Hawkesbury-based Tulmar Safety Systems has secured a multi-year contract to supply thousands of high-tech tactical life jackets to the Royal British Navy in a deal that promises to bring jobs to the region.
“We kind of knew this was coming, but you never know until it’s finally done,” said Patrick Tallon, CEO of Tulmar. “So we’re pretty excited about this opportunity. The British navy has chosen the Galeo as a product to protect the men and women working in these very dangerous roles. That’s an incredible honour for us.”
The contract, valued at approximately $24 million over five years, will see Tulmar supply 8,000 Galeo tactical life preservers, which are designed for use by civil and military maritime personnel operating in high-risk environments.
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While Tulmar has already sold the life jackets to the Canadian Armed Forces, this marks its largest international deal for the life preservers and could pave the way for further NATO contracts. Tallon said there have already been inquiries from three other NATO navies.
“We’ve spent years refining this product based on extensive feedback from military operators,” Tallon said. “Our collaboration with the Canadian Forces has helped us develop what we believe to be the safest tactical life jacket available on the market today.”
To meet the contract, Tulmar is scaling up production at its Hawkesbury facility and increasing its workforce. “We’re ramping up production immediately to fulfill this contract while continuing to support the Canadian Armed Forces and other international partners,” Tallon said.
The expansion is supported by the province’s Eastern Ontario Development Fund.
The deal comes as the Canadian defence sector faces potential economic headwinds as the possibility of U.S. tariffs looms large.
While only about 10 per cent of Tulmar’s revenue currently comes from U.S. contracts, Tallon acknowledged that any reduction in American business could be a blow.
However, Tulmar’s growing international presence, particularly in Europe, helps offset the risks. The U.K. contract serves as a strategic hedge against the unpredictability of U.S.-Canada trade relations, Tallon added.
“We’re fortunate that there are no tariffs when selling to the U.K. and other European nations,” Tallon said. “Expanding in NATO markets allows us to avoid the volatility that comes with U.S. trade policies.”
Despite the uncertainty, Tulmar is exploring ways to continue serving the U.S. defence market, including partnerships with American companies or acquisitions that would allow for domestic production.
