The Canadian government has signed a slew of new contracts as it looks to boost its capabilities in Earth Observation (EO). It has signed three contracts, valued at C$2.4 million ($1.7 million) in total, awarded to Calian, Kepler and MDA Space. These contracts will support the development of concepts for the systems used to control Canada’s new generation of EO satellites and manage their data on Earth. This funding complements the funding announced late last year for the satellite infrastructure in orbit. The Canadian Space Agency revealed details of these contracts, June 11.
These contracts are part of the Government of Canada’s $1.012 billion, 15‑year investment, announced in October 2023, to support current and future satellite EO needs. In December 2025, the Canadian Space Agency awarded three contracts to Canadian companies C-CORE, Kepler and MDA Space to develop concept studies for the space segment of Canada’s next-generation satellite system.
Together, these investments underscore the growing importance of space as not only a strategic national asset, but also one of Canada’s sovereign capabilities under Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy. Strengthening Canada’s sovereign satellite capabilities will aim to help safeguard Canada’s security, enhance resilience and protect its national interests.
“Canada has long-standing expertise in radar satellite technology. By building on this strong foundation and the ingenuity of Canada’s space sector, we are exploring innovative approaches to help ensure Canadians maintain access to the essential satellite data and services they rely on every day,” Lisa Campbell, President, Canadian Space Agency, said in a statement.
