AWSM (Acoustic warfare support measures)

AWSM stands for acoustic warfare support measures. It is a NATO military abbreviation, and the corresponding French term is "mesures de soutien de la guerre acoustique". NATO's glossary of acronyms and abbreviations records the expansion and links it to AAP-06, the alliance's glossary of terms and definitions.

The term belongs to NATO's standardized vocabulary rather than to Canadian procurement vocabulary. Canadian suppliers are most likely to meet it in NATO-aligned defence documents, so it helps to know the exact expansion and where it is catalogued. This page sets out what the NATO material establishes and which Canadian acoustic defence activity sits nearby.

What the NATO acronym glossary lists for AWSM

The AAP-15 (2013) Glossary of NATO acronyms and abbreviations is a bilingual English and French document. It lists AWSM as "acoustic warfare support measures" and gives the French equivalent alongside it. The same entry associates the term with AAP-06.

AAP-06 and NATOTerm as reference points

AAP-06 is NATO's glossary of terms and definitions. When a bid document uses AWSM in a NATO context, AAP-06 is the publication the acronym glossary points to. NATO also maintains an official terminology database, NATOTerm, which is run by the NATO Terminology Office within the NATO Standardization Office. Bid teams can use it to check NATO terminology.

Sonar and Acoustic Systems as a Canadian Key Industrial Capability

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada names Sonar and Acoustic Systems as one of Canada's Key Industrial Capabilities under the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy. The ISED Key Industrial Capabilities page describes the category as the design, manufacture and integration of sonar and acoustic systems for military and civil uses. It covers sensor arrays, signal processing and system management. The capability includes "dry-side" signal processing and system-management functions as well as "wet-side" sensor arrays.

Acoustic work in Department of National Defence contracting

CanadaBuys records a Department of National Defence contract titled "Acoustic Systems Development and Model". The contract history entry shows a value of CAD 406,002.42 and a performance period from February 26, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

A DND procurement report also describes the Acoustic Quieting Project. Its purpose is to reduce the noise signature of the Victoria-class submarines so that they are less likely to be detected.

These records show Canadian activity in acoustic and undersea capabilities. They do not list AWSM as a requirement, clause, classification, deliverable or supplier obligation.

What AWSM means for a supplier bidding on Canadian public contracts

AWSM is not a Canadian procurement category or a stated bid requirement in the records reviewed here. Treat it as NATO terminology: if a solicitation or a NATO-linked document uses the term, read it as "acoustic warfare support measures" and check AAP-06 and NATOTerm for the formal wording.

• Match your capability statements to Canada's published category, Sonar and Acoustic Systems, when you describe acoustic work to Canadian buyers.
• Search CanadaBuys for acoustic-related notices and contract history.
• Read each solicitation's own requirements, because the sources reviewed here do not tie AWSM to a specific obligation.