Located in Southeast Alberta, approximately 50 kilometres west of Medicine Hat, CFB Suffield has been the site of military training in the region since 1972. CFB Suffield is host to the largest military training area in Canada, conducting the largest live-fire training exercises in the country. The Manoeuvre Training Area covers 1,588 square kilometres of a 2,700 square kilometre base. The mission of CFB Suffield is to provide a world class, sustainable Range and Training Area that enables the Canadian Armed Forces, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) – Suffield Research Centre, the British Army Training Unit Suffield and other potential users to achieve their mandates through effective stewardship of all the Range Training Area, infrastructure and equipment.

CFB Suffield operates its own sewage system, water treatment system, landfill and landfarm and provides fire services to base residents and neighbouring communities. CFB Suffield is home to the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), the British Army’s premier live fire training establishment. BATUS delivers world class live fire and manoeuvre training as well as force on force exercises using state of the art simulation technology. The base is also the home of Defence Research and Development Canada – Suffield Research Centre. DRDC-SRC provides the Department of Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments, as well as public safety and national security communities the knowledge and technological advantage to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad. CFB Suffield falls under the Canadian Army command of 3rd Canadian Division (3 Cdn Div).

Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) - Suffield Research Centre

As the needs of DND have changed over the years, DRDC Suffield has remained a strategic defence resource. Many of the research and development activities at DRDC Suffield are unique.

DRDC Suffield offers expertise in military engineering, autonomous intelligent systems, and defence against chemical and biological (CB) agents. Key research areas include:

Explosives threat assessment and blast effects

Detection of land mines

Neutralization of landmines and unexploded ordnance

Bulk explosives detection

Novel energetic materials

CB detection and identification

Medical countermeasures and toxicology

CB hazard assessment

Physical protection against CB agents

DRDC Suffield also offers live agent training to the Canadian Armed Forces, international military, and first responder communities.

British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)

The prairie of Alberta has provided an excellent opportunity for the British Army to train on a large scale since 1972. The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) is an organisation situated on one of the most sparsely populated areas of the Alberta plain.

The duration of the exercises, and size of the training area, allow all elements of a combined arms battle group (Infantry, Armour, Artillery, Engineers, Air Defence, Logistics and Equipment Support) to conduct realistic live firing training at all levels.

More about BATUS.

Command Team