Canada accelerates uncrewed aerial system procurement for NATO and Arctic forces
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.
The Canadian Department of National Defence has announced that it will purchase the C6A1 FLEX General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) from Colt Canada.
The purchase of 3,626 C6A1s will replace the current C6 machine gun which has been in service for more than 30 years and is reaching the end of its service life.
The system will be acquired under a $96.97 million contract, which includes related equipment such as a cleaning and repair kit, spare parts and sling to carry the weapon.
The acquisition supplements the 1,148 machine guns that were acquired in 2017, which feature a durable polymer butt stock instead of the current wooden style. The weapons allow soldiers to attach pointing devices and optical sighting systems to help increase operational and tactical effectiveness.
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.
New counter-drone technologies, autonomous launchers and manufacturing modernisation initiatives highlighted emerging opportunities for defence suppliers, while the UK advanced a major military vehicle procurement programme.
Non-US companies are increasingly looking to establish subsidiary and partnerships to access the potential billions of dollars of vehicle and land systems contracts and there has already been some success.
Pearson Engineering has provided equipment and engineering expertise to the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. The British company is now working to deepen engagement with the Ukrainian defence industry, expanding its support for the country’s population and laying the foundations for future technological innovation.
Rather than developing entirely new weapons, defence companies are looking to build on existing weapons and systems to deliver greater capability, control costs and accelerate fielding.
With a production rate of more than 10 million vehicles annually, the US commercial car and vehicle manufacturing base is second only to China. Defence companies are looking at how the vehicles, technology and manufacturing capability can support programmes.