Major Defence Construction Projects in Canada: $80+ Billion in Military Infrastructure Work Planned Through 2035

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For Canada’s construction industry, this represents a major source of long-term project activity. Large-scale defence infrastructure projects are now moving through planning, procurement, and construction phases across the country, creating opportunities for contractors, project managers, engineers, superintendents, estimators, and skilled trades.

Much like Canada’s mining, nuclear, and renewable energy sectors, defence infrastructure is emerging as a significant driver of construction employment. Major projects are planned from the Arctic to Atlantic Canada, with billions of dollars expected to be spent on runways, radar systems, military bases, logistics hubs, housing developments, naval facilities, and aviation infrastructure over the next decade.

Table of Contents

• Why Defence Construction is Growing in Canada
• Major Defence Construction Projects in Canada
  • Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) – $9bn
  • Northern Operational Support Hubs (NOSH) – $2.67bn
  • Northern Airfield and Forward Operating Location Upgrades
  • NORAD Modernization Infrastructure Program – $38bn
  • F-35 Fighter Infrastructure Program
  • Halifax Dockyard Modernization, Halifax, NS – $1bn
  • Esquimalt Naval Base Infrastructure Program- $1.1bn
  • Canadian Surface Combatant Support Infrastructure- $60bn
  • Arctic Airport Modernization Projects- $294m
• Employment Outlook for Defence Construction Professionals
• Defence Infrastructure Will Be a Major Construction Driver Through 2035. in Canada
• Find Defence Construction Jobs in Canada

Why Defence Construction is Growing in Canada

The Canadian Armed Forces manage one of the largest real estate portfolios in the country, including more than 20,000 buildings, military bases, airports, dockyards, housing units, roads, training facilities, and northern infrastructure assets.

Recent federal commitments to NORAD modernization, Arctic security, and military readiness are accelerating investment in:

• Radar and surveillance systems
• Military airfields and runways
• Arctic infrastructure
• Naval facilities
• Fighter aircraft support infrastructure
• Military housing
• Logistics centres
• Training facilities
• Communications systems
• Fuel and ammunition storage facilities

Many of these projects will continue generating construction work well into the 2030s.

Major Defence Construction Projects in Canada

1. Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) – $9bn

Locations

• Ontario transmit site
• Ontario receive site
• Additional northern support infrastructure locations

The Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar project is one of the largest military infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Canada. The system will provide long-range surveillance coverage across Canada’s Arctic and northern approaches, significantly improving early warning capabilities.

Construction activities will include: radar installations, massive antenna arrays, operations centres, data processing facilities, communications infrastructure, power generation systems, security infrastructure, access roads, and maintenance facilities.

2. Northern Operational Support Hubs (NOSH) – $2.67bn

Locations

• Whitehorse, Yukon
• Resolute Bay, Nunavut

Supporting Locations

• Rankin Inlet
• Cambridge Bay
• Additional northern communities

The Northern Operational Support Hubs program is designed to strengthen Canada’s military presence throughout the Arctic.

Facilities will support: military aircraft, arctic operations, emergency response, logistics and supply chains.

Construction scope includes: Logistics centres, Warehouses equipment storage facilities, aircraft support infrastructure, fuel storage, utility infrastructure, accommodations, operations buildings

Because of the remote locations involved, these projects will create unique opportunities for contractors experienced in northern construction and fly-in/fly-out operations.

3. Northern Airfield and Forward Operating Location Upgrades

Estimated Program Value

Part of a broader $32 billion northern defence infrastructure investment

Key Locations

• Inuvik, Northwest Territories
• Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
• Iqaluit, Nunavut
• Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

Many of Canada’s northern military airfields were originally constructed decades ago and now require significant upgrades.

Planned construction includes: runway rehabilitation, taxiway improvements, apron expansions, aircraft hangars, fuel storage facilities, maintenance buildings, utility upgrades, accommodation facilities, security infrastructure

These projects are expected to become some of the most significant heavy civil and airport construction opportunities in Canada over the next decade.

4. NORAD Modernization Infrastructure Program – $38bn

The NORAD modernization initiative serves as the umbrella program driving many of Canada’s largest defence construction projects. It’s a $38bn program of projects over the next 20 years.

Infrastructure investments include:

• Arctic radar systems
• Surveillance facilities
• Sensor networks
• Command centres
• Communications systems
• Military airfields
• Remote operating locations
• Northern support infrastructure

The program is expected to generate billions of dollars in construction contracts across multiple provinces and territories.

