Alliance of Canadian Defence Companies (ACDC) launched to unite domestic industry and shape procurement reform

ACDC is an industry-led trade association and lobbying group representing Canadian defence builders and suppliers. More than 500 Canadian defence firms employ over 50,000 people nationwide, and membership is open to Canadian-owned and Canadian-controlled companies committed to building sovereign capability and export-ready platforms.

The association aims to strengthen coordination among Canadian defence firms and provide a unified industry voice on policy, procurement reform and industrial development. It seeks to support deeper cooperation across the supply chain as investment in defence accelerates.

Co-Chairs Eliot Pence, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Dynamics, and Paul Ziade, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of North Vector Dynamics, stated: “Canada has exceptional defence builders, but they have not always had a unified mechanism to coordinate and advocate collectively. ACDC exists to strengthen domestic capability, support export-ready platforms, and ensure Canadian-controlled companies can have their voices heard and are positioned to deliver as defence investment accelerates.”

Founding members include Dominion Dynamics, North Vector Dynamics, ONE9, Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation, The Icebreaker, Canada Rocket Company, Lodge Systems, Wuxly, VizworX, Nusakan, aiRadar, Tacteris, Valcom, Reaction Dynamics, Remote Robotic, NordSpace, Convergence Design Services, ARES, Greypoint Industries, Hawthorn Insights, Cybeats, Inertia and Bloomsco. The co-chairs noted that Dominion Dynamics and North Vector Dynamics provided the initial organisational support to establish the Alliance.

The Alliance brings together platform developers and system integrators, advanced manufacturing and energetics firms, as well as companies specialising in software, autonomy, artificial intelligence and sensors. It also includes sustainment and logistics providers and dual-use technology leaders serving defence and allied markets.

By convening companies across this spectrum, ACDC aims to foster closer coordination across the defence supply chain and support delivery of integrated national capabilities. The organisation stated that members will benefit from direct advocacy on defence policy and industrial priorities, along with coordinated representation on procurement reform.

The association will also offer opportunities to build coalitions to bid on and deliver complex defence programmes. It plans to participate in capacity showcases and classified briefings, creating structured opportunities for engagement between industry and government.

Through its events programme, ACDC intends to convene members at capability summits, procurement and policy workshops, platform showcases and coalition-formation forums. The launch reflects a broader effort to align Canadian-controlled defence companies as the country expands its industrial and procurement ambitions.