Damera Defence recently returned from the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce, Poland.
The 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) took place September 8–11, 2026, in Kielce, Poland. It is the flagship defence event in Central and Eastern Europe and is described by the Government of Canada as Europe's third-largest land-based defence and security trade show.
The 2026 edition was the largest in MSPO's history: 1,209 exhibitors from 43 countries, more than 49,000 m² of exhibition space, and 45,000 visitors from more than 60 countries.
But its importance is not simply its size. MSPO brings together defence ministries, armed forces, government delegations, OEMs, defence primes, technology companies and industrial partners to discuss procurement, modernization, industrial cooperation and future defence capabilities.
Canada participated as Lead Nation at MSPO 2026, with more than 250 organizations and nearly 500 delegates representing Canadian industry and all levels of government. It was Canada’s largest defence and security business mission worldwide and the largest Canadian business delegation ever brought to Poland.
During the exhibition, Eric Dion, Chief Commercial Officer of Damera Defence, also had the opportunity to connect with the Honourable Victor Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Minister Fedeli summarized an important advantage of Ontario’s industrial base:
“In an increasingly uncertain world, our province and its industries offer a stable, trusted, and secure investment environment that is ready to deliver on generational projects.”
For Damera Defence, the significance went beyond the scale of the exhibition. MSPO provided direct access to the technologies, manufacturers and organizations shaping future military fleets—and raised an important question:
How do we turn access to global defence technology into capability that can be supported in Canada for decades?
"Our role is to help defence organizations and OEMs keep military platforms capable and mission-ready throughout their operational lifecycle—from integration and introduction into service to sustainment, modernization and eventual retirement. If you’re looking for a Canadian partner to support your platforms and strengthen long-term fleet readiness, we welcome the conversation.”
Military platforms can remain in service for decades. During that time, technologies change, components become obsolete, operational requirements evolve and new propulsion, diagnostic, electronic and vehicle systems become available.
MSPO demonstrated just how quickly that technology continues to develop.
New powertrain and drivetrain solutions, vehicle systems, diagnostics, sensors, electronics and other technologies can create significant opportunities for military fleets. But selecting a technology is only the beginning.
Someone must be able to integrate it into the platform, validate it, maintain it, diagnose problems, repair it, source parts and train the people responsible for supporting it. This is where Damera Defence contribute.
➡️ When an OEM brings a vehicle, powertrain or subsystem into Canada, we support its integration and introduction into service, develop the maintenance and diagnostic capability around it, establish parts and technical support, and train Canadian technicians to maintain and repair the technology locally.
➡️ As the platform remains in service, we track maintenance and repair history, identify recurring issues, support component replacement and obsolescence management, and integrate upgrades as technologies and operational requirements evolve.
For Canadian defence organizations, this means greater domestic access to the technical expertise, trained personnel, parts support, infrastructure and fleet knowledge required to keep platforms operational.
Our capabilities extend from systems integration and introduction into service through In-Service Support (ISS), Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), diagnostics, parts support, technician training and modernization to secure decommissioning and demilitarization.
We build the Canadian capability to support it for the life of the platform.
At MSPO, we saw vehicle systems, powertrain technologies, diagnostics and other solutions that could shape future military fleets. Introducing these technologies into service also creates a long-term support requirement.
➡️ Damera Defence tracks maintenance and repair history to identify recurring failures, monitor component performance, anticipate maintenance requirements and improve parts and service planning.
When an issue repeats, we look beyond the individual repair to determine whether changes to components, maintenance procedures, technical documentation or system upgrades can improve performance across the fleet.
We also support the people behind the platform. As technologies evolve, technicians need the diagnostic knowledge and practical skills required to maintain them.
➡️ Through technical training, diagnostics and knowledge transfer, we help maintenance teams develop the capability to support both existing systems and technologies introduced through modernization.
This creates value beyond an individual repair. What is learned from maintaining one vehicle can contribute to better maintenance decisions, technical procedures and support strategies across the fleet.
That is why MSPO matters to us. We are evaluating not only what technologies could enhance military fleets, but what will be required to integrate, maintain and sustain them over time.
New operational requirements do not always require an entirely new vehicle.
Depending on the platform, mission and remaining service life, existing military fleets may be candidates for targeted upgrades involving propulsion and drivetrain technologies, diagnostics, telematics, sensors, charging and energy systems, or other COTS/GOTS solutions.
Damera Defence works with OEMs, technology providers and defence organizations to evaluate how new capabilities can be integrated into existing ground-vehicle platforms and supported throughout their remaining operational life.
The question is not simply whether a technology can physically be installed.
We consider how it will interact with the existing platform, how it will be diagnosed and maintained, what parts and technical documentation will be required, and whether technicians have the skills and training necessary to support it.
The objective is to determine what adds meaningful operational value and how it can be integrated without compromising reliability, maintainability or interoperability.
That is why engineering, systems integration and lifecycle sustainment need to be considered together.
An upgrade creates lasting capability only when the fleet has the engineering, parts, technical knowledge and trained people required to support it after integration.
MSPO brought Canadian organizations into direct contact with defence manufacturers and technology providers from around the world.
For Damera Defence, those conversations matter because no single organization develops every technology required by a modern military fleet.
International OEMs bring platforms and specialized technologies. Technology companies bring new subsystems and solutions. Canadian industry can provide local engineering, infrastructure, systems integration, training and sustainment capability. Government and defence organizations define operational requirements and long-term capability needs.
➡️ Damera Defence helps to connect these elements—working with international technology partners while building the Canadian capability required to integrate and sustain their solutions locally.
For an international OEM considering Canada, that can mean having a local partner capable of supporting a platform beyond delivery.
For a technology provider, it can mean access to engineering and integration expertise required to introduce a new system into a ground-vehicle application.
For a Canadian defence organization, it can mean stronger domestic capability to maintain, repair, modernize and sustain fleets throughout their operational lifecycle.
For us, the value of MSPO is not simply discovering technology. It is building the relationships required to turn that technology into sustainable capability in Canada.
We thank Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, the Trade Commissioner Service | Service des délégués commerciaux, Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade for supporting Canadian industry and creating opportunities for international defence collaboration at MSPO 2026.
Damera Defence returned from Poland with new relationships, technologies to explore and conversations to continue—but also with an even stronger focus on what happens after a technology or platform comes to Canada.
Looking for a Canadian partner that can support your military ground-vehicle program from cradle to grave?
Damera Defence brings together engineering, systems integration, In-Service Support, MRO, technical training, modernization and supply support to help keep fleets capable and ready throughout their operational life—from introduction into service and ongoing sustainment to secure decommissioning and demilitarization.
Whether you are a defence organization, OEM or technology provider, connect with Eric Dion, Eng., EMBA, Chief Commercial Officer, Damera Defence, to discuss how we can support your platform, fleet or future program in Canada.
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