Future Force Design

Description

Develop and design the future force through a deep understanding of the future operating environment and security risks to Canada and Canadian interests. Enhance Defence’s ability to identify, prevent, adapt, and respond to a wide range of contingencies through collaborative innovation networks and advanced research.

Results

The future security environment presents a vast array of complex defence and security challenges that transcend national borders. To keep pace with our allies and potential adversaries, it is imperative that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) prioritizes efforts to design our future force.

In FY 2022-23, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF continued to support the ongoing implementation of Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE): Canada's Defence Policy through effective innovation. Highlights from FY 2022-23 include:

• DND/CAF continued to invest in experimentation and exercises to demonstrate various technologies and to facilitate the transition of these technologies;
  • 2 PPCLI Exercise FRIGID KAPYONG 2023 (Ex FK 23): Collected injury data for those involved in genomics study;
  • Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT) Air Operation Survival – Arctic Aircrew (AOS-AA 2201 and 2202): Attended and collected data on CFSSAT ;
  • Exercise GUERRIER NORDIQUE 2023 (Ex GN 23) - Data collected and analyzed; and
  • Operation NANOOK -NUNALIVUT 2023 (Op NA-NK 23) - Data collected and analyzed.

The department engaged with key allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and France, to increase cooperation. Initial engagements with the Republic of Korea were also undertaken and a new Memorandum of Understanding signed to allow collaborative activities. A promising dialogue with Japan was also initiated. As cooperation is defined DND/CAF will support Continental Defence as well as shape its involvement with Indo-Pacific partners. DND/CAF has also led international discussions to shape the climate security Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem and cooperative work with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies. In Canada stronger cooperation governance has been established with the National Research Council Memorandum of Understanding which is leading towards Research and Development (R&D) activities. The department has also led strategic engagements with allies, industry, Other Government Departments (OGD) and academia on targeted areas such as quantum, cyber, Artificial Intelligence, climate change and security, as well as space research through a specialized workshop series, speaking engagements, the use of specialized partnership vehicles with universities (Royal Military Colleges of Canada), and the stand-up of the Cyber Security Innovation Network program.

Industry during CANSEC 2022, Canada’s largest Global Defence and Security Trade Show, sponsored by Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries. DND and CAF held an external stakeholder engagement session in November 2022 to communicate its program of work. DND/CAF has actively developed a pan-Canadian outreach program to universities, businesses and Centres of Excellence on quantum through specialized jointly funded collaboration efforts with National Resources Canada. Additionally, on Climate and Security DND/CAF has led NATO’s Collaborative Program of Work in mobilizing 16 countries and their respective academic institutions and industries.

Over five years, starting in FY 2021-22, significant investments have been and will be made to support the research and development aspects of North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) modernization. The initial investments of which have laid the groundwork for North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) future through the exploration of cutting-edge technologies that can deter, detect and defend against evolving threats to the continent. More specifically, investments have been made in the following areas:

• Applied research on system-of-systems solutions for NORAD modernization. DND/CAF has competed initial siting analyses needed to generate requirements for and progress the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR), Polar OTHR, and Crossbow programs;
• Research and demonstration of next generation digital high-resolution space-based radar;
• Research in defence against hypersonic and missile threats; and
• Research and development for space Low-Earth Orbit architectures.

Many procurements and other associated Research and Development (R&D) activities were started during the FY 2022-23. Successful trials with long range underwater autonomous vehicles for Maritime surveillance continued to progress.

Moreover, in January 2023, the Government confirmed that Canada will procure 88 F-35 advanced fighter aircraft. These capabilities are central to enhancing the CAF’s domain awareness, mobility, and reach in the Arctic.

Through collaborative work with NATO, DND/CAF has developed wargaming technologies and experiments that allowed assessing force design concepts for intermediate force capability that would enable below lethal force military response in hybrid grey zone conflict (where “hybrid” is defined as using means such as information operations, cyber-attacks, economic pressure, deployment of irregular and regular forces and “grey zone is defined as below the threshold of armed conflict).