5. F-35 Fighter Infrastructure Program

Estimated Infrastructure Investment

Several billion dollars nationally

Major Locations

• CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
• CFB Bagotville, Quebec

Canada’s purchase of F-35 fighter aircraft requires significant upgrades to existing military aviation infrastructure.

Planned construction includes: New fighter hangars, aircraft maintenance facilities, simulator buildings, mission planning facilities, security systems, fuel infrastructure, airfield improvements, and operations centres.

These projects are expected to support construction activity throughout the late 2020s and early 2030s.

6. Halifax Dockyard Modernization, Halifax, NS – $1bn

As Canada’s largest naval base, CFN Halifax continues to receive major infrastructure investments to support fleet modernization.

Construction work includes: wharf upgrades, marine infrastructure improvements, utilities modernization, maintenance facilities, fleet support infrastructure, operations buildings and administrative facilities 

The project supports Canada’s future naval fleet and the Canadian Surface Combatant program.

7. Esquimalt Naval Base Infrastructure Program- $1.1bn

CFB Esquimalt located near Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC serves as Canada’s primary Pacific naval base and is undergoing continuous modernization. 

Major construction activities include: jetty reconstruction, dockyard upgrades, utilities improvements, ship maintenance facilities, marine infrastructure, fleet support buildings, operational facilities. The base is expected to remain one of Western Canada’s most active defence construction markets for decades. 

8. Canadian Surface Combatant Support Infrastructure- $60bn

Canada’s future naval fleet requires extensive shore-based infrastructure investment. 

Construction projects include: training centres, operations facilities, logistics hubs, maintenance facilities, ammunition storage, pier improvements, fleet support buildings 

As ship construction progresses, supporting infrastructure projects are expected to continue through the 2030s and beyond. 

9. Arctic Airport Modernization Projects- $294m

Key Locations 

• Rankin Inlet 
• Inuvik 
• Additional northern airports 

Projects include: runway improvements, airfield upgrades, fuel systems, maintenance facilities, aircraft support infrastructure and utility improvements 

These projects support both civilian and military operations while strengthening Canada’s Arctic transportation network. 

Employment Outlook for Defence Construction Professionals

Defence infrastructure investment is creating growing demand for experienced construction professionals across Canada. 

The strongest hiring demand is expected for: 

Project Management 

• Project Directors / Project Managers 
• Program Managers 
• Construction Managers 

Site Leadership 

• General Superintendents 
• Site Superintendents 
• Field Engineers 

Commercial and Technical Roles 

• Estimators 
• Schedulers 
• Project Controls
• Commercial Director / Commercial Manager
• Quantity Surveyor
• Procurement Specialists

Many defence projects require security clearances, making experienced professionals with government or military project backgrounds particularly valuable.

Outlook: Defence Infrastructure Will Be a Major Construction Driver Through 2035

Canada’s military modernization program is creating one of the most significant infrastructure pipelines in the country.

Between NORAD modernization, Arctic sovereignty initiatives, naval infrastructure, military housing, and fighter aircraft support facilities, more than $80 billion in defence-related infrastructure investment is expected to flow into the Canadian construction market over the coming decade.

For contractors, engineers, construction managers, and skilled tradespeople, defence construction is emerging as one of Canada’s most important long-term growth sectors. With projects advancing from coast to coast and throughout the North, opportunities are expected to remain strong well into the 2030s.

Find Defence Construction Jobs in Canada

Outpost Recruitment works with many of Canada’s leading infrastructure contractors, engineering firms, and construction companies delivering complex industrial, civil, institutional, and defence-related projects.

Browse our latest construction jobs across Canada or contact our team to discuss opportunities on major defence infrastructure projects.

Visit our Project Trackers for other sectors

• Rail Infrastructure
• Highways & Bridges Infrastructure
• Healthcare Infrastructure
• Nuclear Infrastructure
• Mining Infrastructure
• Data Centre Infrastructure
• Renewable Energy Infrastructure Projects
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Projects

Please get in touch at [email protected] if you notice any errors or omissions in this list of projects.

As both a short-term and long-term economic strategy, Canada is set to welcome many more water infrastructure projects in the months and years to come. Expertise in major water infrastructure projects is in demand so get in touch with the Outpost Recruitment team to learn more about opportunities that suit your experience.