CCI at CANSEC 2026: Building Defence Partnerships and Raising the Flag for Canadian Composites
CANSEC is Canada's premier defence and security trade show and in May 2026, CCI took to the floor in Ottawa to do something it has been working toward for years: make sure the defence sector knows we exist.
For too long, CCI has been an overlooked option in the terrestrial radome space. With defence budgets expanding across NATO nations, a growing "Buy Canadian" mandate, and US manufacturers stretched thin by demand, the timing has never been better for a Canadian fabricator with CCI's capabilities to step forward. CANSEC was the right stage to do it.
What We Brought to the Floor
CCI's booth centred on three core capabilities that speak directly to the needs of the Canadian defence ecosystem: radomes, RF shielded panels, and remote communications shelters. Our radomes are not off-the-shelf enclosures, we utilize proprietary software to determine the most RF-transparent laminate schedule for each antenna frequency, engineering every structure to the client's operational and environmental requirements.
Beyond the booth, conversations on the floor opened up additional threads around contract manufacturing. Particularly these conversations included defence primes seeking a reliable Canadian partner for repeatable composite parts.
Connecting with the Right People
CCI came to CANSEC with a clear target audience: the decision-makers and procurement leads within defence organizations and prime contractors who are being urged to source Canadian. We left having connected with several of them.
CCI arrived at CANSEC with a clear purpose and a full schedule. A combination of planned meetings and organic conversations on the floor made for two productive days, leaving the team with no shortage of follow-up to pursue. The energy across the show was notably open, with a shared recognition that Canadian sovereign capability is now a procurement priority, not just a talking point.
Highlights from the show floor
Productive conversations with multiple defence primes specializing in radar and antenna manufacturing, with mutual interest in formalizing supplier relationship
Introduction to the VP of Product Development at a deployable defence ecosystem manufacturer, following discovery of an unmet need for RF shielding in their solutions
Strong interest from companies seeking Canadian contract manufacturing partners for repeatable composite parts
An Unexpected Opportunity: RF Shielding
One of the most significant outcomes from CANSEC wasn't on the agenda going in. Through conversations with exhibitors offering deployable defence ecosystems, CCI's team identified a recurring, unmet need: RF shielding. These manufacturers were fielding requests for RF shielded solutions within their integrated systems and had no current supplier to meet it.
CCI's RF shielded panels are purpose-built for exactly this kind of application. What began as a floor conversation has since advanced to a direct introduction with the VP of Product Development.
"There was significant energy and enthusiasm on the floor. Primes were open and welcoming to discussion and establishing partnerships."
Strategic Value and What Comes Next
CANSEC reinforced something CCI has been building toward over the past two years: that consistent, visible presence in the right industry spaces pays off — even in sectors with long sales cycles. The leads, connections, and visibility from this show are already translating into follow-up activity, and CCI plans to return to CANSEC in 2027.
This show is part of a broader trade show strategy that has included Satellite 2026 in Washington, DC and Space Tech Expo 2025 Europe in Bremen — each building on the last, and each reinforcing CCI's position as a serious, globally competitive Canadian manufacturer.
The message CCI wants the defence sector to hear is straightforward: we are not a peripheral supplier. Radomes are not an add-on to what we do — they are a core capability, backed by engineering expertise, proprietary software, and a genuine commitment to partnership. We don't just build enclosures. We work with our clients to design the right solution for their antenna, their frequency, and their environment with a focus on building long term relationships.
Canada's defence sector is at an inflection point. Sovereign capability matters more than it has in a generation. CCI is here, we are ready, and we are glad the word is getting out.
