CMS gains momentum: Lockheed Martin Canada on German partnership, future projects and naval tech

As global naval forces face increasingly complex threats, from hypersonic missiles to swarms of unmanned vessels, modern combat management systems and advanced radar technologies have become critical to maintaining maritime security. Defense company Lockheed Martin Canada has been involved in projects that support the modernization of the Royal Canadian Navy and allied navies, including the CMS 330 combat management system, the integration of SPY-7 radar, and upgrades to naval vessels. With its CMS 330 system now adopted by the German Navy, the company continues to foster international collaboration while advancing naval technology and future capabilities.

Naval Today spoke with Glenn Copeland, General Manager of Rotary and Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin Canada, about the company’s latest projects, international partnerships, and technological advancements in naval warfare.

From the recent adoption of the CMS 330 combat management system by the German Navy to ongoing upgrades on Halifax-class frigates, Arctic and offshore patrol ships, and the integration of the next-generation SPY-7 radar, Copeland discussed how these initiatives are shaping the future of naval operations while fostering collaboration between Canada, Germany, and allied partners.

• The German Navy’s selection of CMS 330 marks a major milestone in Canada-Germany defense cooperation. From your perspective, what makes this partnership strategically significant for both countries, and how does it strengthen interoperability within NATO?

Glenn Copeland: This partnership matters because Canada and Germany already share a strong foundation of trust and shared values, and this brings that relationship into a very practical defence context. It strengthens how our navies operate together and deepens cooperation on the industrial side as well.

For NATO, the impact is clear. CMS 330 is already used by allied navies, so Germany joining that group of users immediately boosts operational commonality and makes training and deployment both cost-effective and efficient while participating in the future capabilities to everyone’s benefit. The system’s open architecture also makes it flexible and agile for evolving threats and mission needs, essential in today’s dynamic security environment.

• CMS 330 has a 25-year operational track record. Can you share any lessons learned from past deployments that influenced the latest upgrades? How has the technology evolved over time?

Glenn Copeland: Over the past 25 years, we’ve learned a tremendous amount from the navies that operate CMS 330, and it has evolved considerably based on the significant investments made by both LM Canada and our customers. One of the most valuable parts of the program is our international user group, where all CMS 330 nations come together to share what’s working, what needs to evolve, and how the system is performing in real-world scenarios. It’s the ability to listen carefully to our customers’ needs that directly shape our upgrades.

• Can you go into some detail, offering an example of a User Group lesson learned?

Glenn Copeland: Our customers want to continue to employ future versions of the system. They have asked us how to best incorporate baselines to be managed that will ensure continual ease of implementation across various platforms and classes of ships. CMS 330 was designed to be adaptable, so we continually modernize its core and architect individual applications that can be easily tailored for specific mission fits.

• Beyond operational benefits, this contract represents a boost to both Canadian and German industry. How does CMS 330 drive innovation, economic resilience, and technology development in both countries?

Glenn Copeland: This agreement creates real economic momentum in both countries. In Canada, CMS 330 is supported by a supply chain that reaches across the country, so a contract like this helps sustain highly skilled jobs, strengthens our industrial base, and drives ongoing innovation. We’re planning to hire 120 to 150 people over the next year to support the CMS 330 export program, which shows how meaningful these opportunities are for Canadian industry.

On the German side, partners like Hensoldt and others will play a central role in day-to-day integration and support. Their expertise is essential, and it reflects the kind of long-term industrial collaboration we want to build.

We also see real value in working with German universities and research institutions. Those relationships help develop new talent and advance technology on both sides, creating benefits that will last well beyond this program.

• The German CMS 330 contract is a major transatlantic deal. Are there any other projects planned for the next period with the German Government?

Glenn Copeland: I can’t speak to any discussions outside of this contract, but Lockheed Martin Canada is proud to partner with Germany to deliver advanced naval combat management capabilities that enhance allied interoperability.

