More than 400 Canadian Armed Forces members trained with nine allied nations in October 2024 in an exercise designed to counter explosive threats. CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
THE WATCH STAFF
More than 400 members of the Canadian Army alongside service members from nine partner nations participated in Ardent Defender 2024, an exercise designed to strengthen the operational capacity to counter explosive threats, dispose of them and prevent future incidents. New technologies were introduced during the 11th iteration of the exercise, which is held annually around Canada. This year’s event took place in October at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick. The exercise brought military personnel from Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States to Canada to adapt their training regimen and to “incorporate lessons learned from Ukraine,” according to a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) news release.
Some of those lessons are “emerging technologies,” such as uncrewed aerial systems and additive manufacturing, which will be demonstrated and integrated into training and practice regimens. The skills will “enhance operational efficiency and security on a unified front against adversaries,” the release stated. “Interoperability is crucial to the Canadian Army’s ability to fulfill Government of Canada objectives, ensure readiness, respond to emerging threats, and meet defence priorities. Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER highlights our commitment to collective security efforts alongside our NATO allies and partner nations,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Wright, commander of the Canadian Army.
Since its inception, Ardent Defender has been organized by the CAF’s Joint Counter Explosive Threat team, which evaluates global security threats and gathers field experts to share knowledge about how to detect, neutralize and dispose of explosive ordnance, the release stated. The Joint Counter Explosive Threat organization keeps in close contact with NATO allies to increase interoperability among the trans-Atlantic alliance’s members and enhance each member’s explosive ordnance disposal and field exploitation capabilities, the release stated.
“The realities of modern warfare drive the design, equipment and training of the Canadian Army. As we continue to modernize our force and build readiness capacity, the value of Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER in preparing Canada and its international partners for current and future threats cannot be understated,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Parsons, commander of the 5th Canadian Division.
Last year, U.S. explosive ordnance disposal technicians from the Fort Liberty, North Carolina-based 192nd Ordnance Battalion participated in the exercise, which focused on explosive threat scenarios, primarily based on what has been observed in Eastern Europe conflict zones. “The types of scenarios are built to exercise Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, high-risk search teams that investigate large areas or buildings, as well as route clearance teams” said Canadian Armed Forces Lt. Col. Ben Aho, who directed the 2023 event.