Canadian satellite manufacturer MDA Space says it is preparing to significantly expand production and pursue more defence-related contracts as governments around the world increase military spending amid rising geopolitical tensions.
The Brampton, Ontario based company is planning a major manufacturing leap, moving from producing roughly one satellite per week to building as many as two digital satellites per day. The increase will come as the company brings a newly expanded satellite manufacturing facility in Montreal online.
Chief executive officer Mike Greenley said growing global instability is driving demand for space-based technology, particularly for monitoring and security purposes.
“Countries want to be able to have increased Earth observation, to monitor their sovereign territory,” Greenley said in an interview with BNN Bloomberg on Wednesday.
MDA Space has strong visibility into its financial outlook this year, with the company reporting that revenue and profitability rose by 50 percent year over year in the fourth quarter. The company also holds a backlog valued at approximately 4 billion dollars.
Greenley noted that the majority of the company’s projected revenue for this year is already secured through existing contracts.
“The large majority of our revenue this year was already in backlog and signed contracts that we have in the business,” he said, adding that the company’s backlog has grown to seven times the level it was when the firm went public five years ago.
Despite the rapid expansion, Greenley said the company is well positioned to meet rising demand. MDA Space has increased hiring significantly and now employs about 4,000 people.
The company has also opened its new Space Robotics Centre of Excellence in Brampton, while capital spending this year will focus on installing production equipment at the new Montreal facility, which is gradually becoming operational.
MDA Space is also positioning itself to benefit from growing defence spending in Canada. In December 2025, the company signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Government of Canada and Telesat Corporation to develop and deliver military satellite communications systems for the Arctic.
“Canada is going through an expansion of its defence spending… it is actually starting to move,” Greenley said.
International opportunities are also expanding. Earlier this year, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Hanwha Systems to collaborate on the Korea Low Earth Orbit defence satellite constellation, known as K-LEO. The partnership is expected to open new export opportunities for MDA Space in military communications.
Greenley said collaboration with the United States is also strengthening. The company recently secured a contract with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency linked to the Golden Dome program, while all five major U.S. defence contractors currently purchase satellite components produced by MDA in Montreal.
According to Greenley, the increasing reliance on satellite-based communication, surveillance and security systems will continue to drive demand globally.
Countries are seeking stronger situational awareness, reliable communications and improved response capabilities, he said, adding that these needs will only expand the global pipeline for satellite technology as governments focus on strengthening national security.