Outside of this naval contract, we’ve also found incredible partners in Germany who we see as critical to our foray into the Canadian Ground Based Air Defence program that is about to go into competition in Canada.

Canada and Germany share a deep commitment to democratic values, international law and collective security, and we appreciate the trust that the German Ministry of Defence has placed in Canadian expertise.

Together, we are laying the groundwork for innovation and cooperation that will benefit both our nations, our navies and future generations. 

• Beyond CMS 330, Lockheed Martin Canada has modernized the Halifax-class frigates and contributed to Arctic/offshore patrol ships. Which recent projects do you believe will have the most transformative impact on the Royal Canadian Navy, and why?

Glenn Copeland: The Royal Canadian Navy has made tremendous progress in modernizing its fleet, and we’re proud that CMS 330 is the common combat management system across its surface vessels today. It will also be integrated onto the future River-class destroyers and Joint Support Ships.

AOPS and JSS allowed us to architect the design for the lower end of the conflict spectrum which means we can now offer a capability for navies the world over that have CMS 330 at its core but also facilitate easy mission matching, whether it’s a platform with a constabulary role or a full spectrum warfare ship.

All these platforms will operate on the same combat management backbone, which means Canada will have a single, scalable system supporting its entire next generation of surface combatants. A common system allows the Navy to train, sustain, and operate more efficiently, and gives crews the flexibility to move between ships with confidence. It’s a significant advantage, whether they’re conducting humanitarian or constabulary operations, or operating in multi-threat environments.

• The SPY‑7 radar is being described as a game-changer for the Royal Canadian Navy. With Spain, Japan, the United States and Canada deploying SPY‑7 on different classes of ships, what challenges do you see in ensuring the radar works across diverse platforms? How is Lockheed Martin Canada designing SPY‑7 to handle emerging threats, such as hypersonic weapons or swarms of unmanned vessels?

Glenn Copeland: The requirements for the threat responses on the RCD program were some of the most demanding that anyone had seen in any bid proposal. Looking at the demands on the systems and the sensors that were needed to manage this threat envelope, I can tell you that no other radar solution came close. SPY 7’s ability to manage the threat in overwhelming and contested environments make it the world’s premier naval radar.

• Innovation in naval systems requires balancing reliability with rapid technological advancement. Can you share any experimental or prototype programs Lockheed Martin Canada is pursuing that could signal the future of naval warfare?

Glenn Copeland: Rapid technological advancement is being seen in real time theaters of conflict. The ability to manage the threat picture for unconventional threats such as drone swarms or even a single drone in a cluttered environment requires confidence that the threat will be detectable and identified within the common picture. AI algorithms will be key to managing and countering that threat.

Also, the Hardware must be more flexible and resilient in the face of obsolescence. How you design and implement that hardware for the customers benefit is key to sustaining their operational flexibility.

• Given the growing interest in Canadian-made combat management systems worldwide, are there any upcoming foreign navy projects or potential partnerships that you can hint at?

Glenn Copeland: I can’t speak to other procurement decisions at this point, but regions of the globe look promising. We are continuing to work with allied partners to explore how the system can support their missions with interoperability, modernization, and open-architecture systems. CMS 330 is designed with those priorities in mind, and we look forward to discussing the possibility of further collaboration in the region. 

CMS 330 is trusted by New Zealand, Chile, Canada, and now Germany and stands ready to further support our allies across the globe.

• Looking ahead 10–15 years, what does Lockheed Martin Canada see as the biggest change in naval warfare?

Glenn Copeland: Threat arcs won’t be conventional based on directivity from the anticipated threat sectors, e.g. facing the theater front axis. Loiter munitions will become tougher to detect and will be needed to be defeated within a 360-degree mindset. Also, maneuvering hypersonics will get better. There is only so much that can be designed within the laws of physics, but those limits will still test reaction times and future systems need to respond accordingly.

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