Weekly Defence Review - April 13, 2026
The week’s key defence announcements, from naval communications to shipbuilding and submarine-industry positioning.
This week’s defence developments reveal where Canada is quietly building strength. Maritime procurement advanced through a new vessel design contract, the Royal Canadian Navy moved forward on SATCOM testing, and Hanwha Ocean deepened its Canadian industrial engagement around the submarine file.
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AWARDS DESIGN CONTRACT FOR CANADIAN COAST GUARD’S MID-SHORE MULTI-MISSION VESSELS
Canada awarded a $9.6 million design contract to Kongsberg Vanguard LP for the Canadian Coast Guard’s mid-shore multi-mission vessels. This moves the program into a more concrete development phase, with industry engagement for the construction of up to six vessels expected later in 2026.
It is a notable procurement signal because it shows continued movement under the National Shipbuilding Strategy and points to future opportunities for marine suppliers and partners.
Read More: Government of Canada Release
ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY SELECTS ALL.SPACE HYDRA 4 FOR SHORE-BASED SATCOM TRIALS
The Royal Canadian Navy has acquired an ALL.SPACE Hydra 4 terminal for shore-based testing and evaluation at Maritime Forces Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia.
The trial is intended to inform the Navy’s short-term SATCOM architecture decisions and support future multi-orbit connectivity requirements. This matters because resilient communications are becoming a core enabler for naval operations, especially across challenging environments, including the Arctic.
Read More: ALL.SPACE Announcement
HANWHA OCEAN EXPANDS CPSP POSITIONING IN CANADA THROUGH SPARTEC DISCUSSIONS AND PCL TEAMING AGREEMENT
Within several days, Hanwha Ocean took two visible steps to strengthen its position in Canada’s submarine industrial landscape. First, the company sent a delegation to Erin, Ontario, where it met with Spartec Composites to discuss potential collaboration under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), including the possibility of Spartec contributing composite capabilities to a future Canadian supply chain.
Shortly after, Hanwha signed a Teaming Agreement with PCL Construction focused on submarine maintenance, repair, and overhaul infrastructure, with potential relevance for support capabilities on both coasts.
Read More: PCL Release