To enable the modernization of operational sustainment and strengthen linkages between Institutional Sustainment and Operations Support, DND/CAF developed an Operational Sustainment Modernization Strategy. The strategy introduces three common pillars within the Sustainment Enterprise: Institutional Sustainment, Operational Sustainment and Operational Support. Operational Sustainment is focused on the sustain function in the CAF Joint Force Development, Force Management, and strategic sustainment. The strategy provides a common framework that will be leveraged to modernize the CAF’s joint enabling capabilities: Joint Logistics, Health Services, Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Communications Information Systems, Military Police, and Joint General Support Engineers. The first tranche of the Operational Sustainment Modernization Strategy focuses on Joint Logistics modernization, which closely aligns with several ongoing DND/CAF enterprise modernization initiatives, such as DefenceX.

The CAF Digital Campaign Plan was developed and published in June 2022 outlining the imperatives and objectives for its digital transformation. A digitally transformed CAF will be interoperable with our allies and partners, and capable to operate in a digital world. Implementation of CAF digital transformation was executed through the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff’s Directive for CAF Digital Transformation (31 May 2023) which directed tasks to affected DND/CAF organizations and established key timings and dates for activities directly associated with advancing the CAF from digitally “aware” to “enabled” by 2025.

Assessments of the long-term future operating environment help to determine the likely characteristics of future conflict, warfare, and warfighting. Future operating environment analysis accounts for both adversary and allied considerations. These assessments help to maintain a measure against which Canada must pace military capability development. To keep pace with our allies, outpace our potential adversaries, while ensuring that NORAD and NATO commitments are met, it is imperative that the CAF force development and design processes are optimized for the most efficient and effective use of national resources.

DND/CAF force development and design activities have continued with the implementation of SSE. These force development and design activities and processes included foresight and concept development, the Joint-level Capability Based Planning Process, intra-departmental alignment, and validation through different governance bodies such as the Defence Capability Board and the Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisition, and the publication of core documents, in particular the Capability Based Planning Final Report and the Force Capability Plan. The Strategic Experimentation Account ensured central linkages to functional and service-level experimentation were maintained, and force structure analysis contributed to the optimization of CAF personnel resources and organizational structure.

With new capabilities comes the need for employees with special skill sets. The Cyber Operator military occupation was created and initial occupation training is at steady state. Focus continued to be placed on the development of specialty courses and career progression to mature the operator trade. Launched 2 years ago, a study to review the feasibility of a Cyber Officer occupation continued in FY 2022-23 with the completion still anticipated for FY 2024-25.

DND/CAF also continued to utilize its human resources processes to provide a flexible and integrated cyber force of both military and public service personnel. In addition to the Cyber Operator occupation development, specific positional investments were planned for FY 2022-23 as part of the ongoing personnel build strategy that was allocated to positional pressures in SSE initiative 88 (Active Cyber Operations) and intelligence in support of cyber operations. Taken together, the continued refinement and maturation of the cyber forces in the aspects of attraction, recruitment, training, and career growth assured a pan-DND/CAF sustainable capability to meet the SSE requirements.

Further, the Defence Team continued the development of Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) via the CAF Joint Operations Fusion Lab. Located at the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, the Joint Operations Fusion Lab provides a venue for operational research and analysis, testing, modeling, simulation, trials, and experimentation to deliver modern operational solutions to complex problems. Enabling integration and knowledge sharing, the lab will support the evolution and interoperability of new concepts and technologies within the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance context, with the goal of eventually serving as the test bed for the National Defence Intelligence Operations Centre.

To more seamlessly operate and share information at the strategic, operational and tactical level with key allies and partners, DND continued the modernization and strengthening of its interoperability capabilities. Investment of time, personnel and funding supported this effort and included:

• Enhancements and expansion of the NATO SECRET Wide Area Network;
• Investment in the NATO Federated Mission Networking framework;
• Coordination with NATO and its Communications and Information Agency on the Alliance Federation of Services effort; and
• A Canadian expansion of its Battlefield Information, Collection, and Exploitation System.

