Shipyards who continue to build and deliver modern and capable ships to our sailors.”

The AOPS Design

Canada’s DeWolf ship has a length of 103.6 meters (339.8 feet) and a beam of 19 meters (62.3 feet).

The platform can carry about 70 personnel, a small utility helicopter, snowmobiles, pickup trucks, and an unmanned aerial system.

The vessel is powered by diesel-electric engines for a top speed of 17 knots (31.4 kilometers/19.5 miles per hour) and a range of 6,800 nautical miles (12,594 kilometers/7,825 miles).

It is equipped with satellite communication systems, anti-missile detection, damage and machinery control systems, 25-millimeter shipboard naval guns, and additional heavy-caliber machine guns.

The post Irving Delivers 5th DeWolf AOPS Vessel to Royal Canadian Navy appeared first on The Defense Post.

With an estimated value of $265 million, the potential foreign military sale includes 120 Sidewinders in the Block II configuration and 48 in the more advanced Block II+.

Ottawa is also requesting 96 training missiles, 20 guidance kits, active optical target detectors, and engineering and logistical support.

According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the sale will help bolster Canada’s ability to deter aggression in the region, contributing to its overall homeland defense.

It is also expected to improve the country’s interoperability with the US.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by helping to improve the military capability of a NATO ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and is a contributor to military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world,” the notice wrote.

Sidewinder Block II and II+

The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile that features improved capabilities over its predecessor, the legacy AIM-9M.

It boasts a high off-boresight focal-plane array seeker and an enhanced infrared counter-countermeasures feature.

In 2015, the US military introduced a Block II variant of the Sidewinder, offering a leap in capability in terms of maneuverability and targeting.

According to the Naval Air System Command, the Block II variant is equipped with an advanced infrared seeker that allows the weapon to hit targets behind the launching aircraft.

RTX continues to mature the missile further, leading to the arrival of the Block II+, which reportedly provides increased survivability for the F-35 fighter jet.

Though details are limited, the Pentagon said the newest variant incorporates “specialized external materials” for improved performance.

The post US OKs $265M AIM-9X Sidewinder Tactical Missile Sale to Canada appeared first on The Defense Post.

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) documents seen by Ottawa Citizen suggest that the icy, -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit) weather in the country’s far north will be a serious test for the Reaper’s ability to conduct its missions.

The drones will also have to operate from remote runways in the region where satellite coverage is limited.

Satellites are critical for drone operations as they are used to transmit flight instructions and surveillance data.

In addition to environmental challenges, the documents noted that Canadian military personnel do not have enough experience in operating larger drones.

Change of Plans

Plans to procure MQ-9 Reaper drones first surfaced in 2023 when Canadian military sources said the country was “setting the stage” to negotiate with the US and drone manufacturer General Atomics.

The reported value of the acquisition was five billion Canadian dollars ($3.7 billion).

Since then, Ottawa reportedly planned to build the drones’ own forward operating base in the Arctic, which will also house maintenance personnel.

But a change of plans now indicates that the unmanned platforms will use an existing forward operating base in the Arctic along with other RCAF aircraft.

To accommodate the 4,900-pound (2,223-kilogram) drone, the Canadian military is said to soon be installing new hangars and upgrading existing facilities at the base.

There will also be modifications to the drones ahead of their expected delivery in 2028 to address the difficult Arctic conditions.

The post Canada to Face Icy Challenges Operating Reaper Drones in Arctic: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.