Future Force Design

Description

Develop and design the future force through a deep understanding of the future operating environment and security risks to Canada and Canadian interests. Enhance Defence's ability to identify, prevent, adapt and respond to a wide range of contingencies through collaborative innovation networks and advanced research.

Planning highlights

The future security environment presents a vast array of complex defence and security challenges that transcend national borders. In order to keep pace with our allies and ensure that North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) commitments are met, as well as outpace our potential adversaries, it is imperative that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) prioritizes efforts to design our future force.

The Department of National Defence (DND)/CAF will support the ongoing implementation of Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada's Defence Policy (SSE). This will include traditional decision-making support to both the Deputy Minister and the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) through a progressive approach designed to build on capabilities from year to year. The intra-departmental alignment and validation will be done through different review processes such as the Defence Capability Board and the Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisition. These reviews and other analysis efforts aim to verify and streamline the procurement process. These activities will be informed through foresight analysis, the capability-based planning process, the published Force Capability Plan, and joint concept development.

In response to an increasingly complex security environment, effective innovation is critical to ensure DND is successful in achieving a modern and prepared armed forces. Defence and Security Science and Technology will develop an experimentation approach that will accelerate the adoption of technological advances within DND/CAF, such as exploiting opportunities for demonstrating mature technologies in field settings, through events such as Operation NANOOK and the United States Arctic Edge 2022 major military exercises and trials.

DND will sustain Defence and Security Science and Technology activities to understand the opportunities, costs, and risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI-enabled and autonomous systems that emulate thinking processes to perform force development, generation, employment and business analytics.

• First, research and development efforts will be aimed at reducing workloads on CAF members by experimenting with algorithms to detect and track objects of interest in still images and videos;
• Second, AI research and development will continue to explore the limits of integrating AI and automated data analysis to support operators and analysts in determining activities of interest such as smuggling and illegal fishing. With partners from other government departments, the Centre for Security Science has conducted development of techniques for space surveillance of dark vessels, including image processing and feature recognition for ship detection. This work is intended to enhance maritime domain awareness, in particular detection of non-emitting vessels in support of Canadian commitments to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated activities; and
• Third, AI techniques will be explored to reduce the human workload associated with the operation of autonomous vehicles in or on the land, sea, air and space. All AI-enabled systems require new levels of trust in military operations, planning and decision processes. The Defence and Security Science and Technology program will also generate advice regarding the integration of AI-enabled systems and processes into CAF operations, planning and decision-making.

To modernize NORAD Command and Control (C2), DND/CAF is partnering with United States organizations and defence labs in a Joint All Domain Command and Control Pathfinder initiative to leverage AI and machine learning innovations utilizing all source data for improved situational awareness and operator decision superiority.

With new capabilities comes the need for employees with special skill sets. The Cyber Operator military occupation has been created (in both the Regular and Reserve Forces) and has successfully piloted initial occupation training. Focus will continue to be placed on the development of specialty courses and career progression to mature the operator trade, while also launching a study to review feasibility of a new Cyber Officer occupation.

DND/CAF will also continue to utilize its HR processes to provide a flexible and integrated cyber force of both military and civilian personnel. In addition to the Cyber Operator occupation development, specific positional investments are planned for FY 2021-22 as part of the ongoing personnel build strategy that will be allocated to positional pressures in SSE initiative 88 (Active Cyber Operations) and intelligence in support of cyber operations. Taken together, the continued refinement and maturation of the cyber force in the aspects of attraction, recruitment, training, and career growth will assure a pan-DND/CAF sustainable capability to meet the SSE requirements.

Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+)

The Defence Team is developing a line of examination into integrating GBA+ and the resulting intersectional gender perspectives into the development of military capability. Intersectional gender perspectives will be an important component of developing and designing the future force, given that a deep understanding of the future operating environment and security risks to Canada and Canadian interests would naturally include this type of gradation. In addition, as capabilities development is modernized in traditional domains and as new domains are added, intersectional gender perspectives will be critical to the development of effective in-spectrum and cross spectrum success. Early efforts have been in Defence policy such as the Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security program, Defence innovation such as the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program and in capability-based planning and development cycles.

