Canadian Armed Forces hosting over 20 nations in counter-explosive threat training

News release

28 September, 2018 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The largest counter-explosive threat training ever to take place in Canada, Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER, is set to begin on Monday, October 1 and will continue until Friday, October 19 at Canadian Forces Base Borden and 4th Canadian Division Training Centre Meaford in Ontario.

The aim of the exercise is to refine skills needed to defeat explosive threats that could be faced during operations. This training aligns with Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada’s Defence Policy, which lays out a clear plan for modernizing the suite of improvised explosive device detection and defeat capabilities required to operate in the modern security environment.

Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER 2018 includes participation from various Canadian police agencies and other government departments, including Global Affairs Canada, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Peel Regional Police, the York Regional Police, the Niagara Regional Police, and the Sûreté du Québec.

The exercise has also drawn participants from over 20 nations, and observers from the United Nations and NATO, making it one of the most multinational exercises hosted by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

This year’s exercise will include a two-day scenario in the community of Meaford, Ontario, giving city preparedness officials, police agencies and first responders an opportunity to work with the CAF in a realistic training environment.

Additional multimedia

A soldier participates in Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER on October 24, 2017.
A soldier participates in Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER on October 24, 2017. The purpose of the exercise is to develop and sharpen the skills of Canadian Armed Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal / Improvised Explosive Device Disposal operators and counter- explosive threat enablers. Photo: Corporal Joey Beaudin, 19 Wing Imaging © 2017 DND-MDN Canada

Quotes

“Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER attracts so many nations and agencies, because it is one of only a few exercises in the world that provides detailed, realistic and comprehensive training in all aspects of the counter-explosive threat cycle, building and fostering skills applicable in a peace operation as much as on a battlefield.

The Canadian Armed Forces recognizes that the threat is ever-evolving and looks to the Joint Counter Explosive Threat Task Force to ensure that Canadian Armed Forces members are always sharpening their skills to remain one step ahead of the enemy, while ensuring they are ready and able to seamlessly interoperate with our Allies and partners regardless of the mission area.”

-  Colonel Steve Jourdain, Commander, Joint Counter Explosive Threat Task Force

Quick facts

  • This is the largest edition of Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER with over 20 nations participating in or observing the exercise.

  • For the first time in the history of the exercise, a unit from the Ukrainian Armed Forces is participating. 

  • This is the sixth iteration of Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER.

  • The Canadian Armed Forces Joint Counter Explosive Threat Task Force, which is responsible for the planning and coordination of Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER 2018, is the authority for enabling and synchronizing actions to defeat explosive threats on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Associated links

Contacts

Robert McKinnon
Communications Advisor
Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-867-7626
Email: Robert.McKinnon@Forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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