With the passage and coming into force of the Communications Security Establishment Act and the creation of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, new opportunities for collaboration within the Government of Canada are now available. The CAF continued to develop flexible, integrated cyber forces in partnership with other Government of Canada stakeholders and in support of Government of Canada and DND/CAF objectives.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

As capabilities development is modernized in traditional domains and as new domains are added, intersectional gender perspectives will be critical to the development of effective in-spectrum and cross spectrum success. Early efforts have been in included in Defence policy such as the Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) program, Defence innovation such as the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program and in capability-based planning and development cycles. In FY 2022-23, MINDS and IDEaS programs continued to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in day-to-day activities, decisions and partnerships choices. The MINDS and IDEaS application and evaluation processes include GBA Plus requirements and point-rated criterion.

More information on GBA Plus can be found in the “GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table” in the Supplementary Information Tables section of this report.

United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Defence has committed to contribute its expertise to progress advance the recently announced development of the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE) in partnership with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) (discussed above).

Specifically, in FY 2022-23, the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program (IDEaS Program) continued to work with Canadian innovators on the following challenges in support of United Nations SDGs:

• Goal 6 Water and Waste –“Pop-up City: Integrating energy, water and waste management systems for deployed camps”. Launched under the Contest element, it aims to develop solutions to support the CAF’s relocatable temporary camps which are deployed in national and international operations. three innovators, including Terragon Environmental Technologies Inc., Research Corporation and SNC-Lavalin Integrated Utility Management System, were selected as the winners of Round three and the recipients of $1.5 million contribution agreements to finalize the development of their prototypes throughout FY 2022-23. This contest is now entering its final Round, with prototypes to be tested by DND/CAF in FY 2023-24;
• Goal 7 Clean Energy – “A Cold Wind Blows: Seeking Smaller, Ruggedized Wind Turbines for the Arctic”. Launched under the Competitive Projects element, it seeks to address a DND need for ruggedized wind turbines for the Arctic, to reduce the reliance on diesel fuel-generated power. In FY 2022-23, projects led by the University of British Columbia and Eocycle Technologies Inc, were selected to receive an additional $1 million in funding at the Component 1B stage, in order to further advance their solutions throughout FY 2023-24;
• Goal 9 Infrastructure and Innovation – “Green Heat: Low carbon energy generation for heating existing buildings”. Launched under the Test Drive element, the objective of this challenge is to acquire, install, and operate a large-scale low-carbon energy generation and storage system for heating an existing building. In FY 2022-23, a test building was selected at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Kingston, Ontario, where Black & McDonald began the design phase to install and operate their solution, with a complete cost of $7.5 million over three years. This will assess the effectiveness and costs of such a technology for the modernization of and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions efforts for the entire DND infrastructure portfolio, thus contributing to the Government of Canada’s mandate that its building and facilities operations be carbon neutral by 2050;
• Goal 13 Climate Action – “Less GHG emission on the Seas: Practical Solutions to Measure and Record Energy Consumption”. Launched under the Competitive Projects element, it seeks innovative solutions to accurately measure fuel and load energy consumption and GHG emission data across the RCN fleet. At the beginning of FY 2022-23, four innovators were awarded contracts at the initial Component 1a stage (valued at $900,000), to begin work on their proposed solutions. In addition, Land to Sea with low GHGs: Arctic eco-safe transit of personnel and cargo from ship to shore was launched in November 2022, focusing on solutions that can enable the safe transit of personnel and cargo from Arctic/Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV) in the absence of shore infrastructure, with an emphasis on minimizing GHG emissions; and
• Goal 14 Life Below Water – “Under the sea: Real-time detection of marine mammals during sonar operations”. Launched under the Competitive Projects element, it seeks innovative solutions that can provide situational awareness of marine mammal presence to minimize the risk of harm from naval operations. In FY 2022-23, 10 innovators were awarded contracts at the initial Component 1a stage (valued at $2.3 million total), to begin work on their proposed solutions.

Innovation

The IDEaS program has built DND/CAF capacity to support experimentation in a new and different manner. The program was designed to complement the DND internal research programs expertise towards solving defence and security challenges and will provide $1.6 billion in financial and human resources over a 20-year period. IDEaS foster creativity and ingenuity in Canada by bringing together networks of experts, providing support and opportunities to innovators and by facilitating the integration and adoption of new capabilities for the CAF and public safety and security communities.

