Defence Policy – Strong, Secure, Engaged
Summary
Canada’s defence policy − Strong, Secure, Engaged − is focused on meeting the needs of military members and their families, including making significant investments to ensure Canada’s defence challenges are met, now and in the future.
Strong, Secure, Engaged maintains the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as an agile, multi-purpose, combat-ready force to ensure that Canada is strong domestically, an active partner within North America, and engaged internationally.
The policy also includes a new approach to defence – Anticipate, Adapt, Act – which acknowledges the need to better understand conflict, and ensures that Canada’s military is modern, relevant, and can act decisively in the face of evolving challenges.
Context
Canada’s defence policy − Strong, Secure, Engaged − outlines Canadian defence priorities over a twenty-year horizon, including increasing the size of the CAF, affirming Canada’s commitment to its alliances and partnerships, and investing to ensure CAF members have the tools they need to succeed in – and return home safely from – operations.
The roles and missions for the military, as well as the corresponding levels of funding and resources, are founded in the defence policy’s review of the global security environment. This review confirmed three trends:
- The evolving balance of power is characterized by a return to major power rivalry in the international scene and challenges to the rules-based international order;
- The nature of conflict and its drivers are becoming increasingly complex. For example, the increasing use of hybrid tactics (e.g. the coordinated use of diplomatic, cyber, military and economic tools to achieve strategic goals) by state and non-state actors alike, such as terrorist organizations, is blurring the lines between conflict and peace; and
- Technology continues to evolve rapidly, requiring Canada to keep pace to continue to cooperate seamlessly with allies and maintain an edge over adversaries.
Considerations
Ongoing areas of defence policy implementation include:
Reinvesting in people and their families: the CAF will increase its personnel by 3,500 Regular Force (to 71,500 total) and 1,500 Reserve Force members (to a total of 30,000) as well as 1,150 defence civilians. Key personnel initiatives include: 200 new Medical Services Branch personnel; and new funding to enhance support for military families. A focus on increasing diversity and gender balance are common throughout new initiatives to better care for and support people.
Status Update: To date, 188 positions of the planned 200 Medical Personnel planned growth have been approved, to be filled in the upcoming recruitment process. With respect to the care of those CAF members transitioning to civilian life, 72 of the planned 168 positions have been filled as part of a multi-year rollout plan supporting the CAF Transition Group.
Rebuilding core military capability: the policy commits to maintaining a full spectrum, combat ready force, which includes the recapitalization of core fleets of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force. Of particular note, the Air Force will acquire 88 new fighter jets and Navy will be provided with the necessary funds for the full complement of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants.
Status Update: DND is making significant progress on the 342 funded capital projects under Strong, Secure, Engaged. As of February 2021, 116 (or 34%) projects have successfully concluded, and another 132 (or 39%) are in the implementation stage. In particular, major fleet renewal projects are proceeding apace. For example, while there have been delays resulting from feedback from Qualified Suppliers as well as from the COVID-19 pandemic, in July 2020, the department received Proposals from the three eligible suppliers for the Future Fighter Capability Project, and the evaluations are ongoing. In regards to the Canadian Surface Combatant, the project is currently in the preliminary design phase, with construction expected to begin in 2023/2024 and initial operational capability now expected in the early 2030s.
Investing in new capabilities: the CAF must be adaptable, modern and relevant to succeed in the future security environment. To this end, Strong, Secure, Engaged invests in a number of new capability areas, including space (e.g., global satellite communications coverage), cyber (e.g., growing the cyber force and developing offensive cyber capabilities for use in government authorized missions), and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
Status Update: The department is moving forward on delivering new capabilities to ensure that the CAF can act decisively in today’s rapidly evolving security environment. For example, the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems project was released in November 2020 and the formal release of the official RFP is anticipated late this spring. While currently on schedule, based on lessons-learned and ongoing COVID-19 related challenges, the project may face delays in future steps, which may require revised timelines.
Focusing on transparency: The ongoing need for transparency was at the core of the defence policy development process and remains a critical aspect of how the department showcases its implementation efforts.
Status Update: The first-ever public Investment Plan was released in 2018, followed by the first Annual Update in 2019. After a pause on the publication of the annual update in 2020 due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, another update to the public Investment Plan is planned for 2021. These documents provide more insight into spending priorities so that the public better understands how DND uses public funds and industry can position itself to better support requirements.
Advancing innovation: Strong, Secure, Engaged invests in the development of innovative technology and knowledge, in order to enhance Canada’s ability to mitigate new threats, stay ahead of potential adversaries, and meet evolving defence and security needs.
Status Update: Two programs have been launched: the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) and the Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) programs. IDEaS supports the development of innovative solutions to defence and security challenges faced by DND/CAF. All of the Program components are now active, and the transitioning process of new capabilities to DND/CAF has already begun. The Canadian innovation community has been responding very favorably to this new program. A new classified stream of IDEaS is being designed. MINDS is providing access to evidence-based research and collaboration between the Defence Team and the defence and security expert community. It is assisting DND/CAF in responding to key defence and security policy challenges in areas such as: national resilience, continental defence; great power competition; understanding emerging domains and technology; addressing hateful conduct; and eliminating sexual misconduct.
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