Conference of Defence Associations Institute

Canada's Drone Capability Gap

This episode of the CDA Institute’s Expert Series brings together perspectives from academia, the Canadian Armed Forces, and industry to examine how drones and uncrewed systems are reshaping modern warfare and Canada’s defence posture. Dr. Alexander Salt (Canadian Global Affairs Institute), Lieutenant Colonel Cory Durant (DLR 2, Director of Land Requirements, Canadian Armed Forces) Katheron Intson (CEO, Sentinel R&D), and Bibi Imre (Lund University, and Centre for International and Defence Studies) discuss Canada’s current and emerging drone and uncrewed systems landscape, focusing first on the country’s limited operational capabilities, which are largely restricted to small tactical UAVs like Raven B and Blackjack and select naval uncrewed platforms. They then examine how the war in Ukraine has reshaped thinking on modern warfare by highlighting the need for mass-produced drones, rapid adaptation to electronic warfare, and tighter integration between frontline feedback and industry development cycles. They also discuss the industrial and technical requirements for future capability, including scalable domestic production, resilient supply chains, and the integration of AI, cloud computing, and advanced data systems to manage large volumes of battlefield information, and the tension between technological acceleration and Canada’s institutional, ethical, and procurement constraints. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnFxVHgyeHhVbXVYZ3QySFN3TkQxWElxei1tQXxBQ3Jtc0ttMHZaX0Z5a1dnYmhfcFJ4VWxITGh4dVdjU3daMXhKZHNrbzRBcl9ad0plZFNyQUtNem9Ed1NtNGxlZGJEM0VUMWZrX3l2Z08wbHdvRUhsR1RmbUt6WHJzWVJZdXhtejhmNTJhT1ROQ2Y1RVNpcjY2aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FCDAInstitute&v=E_bwBL7-GQg] ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazN2UmRuOGZqVjMwRzVjRjFhdmVNV0ZGLWZCd3xBQ3Jtc0ttRHdpc0wzZlB2bHJaNnQxMndQWHd3M0lYYnpsM0Q4V3VMeE5NaFJrdVVDU0dDSG5rSS1kRmo3V24zUE5iczhVRHYwOEZNTXVseGdiMnVKdkE4SjlibHNlMm1GVG9wQ2NlcGlDNWZJREFIQTlDLTZDaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fcdainstitute..&v=E_bwBL7-GQg]. ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnN4SGNMNTNZMHhtTG1NdzU1R2dYMVI1dXZFUXxBQ3Jtc0tuT3ZTYnNPTkg1MU8xMzVFbkVyU1d3UVhwQWxpQjBlZlJ3c05jSEJwM3NvWmw1V1B0R09GMVNCb2V5RS1VLUxLemk2dmlNT0J3ZGFtem5uNGJCX2EwTHl6WWdacGJfLVVVYXJ1UlpURlloMUl0T2ZNSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F42ih7SU&v=E_bwBL7-GQg] 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkNEMUpENkhlaG00RkMwVVNkV1licWZnQ0llQXxBQ3Jtc0tsOUZkdVA3QzVWX2kyWW0zekwyT2Z0am5PNURpeDBfUmtYZG91UkxINWl5TzVLUzZNMkZEUG9iTms0Rnh3aHZTT3NFb21fUk9oemVVb2JsVlFycG4zZjBBZXNnb2t1VHc5czZCOVY1S21LbmlTN1dHNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4fQ2wDV&v=E_bwBL7-GQg] The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute [https://cdainstitute.ca/]