To date, the IDEaS program has initiated four unique Test Drives, with the following 3 projects having transitioned from the Competitive Projects stream:

1. Sapper Labs was awarded a Test Drive contract valued at $7.5 million for their Canadian Active Cyber Defence Platform solution capable of identifying the perpetrators of sophisticated cyber threats. Installation, configuration, and training was completed in December 2022, with the CAF now reviewing the results of these efforts.
2. Ecopia was awarded a Test Drive contract valued at $5.8 million for their Map Engine solution. In FY 2022-23, the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command commenced its first phase of testing their technology; to detect, recognize, identify and track objects of interest using AI and machine learning.
3. Terra Sense Analytics Ltd was awarded a Test Drive contract valued at $8.9 million for their Multimodal Input Surveillance & Tracking (MIST) technology in May 2022. MIST is an integrated hardware and software AI solution that detects, tracks, and identifies multiple objects, person and events of interest across multiple sensors. Training and testing is planned for FY 2023-24.

Departmental Result 4.1 – Defence capabilities are designed to meet future threats

In FY 2022-23, the Defence Team undertook considerable work to advance the government-mandated review of Canada’s defence Policy. Led by ADM (Policy), the department conducted an in-depth analysis of the current global security environment and its implications for Canada’s defence policy, which also included consultation with partners and allies. The findings of this strategic analysis were disseminated in an Interim Report in 2022, which highlighted that increased global competition and volatility from major power competitors including Russia and China demanded increased investment in high-intensity capabilities and high-readiness at Defence. On the basis of these findings, the Defence Team identified the requirements to address these new emerging challenges.

In early 2023, ADM (Policy) also undertook a broad public consultation that involved Canadians, industry, international allies and partners, parliamentarians, defence experts, academia, and gender experts. To complement these targeted discussions, an online consultation portal was opened to the Canadian public between March and April 2023. Over 1500 submissions were received from across the country covering a wide range of defence and security issues, all of which were taken into account as part of the policy development process.

In response to an increasingly complex security environment iteration of force development processes is critical to ensure DND can deliver relevant and resilient armed forces. To this end, DND/CAF has approved and released Force Capability Plan (FCP) 2023, which describes the requirements of a relevant future force aligned with our current policy, concepts, and future operating environment. In addition to identifying capability gaps the FCP informs the implementation activities being undertaken by the CAF, which could result in identifying areas where further investment can be amended. During this reporting period the Concept for the Future Force was signed and disseminated, which describes necessary adjustments to the oversight and execution of our force development processes. Work has also commenced on the Future Warfighting Concept, which will better align future force development efforts with a vision of how the future CAF will operate.

DND continued to invest in experimentation and exercises to demonstrate various technologies and to facilitate the transition to the Canadian Armed Forces. DND has participated in several exercises that showcased Canadian unique capabilities included Air Operations Survival - Arctic Aircrew and Operation NANOOK.

The Canadian Army (CA) continued to advance capability development work on several projects and capabilities. The Joint Fires Modernization Project and Night Vision Systems Modernization projects both successfully entered the Definition phase in accordance with the Departmental Program and Submissions Work Plan. Additionally, three Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) projects were injected into the program, which necessitated the re-prioritization of resources to move these initiatives from Identification through to Definition. The Portable Anti-Tank UOR, Air Defence UOR, and Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems UORs were prioritized to support operations in Europe. The Land Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Modernization, Light Utility Vehicle and Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement projects were delayed because of affordability and costing data issues, and remain in Options Analysis, but are expected to progress into Definition in FY 2023-24.

The RCAF Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) continued to be an important vector to modernize and renew its Aircrew Training system. Once operational, it is expected to revamp training for all RCAF Pilots, Air Combat Systems Officers, and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators through the delivery of a single performance based contracted training program. Engagement with the qualified suppliers revealed the need to further clarify the scope of the program prior to releasing the request for proposal. The pandemic, Canada’s internal approval processes and the qualified suppliers’ ability to finalize their bids resulted in delaying the planned contract award date from FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25.

