Canada to spend $307M on new modular rifles to replace aging army weapons

The federal government has approved a $307 million contract to purchase 30,000 new modular rifles for the Canadian Army, replacing weapons that have been in service for more than three decades.

According to a federal procurement announcement, the rifles will be supplied by Colt Canada under an initial three-year agreement. The deal includes an option to acquire an additional 35,000 rifles beyond the initial order.

Defence procurement Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr said the purchase is intended to modernize frontline equipment and address long-standing concerns about the aging C7 and C8 rifles currently used by Canadian Forces personnel. He said the government used accelerated procurement procedures and routed the contract through the Defence Investment Agency, potentially advancing delivery timelines by up to two years.

The procurement forms part of a broader increase in federal defence spending. Recent announcements include $200 million for a dedicated space launch facility and $1.4 billion to support Canada’s domestic munitions industry.

The Department of National Defence is responsible for overseeing implementation of the contract, including delivery schedules and integration into existing military systems. Further details on rollout timelines and unit distribution have not been publicly released.