The Canadian Army is looking to purchase self-propelled howitzers (US DoD photo)
By Tim Ryan
Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined his defence plan for Canada and if it is to be believed, there is potential for the Canadian Army to benefit significantly.
Carney is promising to re-equip the Army as well as provide new systems for the air force and navy.
The Army has received, so far, a limited number of new systems, mostly for the Latvia mission. For instance, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Feb. 16, 2025 that the Canadian Forces would be receiving Switchblade loitering munitions systems in a $67 million deal. The weapons are being purchased from AeroVironment Inc of Arlington, Virginia.
Canada will acquire the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions systems for its troops in Latvia.
Another smaller equipment deal announced last year, noted that the Army would receive the Thales Sophie Ultima long-range handheld thermal imagers for its soldiers.
In a series of policy announcements during the federal election campaign in March, Carney’s defence plan noted the following: “Support the Canadian Army with significant new investments, such as new self-propelled artillery systems and ground-based air defence capabilities so that the CAF have the capacity to operate in today’s context.”
Here are some details that are known at this point:
SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY
In March it was reported that the Canadian government had started the procurement process for the Indirect Fires Modernisation (IFM) program. That news was prompted by the issuing of a Request for Information to defence firms for the project which would see the acquisition of between 80 and 98 self-propelled 155mm howitzers. Also to be purchased would be new mortars. The cost of the project could run as high as $5 billion.
Here are some of the details from the RFI:
--The project deliverables include 155mm self-propelled artillery systems, vehicle-integrated mortar systems, operational stock and training munitions, support vehicles, fire control systems, communications equipment, individual and collective training, and integrated logistics support (ILS). The project scope also includes major investments in new infrastructure to ensure adequate facilities to store, train and maintain the new fleet.
--Potential locations for infrastructure investment include: Shilo, Manitoba, Petawawa, Ontario, Meaford, Ontario, Valcartier, Quebec and Gagetown, New Brunswick.
--The Indirect Fires Modernization project scope is considering two quantitative capability levels, each with two qualitative capability levels, for government decision making regarding a funding allocation for the project. The deliverables associated with this recommendation will include: 80 to 102 Self Propelled, 52-calibre 155mm Howitzers.
--Also part of the project are Mortar Systems: 99 x 120mm Mortar Systems integrated into an 8x8 Armoured Combat Support Vehicle, 85 x 81mm Mortar Systems integrated into a Light Tactical Vehicle or 133 x 81mm Mortar Systems integrated into a Light Tactical Vehicle.
--Additional support vehicles will be acquired for this project to serve as ammunition carriers, command posts and command reconnaissance functions. These may be sourced through existing and future contracts to maintain commonality within the Canadian Army fleet.
--Fire Control Systems will be integrated into the Canadian Army’s future fires C2 solution that to ensure commonality within the Fire Direction Cells enabling full connectivity to fire platforms within the army inventory including Long Range Precision Strike, 155mm artillery and mortars. The Fire Control System at the detachment level is supported with orientation and fixation hardware that will enable the platform to accurately engage targets in GPS-denied and degraded environments.
--Communications hardware will include Fire Control Panels and Displays to enable fire control functions and the integration of the Army’s future battle management system. Also required will be Type 1 Encrypted Multi-Channel, Software Defined, VHF radios with required install kits, cabling, intercoms and headsets to enable C2 connectivity from howitzer and mortar detachments to command posts.
--Training and Simulation functions to enable weapon system operator and maintainer trainer at the unit level, to include the capability to complete familiarization training with non-geographically co-located army reserve units and digital twinning. Initial cadre training for operators, supervisors, maintainers (vehicle chassis, weapon system, electro- optical technicians.
--Next generation 155mm precision guided munitions would be looked as well as new operational and/or training munitions required for the 120mm/81mm capability
--When it comes to mobility the requirement is to come into action to engage a target in less than one minute. Operational driving range of 450 km and road speed up to 80km/h would be required. The system must be transportable by CC-17.
--For a “Shoot and Scoot” capability one battery of six howitzers must engage a target with a minimum of 96 rounds and come out of action in less than a total of three minutes. Platforms must have the ability to fire to engage indirect targets while on the move. They must use common and interchangeable munitions that are in-service in the Canadian Army (i.e.M795) with the United States, and other NATO allies.