What a Mixed Fighter Fleet Would Mean for Canada

This week there are reports that Canada is revisiting the possibility of acquiring a mixed fleet of fighter aircraft, including F-35s and Saab Gripens. The debate comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the reliability of U.S. security commitments in Europe, NATO force planning, and the strategic need to balance continental defence with international obligations. In this episode of the Expert Series, Dr. Justin Massie and Richard Shimooka examine the strategic, operational, and industrial implications of a mixed fighter fleet and what it could mean for Canada’s defence posture both at home and abroad. They discuss the role of fighter aircraft in NORAD and NATO missions, the challenges of integrating multiple platforms into existing command-and-control structures, and the extent to which political considerations may be influencing procurement decisions. The episode also explores the tension between Canada’s push for strategic autonomy in Europe and the enduring realities of geography, interoperability, and coordination with the United States. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbktNOG80M3VCcF9xUzVEM2xpd0xoeXdxUHVqQXxBQ3Jtc0ttUWw2UmwtV0s2Zy1DSV9COWIwcEJ6VHI0Szctd1pZaHliVTNuMFE2Z0ZvVDlpeTZOWkdMTDJ0MjMxbGFMRkpnNFBFeGxxLWZaUF9hUzFCc1hsUWJ3ZjlBNlBsY0NRUTEtNnd2RDVFQTIwbndma3lycw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FCDAInstitute&v=S-eEZdpCCNw] ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnlCVVlVVHJ2YkdORHZXazVQeWFsd09jRHljZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsN3NubGlxd1poYUVPaEtLbWYtbDV1dmFYVUlGa09kX3l5NE1Icm9SdWNGVVRMTWFnUzVDNlZ4LUdBdUFudWNMLWJLbHRFVEVSZmVSTkxCZDZkSzRYMmU0bmRyWkd3U2g4LThWSzR2WFg4UnpIdmdVWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fcdainstitute..&v=S-eEZdpCCNw]. ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHNfdzdySHp0Y1lqeEVka2RzTUJnVkRGMG9EQXxBQ3Jtc0tsM0MxbVZEd29NeWp6V3hxTldTTHNPS1owT2Exb3EtYjVQSWhlc3FTYXJ6dW0yM0RXUlhIUjV0T041WTdKOXlOUEFMLS14c0U5X2dscklGUDRkTVlLeGhMVmcwUjdUdDRPb1gzOXgxZEpIUi1maFBnSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F42ih7SU&v=S-eEZdpCCNw] 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnJjU1lCSVpRbzR3bUhTQWNydEc2RldYTVhOd3xBQ3Jtc0tucVd2N1VWQ1JxR3BaUFlWU0RmWUF6RjVnVnp1QWhrakdMQW10d2g4QlE0aFZvRTVSa2p0RlM2WUhHWEJBdXpGdjNrN0MwTWRHTVJhYjQ2NFR2ZzVlTk9FWllDbmpPYTgyWTNiN1V3YTZ3TlpGV3Jkcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4fQ2wDV&v=S-eEZdpCCNw] The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: https://cdainstitute.ca/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazN5UTk3SlktSldSc1hhVHFrSndZdzJYUEkwQXxBQ3Jtc0tud3JJd1NUcmkwYzl5c1lTc2h0c2J2b1g2UF9GQ1hXVnpGdXdpRE9MSW1PZ1ZmNnp3NXU2UTRVWEpVSWNsMU9vNjAtMm9pbUUwb2N6em5yeVZOVnlBYXJhY01iZUFFRUNKSVZXOEtjUjU2NEI4SlFRYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcdainstitute.ca%2F&v=S-eEZdpCCNw] The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute [https://cdainstitute.ca/]

