News from the Forge

This week on News from the Forge, we're looking at how Canada is connecting innovation with real defence requirements, from new drone procurement opportunities to emerging challenges in chemical detection and maritime autonomy.

We're also sharing some exciting news from Vimy Forge as we announce new funding to support Cohort 2 of our national defence accelerator, with applications opening at the end of October!

In this episode:

• Defence Drone Initiative: New procurement opportunities for Canadian uncrewed aircraft systems, signalling continued progress toward getting Canadian technology into the hands of military operators.

• Chemical Threat Detection: The National Research Council launches a new innovation challenge seeking technology capable of remotely identifying hazardous chemicals.

• Maritime Autonomy: A new mine-countermeasures requirement highlights opportunities for Canadian marine technology companies, alongside a new partnership between DND and Canada's Ocean Supercluster, representing more than 1,000 innovators.

• Vimy Forge Cohort 2: New funding support from BDC, ACOA and NBIF will help us launch our second national cohort in 2027, building on the progress of our inaugural Black Flight companies.

News from the Forge brings you Canadian defence headlines and our perspective on what they mean for innovators, SMEs and Canada's defence industrial base.

A Vimy Forge podcast.

This week on News from the Forge, we're looking at how Canada's defence industrial base is becoming increasingly connected to capital, international markets and allied defence ecosystems.

We start with a significant week for defence investment, as BDC outlines how another $1 billion will be deployed through its Defence Platform, CIBC commits $2 billion toward Canadian defence and dual-use businesses, and TD identifies defence and aerospace as a strategic investment sector. We also look at growing momentum behind the Canadian-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, with the United Kingdom back at the table discussing how the two countries' defence-financing initiatives could work together.

From there, we turn to Canada and Ukraine's growing partnership around drones, counter-drone technologies and defence production, and how lessons from Ukraine's battlefield innovation ecosystem are beginning to influence Canada's own approach to procurement and industry.

We connect that work to Canada's largest-ever defence and security trade mission at MSPO in Poland, where Global Affairs Canada and the Trade Commissioner Service helped bring Canadian companies into one of Europe's most important defence markets. Agreements between Poland's WB Group and Canadian companies including CAE, WESCAM, Robotics Centre and Halifax-based Rosborough Boats provide a tangible example of Canadian innovation finding its way into allied platforms and supply chains.

Finally, Canada has formally applied to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, deepening our relationship with northern European, Baltic and North Atlantic allies. We look at Canada's Arctic geography, the world's second-largest icebreaking fleet, ongoing Coast Guard recapitalization, and why Canada has a natural role to play in northern security.

In this episode:

• Defence capital begins moving from commitments toward deployment
• BDC, CIBC, TD and the growing Canadian defence-financing ecosystem
• New momentum behind the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank
• Canada and Ukraine deepen cooperation on drone innovation
• Global Affairs, MSPO and the importance of allied markets for Canadian SMEs
• WB Group partnerships with Canadian defence innovators
• Canada applies to join the Joint Expeditionary Force
• Why Canada's Arctic and icebreaking capabilities strengthen its role among northern allies

News from the Forge looks beyond the headline to explore what these developments mean for Canadian defence innovators, SMEs, procurement, investment and sovereign capability.

A Vimy Forge podcast.

Episode 3 — Canadian Defence Headlines | August 27, 2026

It was a quieter week for Canadian defence headlines in terms of quantity — but not necessarily quality.

In Episode 3 of News from the Forge, we break down the stories that caught our attention and, more importantly, why they matter for Canada’s defence industrial base.

This week:

• Canada–U.S. Tariffs — What renewed trade tensions tell us about supply-chain resilience and strategic dependencies.
• Energetics in New Brunswick — A proposed Nalagx facility in Belledune looked like major news before quickly becoming a developing story with plenty of questions still unanswered.
• Canadian Icebreakers — Davie secures an $11.3B contract for six new icebreakers and a major opportunity to strengthen Canadian shipbuilding capability.
• MINERVA — Another Canadian Army requirement hits the market, this time focused on uncrewed tactical cargo movement.
• CFB Gagetown — An $871M modernization of ranges and training infrastructure that will support training across the Canadian Army.
• Wuxly & CBRN Protection — A Canadian SME moves into pre-production assessment for DND's next CBRN protective suits.
• NATO DIANA — A quick update as Canadian innovators move closer to the final stage of selection for the 2027 cohort.

News from the Forge looks beyond the announcement to ask what each development means for Canadian innovators, defence companies, procurement and sovereign capability.

A Vimy Forge podcast.

In Episode 2 of News from the Forge, we look at the growing momentum behind Canada’s defence innovation ecosystem and whether new programs, partnerships and investment are translating into real opportunities for Canadian companies.

This week:

• MINERVA gets moving: The Canadian Army launches its first challenges, creating new connections between military requirements, innovators, testing and funding.

• Drones meet operators: Nearly 30 drone and counter-drone companies put their technology directly in front of CAF, Coast Guard and public-safety personnel at RED COBALT.

• Rethinking minefield breaching — DND is looking for new approaches to detecting and defeating modern minefields, with potential applications extending into post-conflict demining and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

• Could Canada build corvettes again? TKMS suggests its MEKO A-100 could potentially be built in Canadian shipyards, bringing an interesting modern twist to a ship with deep roots in Canadian naval history.

• Canada looks to other middle powers: With Canada now an observer in the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme, we look at what deeper defence collaboration outside the traditional Canada-U.S. relationship could mean for Canadian industry.

• Who funds Canadian defence innovation?  A new Canadian Defence & Deep-Tech Capital Guide highlights the growing funding ecosystem — and the capital gap companies still face between developing promising technology and securing meaningful procurement.

From the battlefield requirement to the company trying to solve it — and the funding, testing and procurement needed in between, we break down the stories shaping Canadian defence innovation and the “so what?” behind them.

In this episode of News from the Forge, we look beyond the headlines at five developments shaping Canada’s defence ecosystem.

We examine Canada’s $2.3-billion Telesat agreement and what it means for sovereign capability, check in on the RCAF’s new CC-330 Husky fleet and Airbus’s delivery and ITB commitments, and look at the $166-million modernization of DRDC Valcartier. We also unpack Ottawa’s latest signals on domestic defence capacity and the growing importance of security across Canada’s defence supply chain.

The news matters. The “so what?” matters more.

Canadian SMEs - Add your company to Canada's Defence Innovation Map. You can fill out the expression of interest to add your defence capabilities to the growing ecosystem across Canada.

www.vimyforge.ca/expression-of-interest