The exhibition is part of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, which invites Canada—the only non‑European country—to bid on European defence contracts and support Ukraine’s defence industry.

Ottawa’s push follows growing trade friction with the United States and a strategic decision to diversify its defence sector away from its biggest trading partner, a shift that has reshaped the Canadian defence landscape.

Several exhibitors said they could not have travelled to Poland without financial assistance from the Carney government, highlighting the state’s role in enabling the European outreach.

Government data show the Canadian defence industry adds roughly $10 billion to the national economy and sustains more than 81,000 jobs. The new Defence Industrial Strategy aims to create over 125,000 additional jobs in the next ten years.

European buyers now demand faster delivery and more agile procurement. As Charles Barlow, CEO of the Ottawa‑based Robotics Centre, explained, projects that once took eight years must now be ready in eight months, putting Canadian firms under pressure to match the continent’s speed.

Defence Minister David McGuinty called the move a breakthrough that expands opportunities for Canadian workers and strengthens the country’s role in global security.