Mr. Mike Greenley
reports
MDA SPACE AWARDED CONTRACT WITH CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE TO DELIVER GROUND-BASED OPTICAL CAPABILITY FOR SPACE SURVEILLANCE
MDA Space Ltd. has been contracted by Canada's Defence Investment Agency (DIA) to deliver three ground-based optical (GBO) observatories as part of the Surveillance of Space 2 space domain awareness program to the Department of National Defence (DND). Valued at approximately $32-million, as part of the contract, MDA Space will also operate and provide in-service support to ensure long-term sustainment of the ground stations.
The DND is modernizing Canada's continental defence capabilities to address new and emerging threats to critical space infrastructure. Once delivered, the new GBO observatories will provide additional defence capabilities to Canada's existing Sapphire satellite, which currently enables the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to detect, track, characterize and monitor objects in deep space.
Through this contract, by 2028, MDA Space will establish three remotely operated GBO observatories in Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick. These observatories will provide persistent, reliable space surveillance from the ground and are an important component of Canada's broader space surveillance architecture.
Quotes
"As space becomes more contested, congested and competitive, persistent surveillance and space domain awareness provides the Canadian Armed Forces and trusted allies with a better understanding of what is happening in a complex environment they can't otherwise see. With decades of proven expertise providing defence and security, MDA Space is honoured to once again be selected as a trusted mission partner to Canada and to the Department of National Defence,"
stated Mike Greenley, chief executive officer, MDA Space.
"Canada's security depends on the space-based systems that enable everything from communications and navigation to weather forecasting and emergency response. Today's contract award to MDA Space will deliver the capabilities the Canadian Armed Forces need while growing Canada's world-class space sector and creating good-paying jobs. With the Defence Investment Agency and our defence industrial strategy, we are streamlining procurements and building the sovereign capabilities that will ensure Canada remains a leader in this crucial domain,"
stated Hon. Stephen Fuhr,
Secretary of State (Defence Procurement).
About MDA Space
Ltd.
Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space is a trusted mission partner to the global defence and space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-plus-year story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The global MDA Space team of more than 4,000 space experts has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission -- bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that has been in the company's DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, MDA Space will take you there.
We seek Safe Harbor.
© 2026 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.