49North Logo. Photo: CNW Group/MDA Space

Canadian satellite manufacturer MDA Space launched 49North on Thursday, a new subsidiary exclusively for defense services. The new company will provide command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) integration, sensing and radar technologies, autonomous systems, and secure digital mission systems.

“By bringing together proven defense and mission-critical systems expertise developed within MDA Space under a dedicated organization, 49North enhances domestic industrial capacity and investment, and delivers the disciplined execution required to support Canada’s sovereignty, security, and trusted allied partnerships,” MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley said.

MDA Space named Joe Armstrong as 49North’s first president. He leaves behind his private consultancy and his role as senior partner at public affairs consulting firm Prospectus Associates. For eight years, he was a vice president at CAE, a Québecois aerospace company.

The company will build on MDA Space’s experience as a prime contractor and defense supplier which has included sustainment of the Kingston Class Mine Warfare System, CP-140 imaging radar systems, mini-UAV platforms, and submarine training systems for the Canadian Armed Forces.

The announcement follows a series of large defense contracts for MDA. In December, Canada’s Defense Investment Agency military satellite network for communications in the Arctic. In January, it was named to the indefinite contract from the United States’ Missile Defense Agency to support its Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program.

MDA Space also develops technology for civil space missions like Canadarm, a robotic arm used on the International Space Station, and operates the RADARSAT-2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite.

This month, Bloomberg reported MDA Space was seeking new international hires to meet demand for expanding Canadian space and defense programs. Greenley told Bloomberg that the company is benefiting from increased defense demand from allied European countries.