#C5ISRT #TrainAsYouFight #CanadianDefence
C5ISRT: The Backbone of Modern Defence
Integrated systems, trusted data and sovereign control—built and sustained by Calian.
Information superiority is an operational advantage
The security environments of Canada and its allies are defined by rapid technological change, accelerating geopolitical tension and the return of state-on-state competition. Modern operations unfold across all domains—land, sea, air, cyber, space and the electromagnetic spectrum—often with little warning. Mission success depends on the ability to sense, decide and act faster than an adversary.
Command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting (C5ISRT) is the operational backbone of modern defence. It governs how data flows across sensors, platforms, networks and decisionmakers—turning information superiority into an operational advantage.
Sovereignty, readiness and interoperability
Calian is a sovereign C5ISRT systems integrator enabling the Canadian Armed Forces to train and operate within a unified, secure, multi-domain environment. Our interoperability solutions connect command and control, communications, sensors, space, cyber, data and training into an integrated C5ISRT environment that strengthens national sovereignty, operational readiness and alliance interoperability. From continental and Arctic defence to coalition operations abroad, Calian enables sovereign control, allied integration and informed decision-making—today and tomorrow.
The modern battlefield
Today’s battlespace is defined by complexity, convergence and speed. Sensors generate massive data streams. Platforms operate across dispersed geographies. Decisions must be made faster, based on trusted, sovereigncontrolled information. C5ISRT enables:
- Integration of systems and platforms across all domains
- Fusion of sensors, networks and communications
- Resilience in cyber and electromagnetic environments
- Trusted humanmachine teaming
- Continuous readiness through integrated training and operations
Train as you will fight
Defence readiness is no longer episodic—it is continuous. To prepare for modern operations, the CAF requires training environments that are flexible, scalable and realistic, integrating live, virtual, synthetic and constructive elements.
Calian supports “train as you will fight” across all three readiness tiers:
- Individual and team readiness
- Unit readiness
- Formation readiness
Future-ready training
Training is delivered through environments that:
- Mirror future joint and coalition operations
- Account for contested cyber and electromagnetic conditions
- Include space and Arctic-specific scenarios
- Leverage data analytics to measure performance
Synthetic and digital environments are now foundational to mission-ready forces.
From data to action
Seamlessly integrating data with allies, joint forces and government partners changes the mission and provides exponential operational advantage. This operational advantage comes from moving through the decision cycle faster and more accurately than an adversary. C5ISRT enables that advantage by ensuring:
- Persistent, relevant, realtime sensing
- Secure, resilient communications
- Advanced analytics and decision support
- Integrated command and control
- Trusted humanmachine teaming
With C5ISRT, Calian transforms data into decisive action—securely and under sovereign control.
Ensuring Arctic sovereignty
The Arctic is a challenging defence environment: remote, harsh, infrastructure-constrained and increasingly contested. C5ISRT is what allows Canada and its allies to operate with confidence in the North.
Arctic operations require:
- Resilient communications and sensing
- Space-enabled situational awareness
- Integrated C2
- Distributed training and rehearsal
- Sustainment under austere conditions
Calian is deeply embedded in Northern operations—from Arctic-capable sensors to mission-critical communications infrastructure and northern-based service teams.
The role of systems integration
Modern defence challenges stem not from a lack of technology, but from a lack of coherent integration. A true systems integrator must:
- Connect programs, platforms and data
- Integrate training, operations and sustainment
- Maintain long-term interoperability
- Protect sovereign and partner data
- Operate at national scale under real-world conditions
This integration must persist and evolve over decades—not just at acquisition.
Why Calian? Canada's C5ISRT systems integrator
Calian connects people, systems and data—bringing interoperability, resilience and readiness to modern military operations.
Calian delivers:
- 20+ years of C5ISRT integration experience
- Proven integration across tactical communications, operational systems and simulation
- A team of more than 350 engineers
- Operationally deployed systems across Canada and with allied forces
- Global space and groundsystem capabilities supporting Arctic and contested environments
- Training delivered to over 250,000 CAF and 50,000 NATO personnel
Calian in the Arctic
In the Arctic, Calian strengthens Canada’s sovereignty through:
- Collaboration with Indigenous partners
- Northern-based medical and emergency services teams
- Arctic-purpose sensors
- Installation of mission-critical satellite and undersea communications infrastructure
Calian delivers confidence—throughout the capability lifecycle.