United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

As detailed in the Defence Energy and Environment Strategy which outlines the Department of National Defence's commitment to supporting the Government of Canada's priorities under the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, the Greening Government Strategy and the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the DND is developing a sustainable aviation fuel strategy in support of federal policy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This strategy is a comprehensive multi-step effort that will address all air fleets and institutional processes as necessary to support policy objectives. This will ensure DND makes progress towards ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns and takes action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Experimentation

The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program (IDEaS) has built DND/CAF capacity to do experimentation in a new and different way. The IDEaS program was designed to complement the DND internal research programs expertise towards solving defence and security challenges and will provide $1.6 billion in financial and human resources over a 20 year period. IDEaS fosters creativity and ingenuity in Canada by bringing together networks of experts, providing support and opportunities to innovators and by facilitating the integration and adoption of new capabilities for the CAF and public safety and security communities.

In 2021, a call for proposals will be launched for the Test Drive element which plans to acquire, install, and operate a large-scale low-carbon energy generation and storage system for heating an existing building. The Test Drive will assess the effectiveness and costs of such a technology for the modernization of and greenhouse gas emissions reductions efforts for the entire DND infrastructure portfolio. It will also support the Government of Canada's mandate in making its building and facilities operations carbon neutral by 2050.

The IDEaS Test Drive presents innovators with the opportunity to sell their non-commercial science and technology (S&T) solution to DND/CAF in order for the department to evaluate it in a real world/operational environment. This is considered experimentation as it fulfills the obligation under the IDEaS program of allowing an innovator to propose a nascent S&T solution, work to develop it, demonstrate it and achieve a sale with the Government of Canada that lends not only credibility to its solution, but also a chance at commercial success. Without the Test Drive, DND/CAF could not experiment with new S&T solutions to see what works and what does not. It allows the department to learn and compare what it is doing now, versus what it could do better with clear results at the end.

Departmental Result 4.1 – Defence capabilities are designed to meet future threats

• The Force Capability Plan will be published in FY 2021-22, and a new capability-based planning cycle will begin. This will be informed by continued collaborative national and allied foresight analysis with our Five Eyes allies (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners, as well as NATO/NORAD alliance capability development requirements.
• DND/CAF will continue to work with other government departments to address policy and capability requirements under the National Cyber Security Strategy. Specifically, DND/CAF will continue to contribute to whole-of-government cyber operations policy, capability, and workforce/skills development.
• Under the auspices of the Cyber Mission Assurance Program, DND/CAF will continue building cyberspace resilience into all our activities through mission-focused continuous risk management processes with a view to preserving CAF freedom of action to successfully accomplish assigned missions in any cyber contested domain. For FY 2021-22, the Cyber Mission Assurance Program will focus on the development and implementation of common cyber mission assurance processes, and the enhancement of education, training and knowledge across the DND/CAF.
• Cyber-related IDEaS challenges will continue into FY 2021-22. Key challenges include:
  • Understanding Cyber Intent;
  • How to detect and respond to hostile information activities;
  • Staying Four Steps Ahead: Understanding and Predicting the Behaviour of Adversaries; and
  • Remaining Vigilant: Identifying Cyber Dependencies, Vulnerabilities and Threats.

Planned results

Departmental Results	Departmental Result Indicators	Target	Date to achieve target	2017–18 Actual results	2018–19 Actual results	2019–20 Actual results
4.1 Defence capabilities are designed to meet future threats	Extent to which the Future Security Environment assessment remains valid	2 on a 3 point rating scale*	31 March 2022	Not Available New indicator as of 2018-19	2	2
	Degree to which future security assessments and capability deductions remain coherent with those of our allies and partners	2 on a 3 point rating scale**	31 March 2022	Not Available New indicator as of 2018-19	2	2
	Degree to which future capabilities required to ensure an operational advantage over defence and security threats have been accounted for in defence plans	2 on a 3 point rating scale***	31 March 2022	Not Available New indicator as of 2018-19	2	2

Notes:

