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09 Apr 26. Congo (DRC): Negotiations are highly unlikely to produce lasting agreement, sustaining conflict risks. Between 13 and 17 April, the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are scheduled to conduct renewed ceasefire talks in Switzerland, brokered by Qatar. The two sides have previously signed three non-binding agreements delineating eight protocols; however, six of these eight protocols require additional negotiation over their implementation. Other contentious provisions, including the fate of M23-occupied territory in North and South Kivu provinces, remain unaddressed. We assess that the upcoming negotiations are highly unlikely to produce a credible agreement and are likely to protract through 2026. Neither side is currently willing to compromise on their maximalist negotiating positions, with the M23 satisfied with entrenching their control over the Kivus and the Congolese government offering limited concessions. Furthermore, both sides continue to escalate their military activity in eastern DRC, including by bolstering their manpower and aerial capabilities in anticipation of conflict protraction. This is highly likely to sustain risks of attacks, clashes and sexual violence for staff based within, and in provinces adjacent to, North and South Kivu in the coming weeks.(Source: Sibylline)
09 Apr 26. Myanmar: Military-dominated cabinet shows continued junta influence; sanctions will likely remain. Earlier on 9 April, Myanmar’s parliament approved the 30-person list of cabinet members nominated by the newly selected president, Min Aung Hlaing. The confirmed ministers are predominantly drawn from the previous regime and/or military figures. Min Aung Hlaing, the junta chief since the 2021 coup, was confirmed as president earlier in April after stepping down as head of the armed forces, having occupied various other roles before that. He will almost certainly continue to be the most influential figure within Myanmar despite the nominal transition to a civilian government after the first general election held since the coup concluded in January. The ongoing dominance of the military will sustain a multitude of risks that characterise the operating environment in Myanmar, especially as several armed resistance groups have suffered notable setbacks in recent months. These risks include consistent economic mismanagement and the disproportionate allocation of resources to military use. Additionally, while the government will seek greater international acceptance, this is unlikely to be forthcoming, with ties to China remaining key. Consequently, the various sanctions imposed by Western countries (including on many cabinet members) will likely remain for the foreseeable future. (Source: Sibylline)
08 Apr 26. India to acquire more air defense systems and drones for modern warfare
New Delhi’s recent military acquisition approvals reflect a record surge in defense spending.
India has approved a massive $25 billion military modernization package that includes procuring new air-defense missile systems from Russia as well as remotely piloted strike platforms and transport aircraft.
The recent approvals represent a push to strengthen the country’s air defensive and offensive capabilities to bolster its preparedness for new-age warfare in which air power is taking center stage, according to analysts. New Delhi faces adversaries China and Pakistan along its northern and western borders. Its long frontier with Myanmar on the country’s eastern flank is also unstable.
The decision to acquire five additional S-400 Triumf air defense systems from Russia is among the key approvals by the Defense Acquisition Council headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. These will be on top of five S-400’s India ordered in 2018 — three are deployed along its northern and western borders, while two are scheduled to be delivered this year.
The ten systems will eventually become the linchpin of India’s long range air defense. The additional platforms aim to plug coverage gaps when they are fully deployed.
The approval for the S-400’s comes nearly a year after the system, which can engage aerial threats including aircraft, drones and cruise missiles at extended ranges, played a crucial role during the brief India-Pakistan conflict last year, reinforcing confidence in its capabilities. Missile strikes and drones were extensively deployed during the four day hostilities.
“The S-400’s have proven their worth by intercepting aerial threats and bringing down some of the missiles fired by Islamabad, so now India knows it works well,” said Dinakar Peri, a fellow in the Security Studies program at Carnegie India. “By getting more of these systems, India will widen the perimeter of its air defense.”
Meanwhile, India’s decision to buy 60 more remotely piloted strike aircraft to strengthen its offensive capabilities signals the growing emphasis on unmanned operations in warfare, say experts. Undertaking strikes without putting pilots at risk, they have played a key role during recent conflicts.
