Defence

This report examines the fiscal implications of Canada’s recent commitment to meet NATO's military spending target of 2% of GDP by 2032.

This report provides an updated independent cost estimate of the Development and Acquisition phases of the Polar Icebreaker Project.

This report analyses Department of National Defence planned capital spending under Strong, Secure, Engaged, announced in 2017, as of 2024.

This report presents a cost analysis of Canada’s F-35 program, including estimates for the Development, Acquisition, Operations and Sustainment, and Disposal phases.

This report details the development of a framework to address the costs of military capabilities and the potential trade-offs implied should a government policy require the adjustment of the structure of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In response to a request by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO), this report presents a cost analysis of the Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) program, including estimates for the Development, Acquisition, Operations and Sustainment, and Disposal phases of the fleet’s life cycle.

This report presents fiscal analysis of achieving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 2% Defence Spending Target.

This report analyses transactions and investments made from 2015-2019 under the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy for Canadian defence and security procurement, as administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

This report analyses Department of National Defence planned capital spending under Strong, Secure, Engaged, announced in 2017, as of 2022.

This report provides an independent cost estimate of the Development and Acquisition phases of the Polar Icebreaker Project. The Polar Icebreaker Project aims to replace the Canadian Coast Guard’s existing fleet of heavy icebreakers with two new heavy icebreakers built to modern specifications.

In response to a request by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO), this report presents a costing analysis of building Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) with the continuation of the Type 26, as well as the cost for two alternate designs: the FREMM and the Type 31e.

In response to a request from the House of Commons Government Operations and Estimates Committee (OGGO), this report estimates the construction costs of the Joint Support Ship program to build two supply ships and costs of contracting converted commercial vessels named the MV Asterix and the Obelix to provide military support. This report also attempts to compare the two projects by incorporating additional project cost elements. Our independent point estimate of the construction cost is $2.4 billion, with an additional estimated $0.6 billion to account for budgetary contingency, producing a total of $3.0 billion. Accounting for the non-construction costs stated by the Department of National Defence, we estimate the total project cost of the JSS to be $4.1 billion, inclusive of provincial sales tax. The total potential net cost of the government’s contracting of the MV Asterix is $733 million, inclusive of provincial sales tax. We project that a five-year provision of service contract of the Obelix would cost the government $801 million, inclusive of any applicable taxes. As the project costs of the JSS cannot be directly compared to the costs associated with the provision of service contract of the Asterix or any potential similar contract for the Obelix, we opt for a comparison of the JSS project to the cost of the purchase options for the Asterix and Obelix. Our calculations suggest that the Asterix and Obelix replenishment vessels could be obtained by the Government of Canada for a total of approximately $1.4 billion, as compared to our estimated $4.1 billion JSS project cost.

This report provides an updated cost estimate of the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program from the 2017 PBO report, “The Cost of Canada’s Surface Combatants.” At the time of the previous cost analysis, the government had not yet selected a design for the new generation of warships. This update considers characteristics specific to the Type 26 design chosen by the government while incorporating updated information on the project’s timeline.

This report presents a fiscal analysis of the Government of Canada’s purchase of 18 used F-18 aircraft from Australia.