Canada secures first defense contract under EU's SAFE program

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday his country had secured its first defense contract under the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program.

Carney made the announcement during a meeting with EU leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders' Summit in France. According to a readout published on the prime minister's website, the deal awards Montreal-based defense technology firm Marconi Technologies the contract, valued at more than 10 million Canadian dollars (about 7.15 million U.S. dollars), to supply Canadian-made ORION tactical radios to Polish Cyber Command.

Partnering with Polish firm Enamor International, the project will involve nearly 100 Canadian companies, with deliveries scheduled from later this year through 2030.

This is the first contract ever awarded to a Canadian company under SAFE. Earlier this year, Canada became the first non-European nation to join the initiative.

Canada's membership in SAFE means Canadian defense businesses, like Marconi, can compete for European contracts, creating jobs and economic opportunities back home, said the readout.

Adopted in May 2025, SAFE is the EU's financial instrument designed to help member states speed up defense readiness through urgent and major investments in the European defense industry.