Vanguard Magazine

and greater freedom on future procure- ment choices. Calian is developing a C5ISRT interop- erability solution for military customers. Our solution will be a unifying capability to connect training systems, sensor data stream and command and control tools so they can share information and operate as one cohesive environment. This enables a shared operational picture, smoother coordination and the ability to adopt new technologies without disruption—and without reliance on any core proprietary technology. It strengthens interoperabil- ity, supports more realistic and integrated training and gives customers the freedom to evolve their capabilities without being locked into rigid architectures. This solu- tion will deliver the capability for opera- tional needs and training needs. Our ap- proach is to deliver a true "train as you will fight" capability for military customers. This architecture is being designed to let the Canadian Armed Forces integrate new C5ISRT capabilities rapidly, without wait- ing for a prime contractor to rewrite pro- prietary code. That means AI/ML tools, autonomous systems, advanced sensors and legacy, new and emerging platforms can work together within one cohesive environment. This is all delivered through agile, iterative development cycles that move capabilities from concept to real- ity faster. The result is a more responsive, adaptable force that can incorporate in- novation as it emerges rather than waiting years for integration pathways to be built. An open C5ISRT architecture also pro- vides opportunity for Canadian defence companies—especially small and medium businesses (SMBs). SMBs make up 92 per cent of firms in the defence industry and account for 40 per cent of sector em- ployment. An open architecture provides a more equitable playing field for SMBs, removing the burden of integrating with proprietary software. SMBs often struggle to break into the larger defence ecosystem because proprietary data standards present a barrier. Removing those barriers allows Canadian innovators to contribute more directly to national defence, strengthening the domestic industrial base and expand- ing the range of solutions available to the Canadian Armed Forces. In addition to an open C5ISRT archi- tecture, Calian is seeking to support SMB technology integration through our VEN- TURES initiative. Calian VENTURES will mobilize shared infrastructure and na- tional development labs to accelerate SME integration, co-develop new IP and ulti- mately strengthen Canada's defence indus- trial base. The strength of Canada's SMBs represents a comparative advantage for the Canadian defence industrial base and is a major driver of innovation. Calian VENTURES connects innovation to the military's needs and provides the ability for Canada to develop and retain www.vanguardcanada.com APRIL/MAY 2026 25 P E R S P E C T I V E Sponsored Content its own IP to support sovereignty and im- prove long-term affordability by reducing dependence on foreign entities. Through VENTURES, Calian is advancing this mis- sion through strategic partnerships with high-potential Canadian innovators such as Tessellate Robotics and TACTIQL. With Tessellate Robotics, Calian is help- ing accelerate the development of sov- ereign autonomous navigation systems designed for Canada's most challenging environments, including the Arctic and other GPS-denied regions. This collabo- ration integrates Calian's precision GNSS and resilient PNT technologies with Tes- sellate's advanced navigation and inspec- tion systems, enabling autonomous plat- forms to operate reliably in harsh terrain, low-visibility conditions and areas where satellite signals are disrupted. The partner- ship includes joint validation and field test- ing such as deployments during Operation Nanook to rapidly mature and scale these capabilities, strengthening Canada's ability to operate independently in strategically vi- tal Northern regions. Calian VENTURES is also partnering with TACTIQL to co-develop next-gen- eration ISR and decision-support capabili- ties tailored to modern military operations. This collaboration focuses on integrating TACTIQL's advanced situational aware- ness and mission management tools with Calian's defence technologies, enabling faster, more informed decision-making across distributed operations. By support- ing TACTIQL's growth and accelerating the transition of their innovations into defence applications, Calian is helping ex- pand Canada's sovereign digital operations ecosystem and ensuring that critical capa- bilities are developed, owned and sustained within Canada. Building a C5ISRT architecture gives the army and the joint force greater flexibility to give commanders and decision-makers what they need: integration of all sources of information to develop situational aware- ness faster, enabling decision-makers to see more of the operating environment in real time. Faster, informed decision-making is essential in the modern operating environ- ment, and Calian is leading the develop- ment of that capability. This is how Canada moves from an "unmilitary community" to enduring readiness. Learn how Calian is delivering sovereign C5ISRT architecture that makes a difference: www.calian.com/defence/c5isrt/ This architecture is being designed to let the Canadian Armed Forces integrate new C5ISRT capabilities rapidly, without waiting for a prime contractor to rewrite proprietary code. That means AI/ ML tools, autonomous systems, advanced sensors and legacy, new and emerging platforms can work together within one cohesive environment.

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