Under the auspices of the Cyber Mission Assurance Program, the Department worked to integrate cyber resiliency in all aspects of Defence, including people, processes and technology. For FY 2022-23, the department focused on developing and implementing Cyber Mission Assurance policies, governance and risk management processes, and enhancing cyber resiliency education, training and knowledge across DND/CAF. During FY 2022-23, the Defence Team continued its work to ensure that cyber operations were grounded in policy and supporting doctrine. The department actively contributed to whole-of-government efforts related to cyber. Key activities in FY 2022-23 include:

• Enhanced the ability of the CAF to defend DND/CAF systems and networks through the strengthening of relationships with key Government of Canada stakeholders such as the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security;
• Conducted and supported, with Communications Security Establishment, joint cyber operations in support of CAF military objectives;
• Participated in several cyber training activities to develop our cyber defence capabilities, such as NORAD’s Exercise VIGILANT SHIELD and NATO’s COALITION WARRIOR interoperability exercise, to develop cyber defence capabilities; and
• Contributing to whole-of-government efforts related to developing or enhancing cyber-related policies and workforce/skills development.

DND/CAF Information Technology infrastructure is a key requirement to supporting critical services and delivering efficient and effective Cyber Operator training and support to cyber training exercises. The Collaborative Security Test Environment (CSTE) is an interim solution for the CAF's cyber immersive training environment. This Project (Cyber Operations Training Ecosystem) is awaiting project approval. The department has used this time to invest into CSTE through minor projects and opportunity funding to increase the capabilities offered through this synthetic training environment.

The DND and CAF Quantum Science and Technology Strategy Implementation Plan, known as Quantum 2030, was published on Canada.ca in March 2023. It provides a roadmap to ensure DND/CAF is better prepared for the disruptive potential of quantum technologies for defence and security over the next seven years.

In FY 2022-23, IDEaS continued to support innovative work across several cyber-related challenges by funding projects that will provide CAF access to the most current and relevant solutions in this domain. Key challenges include:

• Understanding Cyber Intent (Competitive Projects) - DND/CAF require the means to differentiate between targeted malicious and broad and opportunistic cyber-attacks in order to triage and prioritize cyber responses;
• Detecting and Responding to Hostile Information Activities (Competitive Projects) - The DND/CAF require the means to rapidly identify, assess and respond to adversaries’ use of social media, mass communications and other tools that are being used to influence targeted audiences;
• Staying Four Steps Ahead: Understanding and predicting the behaviour of adversaries (Competitive Projects) - The DND/CAF are looking for innovative solutions to support Activity-Based Intelligence in order to assist analysts to understand and predict the behaviour and movement of entities in real time;
• Remaining Vigilant: Identifying cyber dependencies, vulnerabilities and threats (Competitive Projects) - The DND/CAF are looking for solutions to support mission-oriented cyber security and defence in order to develop robust continuity plans for cyber assets and capabilities;
• Wireless is Where it’s at: Secure and seamless wireless network onboard ships (Competitive Projects) - The DND/CAF are seeking innovative solutions to enable robust and secure digital communication with the large and increasing number of wireless sensors and systems throughout RCN warships to allow assured tracking, monitoring, updating, automation, and operation in a wide variety of operational scenarios;
• We Sea You: Digital tracking and accounting on navy vessels (Competitive Projects) - The DND/CAF are seeking innovative solutions that provide the ability to rapidly account for the location and identity of personnel, as well as the ability to enhance and simplify the current processes associated with permissions and authorizations for a range of routine activities and tasks inside ships; and
• Faster, Stronger, More Secure: Advancing 5G Capabilities and Concepts for Defence and Security (Innovation Networks) - In response to the rapid development and deployment of commercial 5G technologies, the DND/CAF are seeking to stimulate the application of advances in technologies for 5G and beyond to defence and security problems.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a primary focus for networking with other countries, Canada’s Artificial Intelligence national ecosystem, and business interests. Specific countries of high interest for collaboration include: Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Singapore. DND/CAF continues to collaborate with the Business Development Bank of Canada and the IDEaS program to hold the first-ever industry-academic-government workshop addressing AI application to defence of North America research questions. Additionally, collaboration efforts with the United Kingdom on quantum research include work on Position, Navigation and Timing related to magnetometry, and gravimetry.

