Canada to hold international exercise on explosive ordnance disposal

An international exercise on explosive ordnance disposal will be held in Canada’s New Brunswick province from October 16 to 29, 2025.

The manoeuvres, titled Ardent Defender 2025, are taking place at the Canadian Armed Forces’ Gagetown base, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Canadian government’s official website.

They involve personnel from Australia, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, though the number of participants has not been specified.

During the drills, troops will carry out the neutralisation of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices while practising various safe disposal scenarios. The exercise also aims to enhance coordination among the participating countries’ armed forces.

Exercise Ardent Defender has been conducted since 2013, bringing together explosives experts from Allied nations, military partners, and civilian organisations.

The event is organised by the CAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Organisation, which plans and coordinates the exercise and leads efforts to counter explosive threats on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Canadian Army (CA) is currently modernising by acquiring new armoured vehicles, digital command systems, drones, and advanced training technologies.

These upgrades are designed to strengthen its operational readiness and improve cooperation with Allies and partners.

As the largest branch of the CAF, the Canadian Army includes around 23,000 full-time soldiers and 19,000 reservists across the country.

By Khagan Isayev