• * During the foresight analysis assessment validity period, the Future Security Environment document will be assessed annually through internal Canadian Armed Forces foresight and allied collaboration analysis activities. Should these analysis activities identify significant issues, the Chief of Force Development will indicate the intent to produce an updated Future Security Environment with anticipated milestones.
• ** During the foresight analysis assessment validity period, the Force Capability Plan and Investment Plan are reviewed annually through internal Canadian Armed Forces and allied collaboration analysis activities. Should these analysis activities identify significant issues, the Chief of Force Development will indicate the intent to produce updated documents with anticipated milestones.
• *** During the foresight analysis assessment validity period, the Force Capability Plan, Investment Plan and Force Development scenario sets are assessed annually through internal Canadian Armed Forces analysis activities. If significant issues are identified, the Chief of Force Development will signal the intent to produce updated documents with anticipated milestones.
• Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Departmental Result 4.2 – Defence and security challenges are addressed through innovative solutions

• In FY 2021-22, IDEaS will continue with its program of work under its various funding elements. This includes competitive projects (at least three calls per year); contest(s) (at least one contest per year); innovation networks (at least two calls per year); Sandbox(s) (at least one call per year) and Test Drive(s) (at least one call per year). The program will also continue to support important investments in the fight against COVID-19, specifically related to new solutions for personal protective equipment, sanitization, disease-tracking technology, and diagnostics and testing.
• DND/CAF will exploit the results of the All Domain Situational Awareness S&T program and the bi-national Northern Approaches Surveillance Analysis of Alternatives to inform force development decisions and investments in the development of new long-range radar, maritime and space-based sensors that will be required to strengthen surveillance of the North.
• Defence S&T will be applied to develop and provide sustainable energy solutions for Arctic infrastructure assets and operations, thereby reducing fossil fuel dependence while maintaining or improving operational capability. Work on modular systems and advanced micro grids towards significantly reducing Arctic emissions will be enablers for northern facilities, more agile basing, and remote deployed sensor networks.
  The IDEaS program will continue to work with Canadian innovators on the following challenges in support of alternative energy options:
  • A Cold Wind Blows: Seeking Smaller, Ruggedized Wind Turbines for the Arctic: Launched under the Competitive Projects element seeks to address a DND need for ruggedized wind turbines for the Arctic, to reduce the reliance on diesel fuel-generated power. This challenge received a total of 24 proposals for which contract awards will be made and work started;
  • The Energy Storage Test Drive: Launched under the Test Drive element, the objective of this challenge is to acquire, install, and operate a large-scale low-carbon energy generation and storage system for heating an existing building. This will  assess the effectiveness and costs of such a technology for the modernization of and greenhouse gas emissions reductions efforts for the entire DND infrastructure portfolio, thus contributing to the Government of Canada's mandate that its building and facilities operations be carbon neutral by 2050; and
  • Prototype development for the Pop-up City Contest: Launched under the IDEaS Contest element, aims to develop solutions to integrate energy, water and waste management systems to support the CAF's relocatable temporary camps which are deployed in national and international operations.
• The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) will continue to prioritize and utilize an internal, robust Innovation S&T program with embedded expertise provided by Defence Research and Development Canada, to deliver novel solutions to current operational challenges while simultaneously leveraging a broad innovation ecosystem to identify longer-term emerging threats and opportunities. CANSOFCOM's Innovation, S&T foresight and solution development will be enabled through strong relationships with allies, industry, academia, and government programs and will be designed to accelerate the transition from research, to experimentation, to delivery to operators in the shortest possible timeframe.

Planned results

Departmental Results	Departmental Result Indicators	Target	Date to achieve target	2017–18 Actual results	2018–19 Actual results	2019–20 Actual results
4.2 Defence and security challenges are addressed through innovative solutions	% of initiatives and projects that are supported by Defence Science and Technology	At least 90%	31 March 2022	Not Available New indicator as of 2018-19	30%	30%
	% of Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) projects that resulted in useful advice, adoption, integration or eventual procurement of a new defence and security capability	At least 20%	31 March 2022	Not Available New indicator as of 2018-19	Not Available	5.5%

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Planned budgetary financial resources

2021-22 budgetary spending (as indicated in Main Estimates)	2021–22 Planned spending	2022–23 Planned spending	2023–24 Planned spending
768,019,319	768,019,319	779,337,759	795,850,417

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Planned human resources

2021–22 Planned full-time equivalents	2022–23 Planned full-time equivalents	2023–24 Planned full-time equivalents
2,086	2,072	2,070

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

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