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Markets
Defence
Antonella Tomaro
Vice President, Defence, Montréal, Canada contact form
David Clark
Defense Global Market Lead, Bristol, United Kingdom contact form+44 1454 66 2498
By David Clark, AtkinsRéalis Global Head of Aerospace & Defence, and Antonella Tomaro, AtkinsRéalis Vice President - Defence, Canada
The last time an English Monarch opened Canada’s new parliament was in 1957 - a very different world. The Cold War was still in its early years, and today, according to the UK’s recent Strategic Defence Review, the global landscape is "more dangerous and volatile than at any time since."
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to King Charles III to open parliament in May reaffirmed Canadian sovereignty, reinforced historical ties between the two nations and symbolised new cooperation. It was quickly followed by a visit from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in June, during which both countries made renewed commitments to deepening defence and security collaboration.
Both nations are rethinking how they build and sustain defence capability. For its part, Canada is investing in sovereign readiness across all branches of the military covering its vast and often remote geography. Some capabilities will need building from scratch. However the final investments unfold, there is strategic opportunity for deeper Canada–UK defence collaboration to achieve this: not merely parallel ambition, but genuine partnership.
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Big ticket acquisitions
While both countries have pledged to build on their defence ties and a NATO-first stance at the core of their defence strategies, the Canada-UK relationship is already underpinned by tangible procurement (see table below), illustrating further potential strategically and operationally.
Canada’s procurements from the UK often involve big-ticket, strategic platforms, such as the River-class destroyers using BAE Systems’ Type 26 frigate design or Babcock’s maintenance expertise for the Victoria-class submarines. This reflects Canada’s need to import certain advanced capabilities due to limited domestic options, whereas the UK mostly imports to fill specific gaps or obtain incremental improvements.
Operating on the same or compatible systems enhances interoperability in joint missions. For example, Canadian ships will share common design features and potentially some systems with Royal Navy ships. Looking ahead, the UK is reportedly open to Canada joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a sixth-generation fighter initiative led by the UK, Italy, and Japan.
Partnerships, not dependency
Beneath the surface of these high-profile acquisitions lies a foundational layer sometimes overlooked in public discourse: infrastructure. From naval bases and airfields to digital command centers and energy systems, infrastructure is the invisible enabler that allows platforms to operate, forces to deploy, and missions to succeed.
Canada’s geography makes this even more critical. As its 2024 defence strategy notes, “We must be able to operate in the North, in all seasons, and in all conditions.” That means resilient, remote-ready infrastructure - designed for extreme weather, vast distances, and long-term sustainability.
The UK is investing heavily in infrastructure as part of its warfighting readiness agenda, including supporting its plans to build up to 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines driving demand for expanded shipbuilding, maintenance, and fuel infrastructure. Canada too is investing in its submarine fleet to strengthen deterrence and maritime control across its three coasts - an area where UK experience could offer valuable support from its submarine enterprise.
The role of advisory partners
This is where integrators bring unique value, connecting the dots between strategy, systems, and infrastructure. In both Canada and the UK, the complexity of modern defence demands multi-disciplinary partnerships. Whether designing remote-ready bases in the Arctic or integrating digital command systems into legacy platforms, integrators ensure that infrastructure is not merely constructed, but purpose-built to meet strategic needs.
Beyond technical delivery, integrators and advisory partners can play a vital role in navigating regulatory alignment between jurisdictions - accelerating procurement, reducing friction, and ensuring compliance across borders. For instance, the UK’s SSN-AUKUS program and Canada’s submarine modernisation both require infrastructure that is secure, scalable, and future-proof.
Additionally, delivery partners’ role is especially critical in aligning defence infrastructure with broader national goals, such as energy security, and regional economic and industrial development, particularly given the tariffed environment Canada finds itself in. In this way, partnerships between nations become force multipliers: enabling governments to deliver capabilities faster, more sustainably, and with greater strategic coherence.
A moment of opportunity
Canada and the UK are aligned not just in values, but in vision. As both nations invest in sovereign capability, infrastructure and integration will be the levers that determine speed, scale, and success. This is a moment of opportunity to move from transactional procurement to enduring partnership.
|
Examples of Canada-UK defence acquisitions |
||||
|
Acquisition & Equipment |
Year(s) |
Supplier (Country) |
Buyer (Service) |
Description |
|
River-class destroyers (Type-26 Frigates) |
2019 –Present |
BAE Systems (UK) and Lockheed Martin |
Royal Canadian Navy |
15 UK-designed advanced warships, built in Canada |
|
Sea Ceptor Air-Defence Missiles |
2021 |
MBDA (UK) |
Royal Canadian Navy |
Shipborne air-defence missile system for River-class frigates |
|
CH-149 Cormorant Helicopters (AWs101) |
2022 |
Leonardo (UK) |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Mid-life upgrade of 13 SAR helicopters + 3 new AW101 from UK |
|
Victoria class submarines maintenance |
2008 -2023 |
Babcock International (UK) |
Royal Canadian Navy |
Through-life maintenance of Canada’s four Victoria Class Submarines |
|
Colt C8 Carbines (L119 Rifles) |
2018 –Present |
Colt Canada (Canada) |
UK Special Forces |
Canadian-made C8 assault rifles adopted by UK elite units |
|
Batlskin Cobra Plus helmet |
2015 |
Revision Military (Canada) |
British Army |
Canadian-designed advanced head protection as standard issue |
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
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