Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels could become floating targets
The Royal Canadian Navy has so far taken most of its Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) out of service. When I was at CFB Esquimalt in early July for the announcement of Canada’s purchase of new submarines, I could see from the jetty a number of MCDVs over at the Seaspan facility where they are […]
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s massive military buildup explained
CBC’s Front Burner Podcast recently featured a two-part series on Canada’s massive military buildup, looking at both the pros and the cons. Producer Imogen Birchard spoke to many individuals in the defence community – including some who attended CANSEC 2026 – for her comprehensive report. I make a few brief appearances in both segments, which […]
CAF at RIMPAC 2026; plus a roundup of previous coverage
The Canadian Forces took part, once again, in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises. His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Ottawa, Regina and HMC Submarine Corner Brook departed their homeport of Esquimalt to participate in RIMPAC, according to the RCN news release issued June 15, 2026. During this iteration of RIMPAC, HMCS Regina conducted a live-firing […]
Podcast delves into Canada’s German submarine purchase
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced July 6 in Halifax that Canada will purchase the Type 212CD submarine from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in what he says is the largest military procurement in Canadian history. I was interviewed about the announcement by Caryn Ceolin for the podcast, The Big Story. Listen to the podcast. For […]
RCAF Griffon helicopter modernization in trouble
The CBC’s Murray Brewster recently had an exclusive story about the decision to put on hold the modernization program for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Griffon helicopters. It’s still unclear what will emerge from this modernization effort. I originally covered the 1992 announcement of the government’s decision to purchase the Griffons. My April 9, 1992, […]
A history of the Asterix in service of the Royal Canadian Navy
Federal Fleet is on a campaign to renew the contract to provide for its Asterix to continue to serve the Royal Canadian Navy. I wrote about this for the Ottawa Citizen on June 8, 2026: Company calling on Canadian government to keep Asterix resupply ship. The lease for MV Asterix, now known as Combat Support […]
New military drones will have ‘limited’ capabilities at first
The Canadian military still expects the first of its large drones to be operational in 2028, but the systems will be limited initially in what they can do, according to internal documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen. Department of National Defence spokesperson Kened Sadiku said the delivery of the first of 11 MQ-9 drones was […]
Canada’s F-35 purchase – so-called competition was a sham
National Post columnist Jon Ivison has written a piece that outlines how Canada’s fighter jet competition was rigged right from the beginning to select the Lockheed Martin F-35. Behind the scenes, defence insiders in Ottawa have always maintained that this was the case. Ivison lays it out for all to see in a column dated […]
Drones donated by Canada expected in Ukraine in May or June
Drones promised by Canada to Ukraine will arrive in that country as early as May, says Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister at the Department of National Defence. In response to questions from the Senate defence committee on April 8, Kim pointed to the impending deliveries of equipment. “We are looking to have the drones that […]
Canada donates more than $40M in gear to Ukraine
Defence Minister Bill Blair announced March 19 that Canada will contribute $40 million to Czechia’s initiative to purchase large-calibre ammunition rounds for Ukraine. This will enable the delivery of several thousand rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine, according to Canada’s Department of National Defence. In February, Canada and Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic) […]