“There is a fundamental shift in warfare. While you have your frontline platforms such as bombers and submarines, you also need to factor in the huge part played by drones in battlefield tactics,” said Peri. “That is the lesson military planners have learned from recent conflicts. In fact the Russia-Ukraine war in a sense prepared India for its own conflict with Pakistan last year – it demonstrated the importance of drones and air defenses.”
The defense ministry said in a statement that the approvals are intended to strengthen both offensive and defensive air capabilities. “The S-400 system will counter enemy long-range air vectors targeting vital areas, while remotely piloted strike aircraft will enable offensive counter and coordinated air operations, along with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles.”
India recently signed a $47 million contract for procurement of the Tunguska air defense missile system from Russia to fill a gap in short-range air defense. These aim to protect ground forces from low-altitude threats such as helicopters, drones and cruise missiles.
A chunk of the new funding package will be directed towards acquiring 60 new multirole transport aircraft that will replace the country’s aging fleet. From high mountains to strategic islands that lie far away from the mainland, Indian troops are deployed across a varied geography. The likely contenders for these could be Brazil’s Embraer, US-based Lockheed Martin and Russia’s Ilyushin aircraft, according to media reports.
Experts say the recent budget approvals demonstrate that despite Russia’s share of Indian defense imports declining, as New Delhi also begins to buy equipment from countries like France, Israel and the United States, Moscow remains a key supplier of military equipment.
“There are several reasons for this. For one, Russian equipment is relatively cheaper and it is very hardy. You can operate it anywhere from the minus temperatures in the mountains to hot deserts,” said Rahul Bedi, a defense analyst in New Delhi. “Also, the Indian military is very familiar with Russian equipment.”
The recent $25 billion military acquisition approvals reflect a record surge in defense spending, coming six weeks after India also cleared the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets estimated to be worth around $40 billion.
While many of the planned acquisitions were pending for years, the new emphasis on air power in conflicts has injected a sense of urgency amid intensifying global uncertainties.
“There is a marked reluctance on part of countries to put boots on the ground, and fight land wars. Although this is inescapable to some extent, the tendency is to avoid that to the extent possible, so that is where air warfare becomes important,” according to Amit Cowshish, a former financial adviser for acquisition for India’s Defence Ministry.
Although India is the world’s fifth-largest military spender and second-largest arms importer after Ukraine, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, modernizing its armed forces still represents a challenge. (Source: Defense News)
02 Apr 26. Canada continues to face a rapidly evolving global security environment, requiring sustained and strategic investment to strengthen national defence, protect Canadians, assert sovereignty, and support Allies and partners.
Over the last year, the Government of Canada has moved at unprecedented speed and scale to deliver on its plan to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces. As a result, Canada has delivered on a core objective of its plan – achieving the NATO 2% defence spending target this year, half a decade ahead of schedule. Beyond enhancing military readiness, Canada’s historic defence investment is generating significant economic benefits — driving innovation, growing the defence industrial base, and creating long-term prosperity for Canadians.
Today at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, reinforced the Government of Canada’s commitment to defence investments that are generating economic activity while strengthening the foundations of long-term defence capabilities.
Meeting 2% is not an end point – it is the beginning of a sustained, whole-of-government effort to rebuild the Canadian Armed Forces, restore operational readiness, and deliver the warfighting capabilities required to deter threats, defend Canada, and contribute to the defence of North America and international security. Over the next decade, Canada will deliver half a trillion dollars in defence investment, putting the country on a clear path toward meeting the new NATO Defence Investment Pledge of 5% of GDP by 2035. This sustained investment will also generate significant economic benefits for Canadians — driving innovation, growing the domestic defence industrial base.
Through Prairies Economic Development Canada’s Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII), the Government of Canada is investing $379.2 million towards a three-year national initiative to help accelerate the integration of businesses, focusing on small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and regional ecosystems, into defence supply chains and strengthen their industrial innovation capacity in support of Canada’s defence and security needs. In Alberta, these investments will build downstream economic benefits on top of the over 12,000 jobs and $1.15 billion in investment already directly supported by the presence of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces in the province.
The Government of Canada will advance this long‑term investment plan to strengthen defence and security, supporting a Defence Team that remains prepared, resilient, and reliable in an increasingly complex world.
