The Canadian Armed Forces conducted a rigorous evaluation of nearly 20 drone manufacturers on Wednesday at a remote site west of Ottawa, in search of diverse remote vehicle options and potential partnerships with adaptable companies. The event, named RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026, provided military personnel with the opportunity to test various aerial, ground, and maritime drones, along with long-range precision strike systems. Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, overseeing the military’s joint forces command, mentioned that twenty companies, with 18 being Canadian, participated in the demonstration at a test range in Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, Ontario.
An essential selection criterion for participating companies was Canadian ownership or collaborations, aligning with the federal government’s recent defense industrial strategy. While Canadian suppliers are known for their innovation, much of the practical drone expertise and technology is concentrated in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
During an interview, Molstad expressed confidence that Canadian companies can meet the military’s technological requirements. He emphasized the necessity for agile partners due to the rapid evolution of drone technology, particularly exemplified by ongoing updates in Ukraine’s uncrewed systems. The military’s specific focus includes aerial reconnaissance and surveillance drones, ground drones for complex terrain navigation, and maritime platforms for surface and subsurface warfare. