MSPO was Canada’s largest defence industry delegation abroad.
Kielce (Poland) redefined bumper-to-bumper. Roundabouts have never felt so ineffective. Some may only remember the 1.5 hour one-way bus rides, the airport style security and apocalyptic queues.
But, Canada sent its largest defence delegation abroad, ever. Nearly 250 companies and organizations. Pan-domain, and from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Over 20 signed agreements. And it happened in a market where Canadian exports grew 319% in a single year.
The team has returned from MSPO, quite possibly the best tradeshow since I started in Europe. It was MSPO 2026 that took our transatlantic advisory service to the next level.
Consider this your post-MSPO report.
Let’s get into it.
On the docket
1. How Canada got here
2. The breakdown
3. Behind the numbers
4. Best of Canada results
5. The Carney Doctrine
How Canada got here
MSPO’s Lead Nation program has run since 2004, and the honour has gone to a Turkey (2022), South Korea (2023), Ukraine as Special Guest (2024), and Australia (2025).
The event capped a year of record-setting Canadian delegations: Eurosatory, Farnborough, and DALO Days.
Canada is the first recent lead nation to hold the role while also sitting inside the EU’s SAFE defence financing mechanism – worth up to €150 billion. A May 2026 letter of intent agreed to pursue opportunities for greater cooperation between Canadian and Polish defence industries.
MSPO was the trade-show expression of a relationship that has been under construction for years.
Canada takes the lead at major defence industry fair in Poland.
The breakdown
Targi Kielce’s own release calls it the largest government and industry presence Canada has ever brought to an overseas defence exhibition:
Wendy Hadwen, Deputy Assistant Deputy Minister for Policy at the Department of National Defence Investment Agency, highlighted the unprecedented scale of Canada’s representation in Kielce.
– “This is the largest presence of the Canadian government and industry at an international defence exhibition in our history…Canadian companies have already signed just over 20 agreements with international partners during MSPO, including Polish businesses…
– “So it’s not just about contacts – it’s about contracts too,” Wendy Hadwen said.
And it came with the full production.
An RCAF band played on the pavilion floor. Two Mounties worked photo op duty for the length of the show. Do business with Canada pucks and Moosehead beer. Government attendees and uniforms in droves.
Canada’s coffee stand did better business than exhibitors around it - either effective soft power, or a sign Kielce could have used more baristas.
Behind the pageantry was substances, with 20 agreements ranging from unmanned systems, training solutions, local production and maritime systems.
Agreements include WESCAM, Robotics Centre, Rosborough Boats and CAE. Several companies are already active in Poland: Bombardier, Galvion, Kraken Robotics, Marconi, OSI and Telesat.
Defence 24 covered the growing relationship in more detail: Canada at MSPO 2026: From a buyer-supplier relationship to a true defence-industrial partnership.
What’s clear is Canada’s Defence Industry is no longer taboo.
Behind the numbers: too good to be true?
A marching band and two mounties make good photographs, not contracts. Of twenty MOUs but only four identified publicly (that I could find!) Paper count doesn’t do a balance sheet.
But it was still the best of Canada in defence on the world stage.
Best of Canada
And when you go abroad, you do so in style.
We ran a straw poll in four categories, here are the results!
Canadian SME Rising Star:
Cellula Robotics stands out for its long-endurance hybrid AUVs – and bringing one to the show!
Maple Hustle Award:
--By near unanimous consent James Allan proved he and his team master the Polish territory. Hats off to the team!
Best Canadian Big Booth Design — Prime / Tier 1
--Sleek, mininimalist design. Open and accessible, standout orange, communication ecosystem focused.
----Soucy Defence’s autumn backdrop was a close second.
Best Canadian Small Booth Design - Tiers & SMBs -
Toronto-based Wuxly warmed our hearts with that mix of nostalgia, refined enthusiam and just good quality products.
The Carney Doctrine
MSPO wasn’t the only win. It is an opening move in a developing strategy: a 50% increase in defence exports, backed by SAFE-program membership, and EU rapprochement. The Carney doctrine of trade diversification might be taking shape.
250 Canadian organizations went abroad, but the real work has just begun.
The show itself did what a lead nation slot is supposed to do: put Canada’s defence-industrial base on the European map – and increase opportunities for Canada to diversify it’s own defence industrial base.
Now, it’s Canadian industry’s turn to take that stack of business cards and convert those leads into real business ties.
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