Historic investments in the European Space Agency, Canada Swedens up, the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact hits its stride, and Canadian Embassies in France and Germany ++
What's making waves across the Atlantic
What’s making waves across the Atlantic
Historic investments in the European Space Agency, Canada Swedens up, the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact hits its stride, and Canadian Embassies in France and Germany hold defence-related events. The rapprochement continues apace.
Between three oceans
Canada began last week by announced a historic investment to European Space Agency (ESA) programs ($528.5 M), a tenfold increase compared to previous contributions and is set to advance research and development of Canadian-made space technologies for both civilian and defence purposes.
Canada, Finland and the United States signed a joint statement of Intent to advance the ongoing Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact.
Canada and Sweden announced a strategic partnership titled Northern allies, innovators, and trade partners: Strategic partnership between Canada and Sweden. The historic agreement included a series of meetings included between Dr. Pål Jonson, Minister of Defence for Sweden and Stephen Fuhr, the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. In addition to a Sweden-Canada Innovation day.
The push for closer relations come as Canada reviews its F35 contract, with SAAB and Sweden setting its sights on Canada diversifying its fighter-jet purchases. The folks at Build Canada referred to it as a bidding war.
Simply focusing on the fighter jet procurement minimizes the other agreements that came about from the week.
Canadian Calian signed an MOU with Sweden-headquartered SAAB and Ericsson during the visit. Calians Defence head, Chris Pogue, touted the need for secure, resilient communications.
SAAB and CAE (Canada’s only company in the top 100 defence companies globally) announced a global cooperation agreement to collaborate on advanced training specifically tailored to Saab’s Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platforms.
Canada’s openness to foreign investment catching investors’ attention, Swedish fund manager says.
Canada is 10x-ing investment in European Space Agency (ESA) programs, to the tune of $528M, with more details to be announced this week.
On the continent
Canada’s Embassy in France selected 10 startups to promote and accompany in the defence mission & aerospace mission that will be held this week.
The Embassy of Canada in Germany hosted the Forum @ Kanada Haus 2025, bringing together government, industry, and policy experts to explore how Canada and Germany can deepen cooperation in the defence sector.
The event took place while the embassy ran an R&D collaborating mission for the Space sector.
Germany confirmed its selection of Lockheed Martin Canada’s (LMC) Combat Management System. LMC will work closely with German industry and subcontractor Hensoldt to integrate the system into the German fleet, and will collaborate with Canadian and German research institutions.
Both the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC - a state-to-state contracting vehicle) and the Canadian Embassy in Germany celebrated the decision as an important milestone in Canada’s renewed defence and security relationship with Germany, and the Canada-EU Security and Defence partnership.
The CMS system is a Canadian crown jewel of naval exports (user nations Chile, New Zealand). The announcement comes while German-based TKMS is approaching the finish-line in Canada’s submarine procurement. TKMS celebrated the deal and CCC estimates the total contract value to be over $1B.
Quebec’s Base Camp Connect headed to NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss secure communications.
SkyAline celebrated a successful first test flight of a FAcT CT-102B Astra II (Grob G 120TP) in Germany. SkyAlyne was formed in 2018 as a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program provider for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Canadian Armed Forces projects
Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) seeks to replace the current BV206 fleet with a new arctic mobility capability fleet of medium-sized carriers.
The project re-emerged in the headlines this week as Sweden’s BAE Hagglunds has partnered with General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada. This helps BAE meet Canadian content requirements as it prepares for the future tender. Currently, a three-way race against Canada’s Roshel with Singapore S&T Engineering ExtremV platform, and Rheimetall Canada’s partnership with Montréal’s UTV International Voyager platform.
The criticals
Norway’s Vianode broke ground on St. Thomas, Ontario. The location will be North America’s largest production facility for low-emission synthetic anode graphite - used in EVs.
Canada committed to using the Defence Production Act to designate critical minerals as essential to Canada’s national defence and interest. It is a step towards the mobilization and coordination of resources, up to and including stockpiling.
Last week, British Columbia launched its 10-year ‘Look West’ strategy, which aims to capture 35% of federal shipbuilding contracts via Seaspan and position the province in defence and tech. BC Premier David Eby emphasised the need to fast-track projects, workforce training, and dual-use technologies in aerospace, AI, and quantum computing to tap into Ottawa’s defence spending for Arctic and Indo-Pacific needs. The plan promises to be a 360-degree use case for domestically produced critical minerals.
Your next bound:
Canadian defence events:
The Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) is hosting a conference on Continental Defence, bridging NORAD and Aerospace continental defence, looking at defence in the Canadian Armed Forces from a Pan-Domain Perspective, this Nov 27 in Ottawa.
Naval Québec Annual Conference Dec 1, in Québec.
Register for Vanguard’s annual C4ISR conference Jan 27, in Ottawa.
If you prefer Ships, Vanguard’s annual Shiptech forum takes place the following month, 24 Feb, in Ottawa.
Keep an eye out for CDA’s annual Ottawa conference in Mar, 2026 - no official date posted yet.
CADSI’s CAF Outlooks take place in early April (2026 dates not published yet) in Ottawa.
Time to put CANSEC on your calendar - May 27-28, Ottawa.
European defence events:
International Armoured Vehicles Conference takes place in London (United Kingdom) on Jan 21-23.
Navy Tech and Seabed Defence Navy Tech Overview - Navy Leaders 3-5 Feb in Sweden.
ITEC 2026, Europe’s largest defence training technology exhibition and technical conference Mar 25-27.
Undersea defence technology (UDT) takes place Apr 14-16 in London (United Kingdom).
Europe’s largest land domain conference, Eurosatory, is planned in Paris, 15-19 June.
The largest airshow takes place in England, Farnborough International Airshow | Farnborough International Airshow 20-24 July, 2026.
Canada is the lead nation at Poland’s MSPO - 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO ‹ Targi Kielce S.A. 8-11 Sept 2026. MSPO is Canada’s second largest defence presence internationally and a gateway to Ukraine.
Canada-European free-trade:
The Canada EU Economic Chamber registration is holding its annual event in Brussels this Nov 27.
Critical Minerals:
If critical minerals is your thing, add Vancouver Resource Investment Conference to your agenda, Jan 25-26.
PDAC is planned in Toronto Mar 1-4.
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