Why Canada is Buying a Swedish Surveillance Aircraft Over U.S. Bids

This week, Canada formally entered negotiations with Saab to purchase the GlobalEye airborne early warning system. The announcement comes amid growing political tensions between Ottawa and Washington, a review of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program, and broader efforts by the government to diversify Canada’s defence partnerships beyond the United States. In this episode of the Expert Series, MGen (Ret'd) Colin Keiver examines the strategic, operational, and industrial implications of Canada’s potential GlobalEye purchase and what it could mean for the future of continental defence cooperation. He discusses the role airborne early warning aircraft play in NORAD and Arctic surveillance, the operational differences between Saab’s GlobalEye and competing American systems such as Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail, and the extent to which political considerations may be influencing procurement decisions. The episode also explores the tension between Canada’s push to diversify defence relationships and the enduring realities of geography, interoperability, and integration with the United States. Keiver argues that while deeper partnerships with European allies may strengthen Canadian industrial capacity and resilience, effective continental defence will continue to depend on close military and technological coordination with Washington. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHBRVzNzYWtGelBudnlJWWtSbmlwbEZjaTJPd3xBQ3Jtc0trZnU5UjdIMEE2MkF6Umd6MkhZZEwxd3VaMG9wMjJESV91X0JZbzVmNHNYV0V6NmdkdFRZWVJIdWwwcjVHaFlxYjQ3LUFNSVlIT0NXWkdrZHBzQlZBZmNUYWtwSEI1RTN1am5TT2czVi1VMFV4cjg3dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fcdainstitute%2F&v=4Ti7RGGig34] ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG5hV09Na1VweFQ4WDFEOGFxM0pvWHY1V2trZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttX1pMVlFnNmZQWVdVQ1RzdmFwMk1TeUoteXpyRGpSOGRjUENCRUJvTFZkQlpVN251azE4N1dpSU9MeDdsWExsV3U1R19wMVAxb2RaUDdSRk9WUVcybDktRVNhSUszNmoyVmFhQzVpRDRwd2JyRWl4SQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FCDAInstitute&v=4Ti7RGGig34] ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbldRdmU3dkx4MTR2UUMybktQVUcwdmo5cEtHd3xBQ3Jtc0tuNE5PSHJfU2RpWGtjaXJCWWFCalpkYjJ3ZHJXT1UxUk1iSGFDazNsd2s4S3FzeElFMkRVLWhzYllCYWcyZWE2dkF2R0QxdDlSR3FZZUtPN1ZhQXVrdlY3OV9MTWhzM1JqMXJSOFU2VGpPMTJza2ZvZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fcdainstitute..&v=4Ti7RGGig34]. ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkdtU3lJaFVFdTZsNGpZTTdrRXUyYnhqSGhiQXxBQ3Jtc0tuQTVaeEN3Tlpnazl1UENtUzg5Sk9idG5pYmhzTWpJMG40OEY2TC1LT2E2YTNIUGdFdHZudk9COVM0TTNlWTNUUFU5TGRHSUJzUHV5Z0dLRlhBSW1GYmI3eXVNakhUYWpwbkE2cW9HWFRGX2R2YzBUYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F42ih7SU&v=4Ti7RGGig34] 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblhHT0pfWWhrbFE3bmZUUWJiUGtTUzQ1eHZtZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttME9JbGFyXy1hc01OMnFYM1BsOFJSOG1SektNOWdZbllNYmdFaXhrcF82eVZtVEtacWxLTW9zSHVmaWxubVNiRWhvTHdWZTB4aDhEci1vMm12V1RZVVhIdlRCdE4xcGVkTUFRUHJSYXdvWGxPOTlIWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4fQ2wDV&v=4Ti7RGGig34] The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute [https://cdainstitute.ca/]

The Suspension of the Canada-U.S. Defence Board: What it Means for Trust and Defence Cooperation

The Permanent Joint Board on Defence (PJBD), a long-standing but low-profile mechanism for Canada–U.S. defence coordination, has recently been suspended, raising questions about the state of institutional dialogue underpinning North American security cooperation. While operational channels such as NORAD remain in place, the pause in this advisory forum has prompted broader reflection on how Canada and the United States manage strategic coordination and trust. On this week’s episode of the Expert Series, Dr. Chris Sands examines the suspension of the PJBD and what it signals for Canada–U.S. defence relations at a time of growing political strain and evolving security priorities. He discusses the role of institutional mechanisms in shaping Canada–U.S. defence cooperation beyond day-to-day military operations, and how forums like the PJBD have historically supported alignment on emerging threats and capability planning. The episode also explores the implications of the suspension for bilateral trust and predictability, and considers whether increasingly transactional approaches risk weakening the informal and institutional foundations of continental defence cooperation. ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cdainstitute/ ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute [https://cdainstitute.ca/]

Will Expanded Defence Investment Agency Powers Streamline Procurement?

The Liberal government plans to significantly expand the newly created Defence Investment Agency (DIA), giving it broader authority beyond standard military procurement and a wider role that could touch other areas of the economy. These plans were outlined in a ways and means motion in the House of Commons and formalized in May 2026 through the Defence Investment Agency Act, part of the Budget 2025 Implementation Act No. 2. The Act establishes the DIA as a stand-alone entity led by a dedicated minister and CEO, amends the Defence Production Act to broaden its scope, and grants the agency powers to streamline procurement, support domestic industry, and enhance national security. On this week’s Expert Series, Jody Thomas, former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister and former Deputy Minister of Defence; Troy Crosby, former Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at the Department of National Defence; and Dr. Philippe Lagassé, Barton Chair at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, examined the DIA’s proposed expansion, ministerial oversight, and legislative updates, discussing whether these changes could drive meaningful procurement reform and shift a long-standing culture of overcautiousness. ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cdainstitute/ ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute [https://cdainstitute.ca/]