Results achieved

The following table shows, for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, the results achieved, the performance indicators, the targets and the target dates for FY 2022–23, and the actual results for the three most recent fiscal years for which actual results are available.

Departmental result	Performance indicators	Target	Date to achieve target	2020–21 Actual results	2021–22 Actual results	2022-23 Actual results
4.1 Defence capabilities are designed to meet future threats	Extent to which the Future Security Environment assessment remains valid	1 or 2 on a 3 point rating scale	31 March 2023	2	2	1Footnote *
	Degree to which future security assessments and capability deductions remain coherent with those of our allies and partners	1 or 2 on a 3 point rating scale	31 March 2023	2	2	1Footnote *
	Degree to which future capabilities required to ensure an operational advantage over defence and security threats have been accounted for in defence plans	1 or 2 on a 3 point rating scale	31 March 2023	2	2	2Footnote **

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Departmental Result 4.2 – Defence and security challenges are addressed through innovative solutions

In FY 2022-23, the IDEaS program continued to cultivate its program by transforming concepts, options and prototypes into DND/CAF capabilities. Utilizing investments through the IDEaS program, DND spawned an innovation ecosystem creating new strategic opportunities for DND/CAF. In FY 2022-23, the following calls were launched:

• The Sandbox element gives Innovators the opportunity to demonstrate their solutions in the presence of National Defence experts/users and receive observational feedback. From 7 September to 12 October 2022, IDEaS held the "Rise, Detect, Defeat: Countering Uncrewed Aerial Systems" (CUAS) Sandbox in Suffield, Alberta. The exercise featured 12 companies, 3 test lanes comprising 48 square kilometers, 509 drone flight sorties, 34 military/police/scientific expert observers and sixty-seven visitors from ten countries. The CUAS 2022 yielded a wealth of knowledge from both innovator and DND/CAF perspectives, covering: the state of the art and the possible in CUAS; the specifics of multiple performance parameters; and the remaining areas of technical challenge. Due to the success of IDEaS Sandbox for the "Rise, Detect, Defeat: Countering Uncrewed Aerial Systems" (CUAS) 2022, and the rapidly evolving nature of the security threat and technology solutions in this challenge space, IDEaS will be conducting a third CUAS Sandbox in 2024;
• The Test Drive element gives Innovators the opportunity to have their advanced solutions tested in a real-world environment, with new projects set to be awarded contracts later this year. For instance, DND awarded Terra Sense Analytics Ltd a Test Drive contract valued at $8.9 million for their MIST technology in May 2022. MIST is an integrated hardware and software AI solution that detects, tracks, and identifies multiple objects, person and events of interest across multiple sensors. Training and testing is planned for FY 2023-24; and
• The program has also concluded 12 projects (valued at $10.3 million total) developed across four COVID-19 challenges, covering areas such as personal protective equipment, sanitization, disease-tracking technology, fast tests and diagnostics, which will be showcased to DND and CAF in FY 2023-24. Also notable, in January 2023, Envision SQ Inc.'s GermStopSQ solution, a surface disinfectant with staying power, was approved by Health Canada for commercial uses.

DND/CAF has engaged industry and academia through several IDEaS Competitive Challenges that support NORAD mission priorities including: Human Autonomy Teaming for effective decision making; Sub-zero Infrastructure, Security and Sensors; Fused Picture of Continental Surveillance; and Proactive Deterrence. These projects in FY 2022-23 that have a direct NORAD link and/or have been supported by DND/CAF personnel at NORAD. DND/CAF has further engaged with industry from across North America through the Science and Technology Research and Development Innovation Symposium hosted by NORAD. The symposium is the annual event that aims at promoting global integration; reducing redundant technology investments; decreasing development of National, Service and regionally specific capability, and increasing technology integration, experimentation, and demonstration opportunities.