Calian VENTURES: Scaling sovereign capability
In today’s challenging defence environment, we must enable our own sovereignty to protect our future.
Calian VENTURES advances Canada’s defence innovation ecosystem by connecting SMEs, government and partners to develop and scale sovereign C5ISRT capabilities. As defence experts, we help test, validate and scale SME technologies into Canadian and allied procurements by leveraging our own engineering expertise, integrated solutions and trusted CAF relationships.
Calian has committed to establishing regionally based C5ISRT labs across Canada, with priorities aligned to Arctic operations.
FAQs
- C5ISRT stands for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting. It represents the integrated system of systems that connects sensing, decision-making and action across all domains of modern defence operations, supported by integrated training and sustainment.
- C5ISRT expands on traditional C4ISR by explicitly integrating cyber, targeting and training as foundational elements rather than add-ons. It focuses on data as a strategic asset and emphasizes sovereign control, lifecycle integration and sustained operational readiness.
- Canada faces a more complex and contested security environment defined by great power competition, cyber and information warfare and increased Arctic activity. C5ISRT enables faster and more informed decision-making, continuous readiness and effective coordination across domains, allowing Canada to defend its territory, contribute to allied operations and assert sovereignty.
- C5ISRT ensures that critical data, networks and decision support systems are owned, controlled and maintained by Canada. This sovereign control is essential for protecting national interests, particularly in the Arctic, while still enabling interoperability with NATO and Five Eyes allies.
- The Arctic is remote, harsh and increasingly contested. Effective operations in the North require resilient communications, space-enabled sensing, integrated command and control and the ability to sustain forces in austere conditions. C5ISRT provides the connective infrastructure that enables confident and persistent operations in this environment.
- C5ISRT integrates live, virtual and constructive training environments with real operational systems. This allows forces to train the way they will fight, rehearse complex joint and coalition scenarios and measure readiness using data-driven analytics rather than relying solely on costly live exercises.
- It means using integrated digital and synthetic environments that mirror real operational systems, contested cyber and electromagnetic conditions and joint and coalition operations. Training is directly linked to operational tools, creating confidence and continuity from rehearsal through to mission execution.
- By integrating persistent sensing, secure communications, advanced analytics and command and control, C5ISRT allows commanders to move from sensing to decision to action more quickly than an adversary while maintaining trust in the data being used.
- No. C5ISRT is not defined by individual technologies. It is a purposeful system of systems focused on integration, sustainment and modernization over decades. Its effectiveness depends on how well systems are connected, governed supported and secured throughout their lifecycle.
- Most defence organizations already have capable platforms and systems. The challenge lies in fragmented architectures and stovepiped data. A systems integrator ensures interoperability, data governance, security and alignment across training, operations and sustainment while maintaining sovereign control.
- Calian brings over 20 years of C5ISRT integration experience, more than 350 engineers and a strong track record of operationally deployed systems in Canada and allied environments. Calian integrates operations, training and in-service support to deliver continuity and confidence across multi-domain environments.
- Calian supports Arctic defence through Indigenous partnerships, Northern-based personnel, Arctic-capable sensors and mission-critical communications infrastructure. This includes experience with satellite ground stations and undersea fibre networks that are essential to Northern and space-enabled operations.
- Calian VENTURES is Calian’s defence innovation orchestrator. It helps scale proven Canadian technologies into sovereign defence capabilities across C2 support systems, autonomous systems and space orchestration, all aligned with C5ISRT environments.
- Calian VENTURES partners with small and medium-sized enterprises to test, validate and integrate Canadian-developed technologies into operational programs. Calian has committed to establish regionally based C5ISRT labs across Canada with particular emphasis on Arctic priorities.
- C5ISRT is designed to be compatible with NATO and Five Eyes partners while preserving Canadian sovereignty over data and systems. This enables credible deterrence, effective coalition operations and seamless integration during joint missions.
- Success is measured over time, not at acquisition. A successful C5ISRT ecosystem delivers sustained readiness, secure and trusted data, confident decision making, effective Arctic operations and seamless interoperability with allies while maintaining Canadian sovereignty.
Talk to us about C5ISRT
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