# Canada Targets AI-Enabled Defence by 2030

Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are pursuing an AI-enabled defence agenda targeting 2030. Current applications include virtual- and augmented-reality Army training, while command and control is identified for early integration where data is ready. The agenda points to potential work in secure data analysis, operational decision support, maintenance, cyber and intelligence, but the signal identifies slow procurement and unclear routes from pilots to sustained operational deployment as barriers. No new solicitation or funding amount is announced; the cited $11.3 million IDEaS contract to Sapper Labs Group is historical.

- Canadian AI firms can assess how their capabilities fit the identified defence use cases, while recognizing that the signal does not identify an open procurement or award timeline.
- Procurement teams and prospective contractors should account for the stated challenge of moving successful pilots into sustained use; the source also emphasizes that AI capabilities require ongoing iteration, data access, updates and feedback.
- The historical IDEaS award provides a precedent for defence-funded AI-related work, but should not be treated as a current funding opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 01, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of National Defence (DND)
- Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
- Defence Investment Agency (DIA)
- Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

### Vendors
- Sapper Labs Group (awardee)
- Contextere ()
- Nextria ()
- Anvil Intelligence ()
- Zighra (prospective bidder)

### Key Quotes
> Accelerate the procurement process to expand the defence industrial base.
> — Gabe Batstone, CEO of Contextere

> AI is not a one-time purchase. It requires continuous iteration, access to data, rapid updates, and tight feedback loops.
> — Eric Kitchen, CEO of Nextria

### Sources
- [Code and Command: Canada's Race to AI-Enabled Defence](https://canadiandefencereview.com/code-and-command-canadas-race-to-ai-enabled-defence) - Canadian Defence Review