CDR Top 100 Canadian Defence Companies 2026

In this issue we present Canada’s Top 100 Defence Companies, the 22nd iteration of our defence industry survey and ranking. And, again this year, we’re pleased to say some new blood has been added to the mix. As always, some companies have moved up the chart, and some have moved down but the good news is that this year, more than ever before, we had a plethora of great candidates to choose from

GROWING CANADA’S DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL BASE

By Peter Kitchen, Editor-in-Chief

Canada achieved a significant milestone recently when it reached its defence spending target of 2% of GDP and, as PM Carney has indicated, the goal is to eventually reach 5% sometime after 2030. Having been a keen observer of Canadian defence initiatives over a number of decades, I find this newfound desire to properly equip Canada’s military extremely refreshing – especially after having witnessed Canada’s military being given short shrift numerous times.

READ: Canada Achieves NATO 2% Target, Invests $3 Billion in Halifax Infrastructure

However, I do agree with Vice-Admiral (ret’d) Mark Norman, who, in the DEFENCE INSIDER column in this issue, says we must guard against being fixated on buying “things” as opposed to “capabilities”. Afterall, it’s one thing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying fighter aircraft and submarines, but it’s another thing to have the trained personnel to effectively operate and maintain this sophisticated equipment.

And now that Canada is moving forward with increased defence spending, we feel it is critical that the government ensures Canadian industry benefits foundationally as well. In other words, the goal should be to have Canadian companies participate in major defence projects in a much bigger way and eventually even prime those programs rather than simply being involved in an ancillary way, as too often has been the case in the past.

Alan Williams is a former ADM MAT at DND and he’s written books on Canada’s defence procurement system. In this issue, he tells CDR Senior Staff Writer, Joetey Attariwala, that with regard to the Future Fighter program, Canada is not at all getting the industrial benefit out of the F-35 purchase that a multi-billion-dollar acquisition warrants.

For Williams’ full take on F-35 and why he thinks Saab’s Gripen fighter aircraft may offer a better deal for Canada, we urge you to read CDR NEXT QUESTION in this issue.

Check out CDR’s 2026 rankings here

CDR TOP 100 canadian defence companies

Speaking of Canadian defence and aerospace companies, with our annual survey and ranking of Canadian defence companies, it has always been our goal to shine the spotlight on what home-grown defence companies have to offer.

In this issue we present Canada’s Top 100 Defence Companies, the 22nd iteration of our defence industry survey and ranking. And, again this year, we’re pleased to say some new blood has been added to the mix. As always, some companies have moved up the chart, and some have moved down but the good news is that this year, more than ever before, we had a plethora of great candidates to choose from.

https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/0e7ea36d#/0e7ea36d/19GDLS-C WINS TOP SPOT

This year’s top company is a previous winner of the coveted #1 spot and it’s a regular denizen of the Top 10. As you’ll read in the profile in this issue, prepared by James Careless, CDR’s Ottawa Bureau Chief, General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada is not only an important supplier to Canada’s military, but it also builds and exports military vehicles to several allied nations.

READ: CDR NAMES GDLS-CANADA TOP DEFENCE COMPANY FOR 2026

For five decades GDLS-Canada, based in London, Ontario, has distinguished itself as a world-leading manufacturer of armoured combat vehicles.

CDR would like to congratulate Dave Haggerty, GDLS-Canada’s Vice President and General Manager and his team for consistently providing critically important equipment to Canada’s military. The company employs approximately 1,700 people, and as you’ll read, it has become the cornerstone of Canada’s sovereign defence industrial base.

CDR readers will be aware that the company’s flagship LAV 6.0 platform is the backbone of the CAF’s wheeled combat fleet. For a deep dive on GDLS-C, CDR’s #1 Defence Company for 2026, please read our profile on the company in this issue.

HANWHA COMMITS TO CANADA

The formation of Hanwha Defence Canada marks a consequential moment in this country’s evolving defence industrial landscape and as you’ll read in this issue’s Cover Story, prepared by Senior Staff Writer, Joetey Attariwala, MD , this national entity has been purposely created to anchor Hanwha’s long-term commitment to Canada’s defence, security, and industrial ecosystem.

For CPSP (the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project) Hanwha is proposing its KSS-III submarine and for a deep dive on the Hanwha bid for CPSP and more, please read our Cover Story in this issue.