The new government of Canada, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is preparing to launch an ambitious procurement program with the aim of significantly strengthening the country’s military. The appointment of David McGuinty as Minister of Defence and former fighter pilot Stephen Fuhr as Minister of Defence Procurement in the new cabinet announced on May 13 clearly demonstrates the importance given to this rearmament process.
Prime Minister Carney, in his speech at the cabinet announcement, emphasized that leadership is expected at every level of government and that new ideas, a clear focus and decisive actions must be brought to the work in this direction. Carney also signaled that the army will be strengthened in every area by saying, “We will build a stronger Canadian Armed Forces that will defend every corner of our territory by making unprecedented investments in land, air, sea and cyberspace.” While the government’s priorities are expected to be announced in detail on May 27, this major restructuring move in the field of defense is already drawing attention.
What's on the Defense Procurement List?
The defence platform, released on April 19, in the midst of the federal election, outlined a comprehensive rearmament program for the Canadian military. This program includes the purchase of a variety of land, sea and air vehicles. For the land forces 80 to 102 self-propelled howitzers While the procurement is planned, in order to increase the power of the naval forces a new fleet of conventionally powered submarines It is aimed to be established. In order to improve the early warning and control capabilities of the air forces, A fleet of Canadian-made early warning and control aircraft is on the agenda to be purchased. In addition, a modern vehicle for the Canadian army ground-based air defense system will also be supplied. Prime Minister Carney also said heavy icebreakers There is also a promise to purchase, but the number of these ships is not yet clear. This comprehensive purchase plan aims to significantly increase the defence capacity of the Canadian military.
F-35 Fighter Jet Purchase Under Review
The purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, which constitute a significant part of the Canadian government’s defense spending, is also being reexamined under Prime Minister Carney’s orders. Canada had budgeted $2023 billion ($88 billion CAD) to purchase 35 F-13,2 fighter jets from the United States in January 19. However, Carney attributed the review to US President Donald Trump’s trade war against Canada, stating that the country had currently only committed to purchasing the first 16 F-35s. Carney is also known to have held talks with French and British government officials about whether they could provide a potential alternative to the F-35 and the possibility of manufacturing this aircraft in Canada. This is being interpreted as a sign that Canada may consider different options in defense procurement and make preferences regarding allies.
US-Canadian Military Relations Are Being Questioned
President Trump’s trade threats to Canada have also raised questions about the future of military relations between the two countries. On May 13, Prime Minister Carney referred to the US-Canadian defense arrangements, asking, “What level of interoperability is there in our military in a more dangerous and divided world?” Emphasizing that these are important decisions that need to be made, Carney signaled possible changes to Canada’s defense strategies. It was stated that Stephen Fuhr, who was appointed as Minister of Defense Acquisition, will undertake important duties such as overseeing the F-35 review and making improvements to the overall defense procurement process. Fuhr’s previous experience in the civil aviation sector (in 2011 and 2014) questioning the cost and value of the F-35 provides clues about how comprehensive this review will be. However, after being elected as a Liberal MP in 2015, he embraced his party’s change of stance on the F-35 purchase. The complexity of Canada's defence policies is evident in the fact that then Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in his 2015 campaign, promised never to buy the F-35 but later changed his mind and approved the purchase in 2023.
F-35 Review Continues
While Defence Procurement Minister Stephen Fuhr has stated that he does not yet have detailed information about his new role, the Department of National Defence has also confirmed that the F-35 review is in its early stages and that there is no definitive timeframe for when it can be completed. “The F-15 review is ongoing and on time, and internal, external and independent input is being considered,” Department of National Defence spokesman Nick Drescher Brown wrote in an email to Defense News on May 35, indicating that the process is being carried out meticulously. The results of this review will be critical to Canada’s future fighter fleet and defence strategies.
New Helicopter Fleet Also on the Agenda
The Canadian military’s plans to strengthen its fleet are not limited to fighter jets and submarines. The purchase of a new helicopter fleet, which will address the firepower and mobility deficiencies of its current rotary-wing aircraft fleet, is also on the agenda. The Canadian military hopes to begin working with the defense industry this summer. While this potential purchase was not directly mentioned in Prime Minister Carney’s defense policy statement, a briefing for the aviation industry and defense analysts revealed that Canada will spend $12,9 billion ($18,4 billion CAD) on new tactical helicopters. The briefing, prepared by RCAF Brigadier General Brendan Cook and provided to Defense News by the Department of National Defense, reveals that the new helicopter fleet will replace the current CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet. This modern helicopter fleet will significantly increase the Canadian military’s operational capabilities and allow it to play a more effective role in a variety of missions.