--The system requirements for mortar systems could include but are not limited to: a light tactical vehicle integrated 81mm mortar system and an 8x8 Armoured Combat Support Vehicle equipped with a 120mm mortar weapon system.
GROUND BASED AIR DEFENCE
Carney’s promise of Ground Based Air Defence dovetails on a project already on the Army’s books.
In 2022, Esprit de Corps reported that after years of being without a ground-based air defence, the Canadian Armed Forces was ready to begin the process to acquire a system capable of shooting down enemy aircraft, missiles and drones. The Liberal government originally outlined the proposed purchase in its 2018 defence capability plan. At that point, the government stated such a ground-based air defence system would cost between $250 million and $499 million.
But, even before the procurement process had begun in earnest, that price tag has increased to what observers are saying is a more realistic cost estimate. During an April 5, 2022 briefing in Ottawa, Canadian Army officials told defence industry representatives the cost would now be between $500 million and $1 billion.
At that point, a contact was expected to be awarded in 2026 and the first systems would be in place a year later, industry officials were told. Interestingly, Army officers consider the main threats the new system would be used to deal with are rocket, artillery and mortar munitions, air to surface missiles and bombs, and remotely piloted aircraft systems.
During that April 5 briefing, industry officials were informed the system would also be able to target cruise missiles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The new system wouldn’t be capable of dealing with larger weapons, such as theatre ballistic missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles.
That was in 2022. Fast forward to December 2024 with an altered GBAD procurement.
The Canadian Armed Forces set out to prioritize its efforts to focus on getting air defence as quickly as possible for its troops in Latvia and the region (Operation Reassurance). So it has now restructured its GBAD initiative into different phases.
Industry officials were briefed that Canada intends to first address Operation Reassurance’s urgent need for a short-range air defence system that will be able to deal with incoming rockets, artillery and mortar rounds. It will continue to work with companies on the technical details for the new equipment. “The intention is to procure a nearly Military Off The Shelf system with very little Canada specific modifications and changes,” added the government message to companies.
Canada has already acquired man-portable surface-to-air missiles for the Latvia mission.
Once the purchase of the short-range air defence battery for Latvia is completed (phase 1), the procurement team will then turn its attention to the purchase of more extensive ground-based air defence systems for the rest of the military as outlined in phases 2 and 3, noted an article in the Ottawa Citizen.
DND spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown explained some of the key points of the phased process:
--“The introduction of Phase 1 represents an additional Battery of SHORAD equipment, but the high-level requirements of this system remain the same. The requirement refinement process for Phase 1 will focus on Military Off the Shelf systems that are readily available to support OP REASSURANCE, which may result in a different capability than that which will be defined for the enduring solutions of Phases 2 and 3.”
--"Breaking the project into phases was necessary to address the army's priority. Breaking the project into phases and accelerating the Phase 1 procurement will result in a better alignment with the army's immediate priorities while maintaining the integrity of the original GBAD project scope so that the project can balance the needs of OP REASSURANCE (Phase 1) with a focus on best value and long term sustainment for the army's enduring GBAD capability (Phase 2 and 3).
-“Project resources will resume Phase 2 definition work once the Phase 1 RFP is released for tender. The Phase 2 schedule will be further refined as part of industry engagements. The project cost range for Phases 2 and 3 combined remain within the $500M - 1B previously advertised. The sequencing of Phase 3 follows the same rationale as that for Phase 2 and therefore still being refined.”
In addition, the cost has increased. This time it is from $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
What remains to be seen is whether Carney’s new government will follow this strategy or change the procurement once again to bring to fruition his election promise.
WHAT ELSE DOES THE ARMY NEED?
Ongoing projects on the books include the “Tank life extension.” That aims to reset and improve the Canada’s Main Battle Tank fleet in order to meet future operating requirements and threats. The project will improve protection, improve Surveillance and Target Acquisition, improve Human Factors, improve Firepower (RWS, ammunition, potentially main armament) and improve Command, Control and Communications (C3) architecture.
The Army has a limited budget for this project of around $850 million.
If Carney is serious about defence he could boost that budget and move more quickly on outstanding Army procurement programs.
ADDITIONAL READING:
https://www.espritdecorps.ca/feature/canadian-forces-air-defence-procurement-moves-forward-dnd-says
https://www.espritdecorps.ca/feature/does-the-canadian-army-have-an-alternative-to-buying-himars
