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Calian inks $50M in new defence contracts in Q1 amid ‘continued geopolitical instability’

February 7, 2025

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Calian Group says it has signed more than $50 million in new and renewed multi-year defence contracts in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as the Kanata-based firm pushes toward $1 billion in annual revenues. Calian says half of the nearly 30 new deals will provide operational readiness training, including a contract with NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre (JWC). Under the terms of the agreement with NATO, Calian will serve as the prime contractor, providing the majority of JWC’s critical defence training via military and civilian subject matter experts who will help JWC train NATO forces at the strategic and operational levels. Calian says its services will include “helping ensure forces can work together efficiently in a crisis” and “increasing the effectiveness and readiness” of NATO’s multinational forces. “The surge in global defence budgets underscores the demands of modern warfare and continued geopolitical instability,” Calian CEO Kevin Ford said in a statement. “As we look ahead, Calian recognizes our militaries need trusted, dependable partners to deliver mission-critical solutions. With capabilities that support personnel readiness, equipment reliability and secure, scalable operations, our goal is to ensure military forces are operation-ready so they can perform optimally in the most demanding, high-stakes environments.” The new contract signings come as Calian is aggressively trying to grow its defence business. In late January, the firm announced it hired former Maj.-Gen. Roch Pelletier to fill the new role of regional vice-president of global defence and security. The graduate of Royal Military College, who retired last year after 36 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, will be responsible for finding new customers and strengthening Calian’s existing business relationships in the defence sector. Calian said increased global military spending, geopolitical instability and the rising demand for advanced technologies have led to significant growth in its defence-related business lines. A diversified company that builds products ranging from satellite components to cybersecurity software, Calian earned revenue of $747 million for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024, up 13 per cent from the previous year. The firm has set a goal of reaching $1 billion in annual revenues by 2026. Late last year, Calian said it plans to create an independent U.S.-based subsidiary to generate more government and defence business south of the border as it continues to expand its geographic footprint through ongoing acquisitions in the United States and Europe. Calian’s shares were up 51 cents to $49.12 in mid-afternoon trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. That’s well off their 12-month high of $61.24 set nearly a year ago, but the firm’s shares have risen about two per cent since the start of 2025.