Canada is expanding its military space capabilities through new investments in rocket launch infrastructure, satellite technology, and specialized personnel roles, the federal government announced Wednesday. Defence Minister David McGuinty outlined the plans at the SpaceBound conference held at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, emphasizing the importance of developing sovereign space capabilities to strengthen national defence and encourage industry investment.
As part of the initiative, the government has secured a 10-year, $20-million agreement with NordSpace Corp., headquartered in Markham, Ontario. This contract grants the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) access to the Atlantic Spaceport Complex located in Newfoundland and Labrador for launches, as well as research and development activities. The agreement follows a similar decade-long partnership with Maritime Launch Services Inc., based in Canso, Nova Scotia, which was announced in March.
McGuinty stressed that improving independent launch capacity will enable Canada to replace damaged or compromised space systems on its own schedule. “The war in Ukraine has demonstrated modern militaries’ deep dependence on space,” he said, noting how satellite technology has been crucial for communication, navigation, and situational awareness in that conflict. “Canada cannot afford to depend on capabilities that we can’t access, that we can’t protect, or that we can’t replace when we need them most.”
In support of indigenous satellite communication development, Ottawa has allocated $17.9 million through its Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program. Toronto-based Kepler Communications Inc. has already received $4.7 million to advance its Kepler Network project, a satellite constellation focused on providing connectivity to Canada’s remote and Northern regions. The funding will help Kepler refine laser-based communication links that enable satellites to exchange data quickly and reliably in space.
Alongside technological investments, the Canadian Armed Forces are introducing new roles to enhance personnel expertise in space operations. The Royal Canadian Air Force has created a Space Mission Operator occupation, with the first cohort of 25 trainees scheduled to begin later this year and public recruitment expected to start by late 2027. The CAF is also in the process of developing a Space Warfare Officer position, although further details on these roles remain limited.
Over the past year, the government has signed over $3 billion in contracts supporting its four core space priorities: monitoring and surveillance, space domain awareness, secure satellite communications, and sovereign space launch capability. Notable agreements include a $2.3-billion contract with Telesat Corp. to deliver high-speed, secure military connectivity in the Arctic, a $688-million deal with MDA Space Ltd. to develop a radar satellite focused on Northern surveillance, and a $105-million, three-year investment in the Launch the North program aimed at cultivating domestic rocket-launch technology.
While traditional defence assets such as personnel, vehicles, and aircraft remain critical, McGuinty highlighted that increasingly vital capabilities operate hundreds of kilometres above Earth’s surface. Through these measures, Canada seeks to ensure it maintains control over crucial space-based systems integral to national security and operational effectiveness.