Defence S&T worked toward developing and providing sustainable energy solutions for Arctic infrastructure assets and operations and included:

• Tactical Hybrid Power System for Camp operations: DND evaluated modelling of camp power systems and generator costs as a function of fuel cost and deployment duration for each deployed camp;
• Arctic Experiment Energy audit evaluation summary: Recommendations identifying a significant fuel savings of 54 percent;
• A request for proposal for a hybrid microgrid system prototype to reduce diesel dependency and greenhouse gases (GHGs); and
• Energy audit evaluations on a North Warning Site highlighting various energy conservation measures, as well as the use of renewable energy power systems toward developing sustainable energy solutions for Arctic infrastructure assets and operations.

In collaboration with and in support of the United States’ Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology – DND/CAF Joint Strategic Plan the North Star Initiative was launched which is an integrated program of work in the areas of resiliency, border security and situational awareness and information sharing in the Arctic.

DND concluded its chairship of the five Research and Development Council, a Five Eyes forum that shares, collaborates, and coordinates public safety and security research and development, with a biennial meeting at the High Commission of Canada in London, United Kingdom, in June 2022. Discussions on domains such as Violent Extremism, Child Exploitation, Counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Technology Foresight and Biodefence took place. This contributed to strengthening international partnerships and provided advice to inform domestic decision makers in both policy and operations.

DND deployed a team of scientists as part of the international evaluators to the Quadrilateral Group on Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Counter-Terrorism biennial full scale operational Capability Exercise in Salisbury, United Kingdom, in June 2022 that resulted in Chemical, Biological, and Radiological responders completing a number of exercise scenarios designed around shared threats, in order to identify areas for cooperative development, future research and to benefit from international peer-review.

In FY 2022-23, DND’s Canadian Safety and Security Program , a joint undertaking with Public Safety Canada, ran a competitive call for proposals around the theme of Enhancing Resiliency in a Post-Pandemic World, resulting in nineteen projects being funded at a total of $16.8 million, across topics related to: preparing for High-Impact, Low-Frequency events; innovating contactless, virtual and automated operations; and, supply chain resilience.

Due to changing mandates, the Innovation Exchange Network ceased to exist in FY 2022-23. However, the department continued to promote innovation and experimentation. It progressed data analytics initiatives and implemented advanced automated processes. These efforts allowed access to real-time data insights. They also enhanced client-centric user interfaces. Examples include a departmental dashboard that highlights the Enterprise Information Technology Service Management (EITSM) service standards and results. A forecasting tool was developed to predict Defence spending throughout the year. This ensures greater financial stewardship. A natural language, bilingual chatbot was created to answer military dress code questions through digital means.

In December 2022, it established a new organization for Digital Transformation. Its mandate includes advancing the use and management of data and information, automated decision-making, and business transformation. It also includes accelerating a client-centric digital workplace.

Results achieved

The following table shows, for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, the results achieved, the performance indicators, the targets and target dates for FY 2022–23, and the actual results for the three most recent fiscal years for which actual results are available.

Departmental results	Performance indicators	Target	Date to achieve target	2020–21 Actual results	2021–22 Actual results	2022-23 Actual results
4.2 Defence and security challenges are addressed through innovative solutions	% of initiatives and projects that are supported by Defence Science and Technology	At least 90%	31 March 2023	46.09%	50.78%	Results not availableFootnote *
	% of Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) projects that resulted in useful advice, adoption, integration or eventual procurement of a new defence and security capability	At least 20%	31 March 2023	77.8%	78%	79%

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)

The following table shows, for Future Force Design, budgetary spending for FY 2022–23, as well as actual spending for that year.

2022–23 Main Estimates	2022–23 Planned spending	2022–23 Total authorities available for use	2022–23 Actual spending (authorities used)	2022–23 Difference (actual spending minus planned spending)
820,654,966	820,654,966	888,627,391	835,360,142	14,705,176

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Human resources (full-time equivalents)

The following table shows, in full-time equivalents, the human resources the department needed to fulfill this core responsibility for FY 2022–23.

2022–23 Planned full-time equivalents	2022–23 Actual full-time equivalents	2022–23 Difference (actual full-time equivalents minus planned full-time equivalents)
1,944	2,064	120

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.