Defence Department Pushes Back Equipment Readiness Objectives by 7 Years

The Canadian Department of National Defence has pushed back its equipment readiness objectives for the army and navy by an additional seven years, now aiming to achieve a 90 percent operational readiness and equipment serviceability by the end of March 2032.

This adjustment was made in the latest Departmental Plan for 2025-26, acknowledging that meeting the previous target of March 2025 is "not feasible." The change is intended to align with the department's long-term strategic objectives and planned investments. The move comes as Canada has recently committed to increasing its military spending to meet NATO's 2 percent of GDP target by 2026 and signed a pledge to reach 5 percent by 2035. The current state of military readiness shows that only 67 percent of force elements are prepared for operations according to established targets, with maritime key fleets at 46 percent and land and aerospace assets at 49 percent. Defence Minister David McGuinty emphasized the need for improved recruitment and retention efforts, as well as the importance of Canada's participation in ReArm Europe to bolster the domestic defense industry.