kEiThZ
Superstar
I'd add to that satellite tech - we already have the know-how in SAR, we should aim to deploy a true constellation beyond the current Radarsat one.
During my time on exchange, one of the few Canadian capabilities that Americans genuinely had respect for was Radarasat. Something they've not been able to replicate on the civil side and probably have spent a ton replicating on the military side. The Constellation is absolutely a huge leap. But like so many things, government support has been rather anemic. It's a real question whether we maintain our lead.
Maybe we should also consider dual-use for Telesat's Lightspeed as well?
Absolutely. One of stories of this war that never got enough coverage was the impact of Starlink. Musk literally saved Ukraine's military communications overnight by shipping Starlink transceivers to Ukraine. The Russians attempted all kinds of cyberattacks and electronic warfare and failed. It's the first time we've seen a private space entity have such a decisive impact on the course of the war. Lightspeed could have equal geostrategic relevance.
UkraineX: How Elon Musk’s space satellites changed the war on the ground
From artillery strikes to Zoom calls, the tech billionaire’s internet service has become a lifeline in the fight against Russia.
www.politico.com
Between all these and just our vast geography, Canada could actually be a major space power if it chose to be. But....space can't really be separated these days from cyber and missile defence. So if we want to play the game, it's going to take more than buying a few satellites.