Quotes
“As Canada rebuilds, rearms, and reinvests in the Canadian Armed Forces to support our women and men in uniform and keep Canadian safe, we are also creating new opportunities for workers and businesses across the country. By investing in domestic defence industrial capacity through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative, Canada’s new government is helping ensure that provinces like Alberta can build on its strengths, contribute to Canada’s defence capacity, and share in the economic benefits of this work.”
–The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
“This investment gives the Canadian Armed Forces the modern capabilities they need to operate effectively in today’s complex security environment. It strengthens readiness, supports our people and their families, and drives economic growth through Canadian industry. It’s a clear signal that Canada stands ready to defend our nation and contribute meaningfully to NATO.”
–The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
Quick Facts
- Approximately $63 billion in 2025–26 was spent on defence across the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Coast Guard, and other government departments. These investments deliver tangible progress across personnel, infrastructure, equipment, and operational priorities.
- Increasing investments in core military capabilities, building up Canadian industry, and dual-use investments are putting Canada on a pathway to meet the new North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defence Investment Pledge to invest five percent of gross domestic product by 2035.
- The Canadian defence industry contributes nearly $10 billion to the gross domestic product and supports over 81,000 jobs.
- The RDII is a three-year national program delivered by Canada’s seven Regional Development Agencies that aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy, advancing Canada’s ability to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in its military while strengthening supply chains, readiness, and international partnerships.
- PrairiesCan continues to accept RDII applications from eligible businesses and organizations operating across the Prairie provinces. (Source: PR Newswire)
13 Mar 26. Defence Investment Agency Seeks Input from Canadian Industry on Future Submarine Fleet Sustainment. The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) aims to procure up to 12 conventionally powered, under-ice capable submarines, marking a strategic shift toward a “sovereign sustainment” model managed by the new Defence Investment Agency (DIA). The DIA intends to expedite procurement, aiming for the first new vessel to reach the Royal Canadian Navy by 2035 to replace the aging Victoria-class fleet. This approach seeks to overcome historical procurement delays and address the urgent requirement for patrolling Canada’s vast coastlines and the Arctic. The procurement process is accelerated, with a strategic focus on two primary international contenders—Germany/Norway’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd.—following a 2025 down-select aimed at securing a final supplier by 2026. A critical, mandatory component of the program is that all in-service support, including high-tech maintenance and software, must be performed in Canada. The recent Request for Information (RFI) underscores that while the design may be foreign, the long-term sustainment of the vessels must remain under domestic control. Positioned as a generational investment, the CPSP is designed to align with Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) by fostering a resilient domestic supply chain and creating high-skilled jobs across the country. The initiative aims to integrate national security requirements with economic development, reducing reliance on foreign maintenance facilities for critical assets. By anchoring long-term, predictable demand within Canada, the project aims to build a robust defence industrial ecosystem that supports national interests in a volatile global environment. In the words of The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence (Canada), “leveraging the expertise of Canadian industry to sustain our future submarine fleet is an investment in the readiness of our maritime forces, the strength of our workforce, and the growth of our economy. By establishing a sovereign sustainment framework aligned with the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy and the capabilities of Canadian industry, we are strengthening Canada’s security and resilience for generations to come.” The Defence Investment Agency (DIA) was established in October 2025 as a central pillar of Canada’s strategy to modernize its military procurement system. Operating as a specialized agency, its primary role is to consolidate expertise from several departments—including National Defence, Public Services and Procurement, and the Canadian Coast Guard—into a single, streamlined authority. This shift is designed to eliminate the bureaucratic “red tape” and fragmented decision-making that historically delayed major equipment deliveries. By centralizing these functions, the DIA aims to accelerate the acquisition of mission-critical assets, such as the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces can meet evolving global threats and protect Arctic sovereignty. The DIA serves as a strategic link between the military and Canadian industry. It is tasked with implementing the “BUILD– PARTNER–BUY” framework, which prioritizes domestic manufacturing and the development of sovereign capabilities— technologies that can be produced and sustained entirely within Canada. The agency also plays a key role in Canada’s commitment to meeting NATO spending targets, which are projected to reach 2% of GDP by 2026 and 5% by 2035.
(Source: Hawk Information)
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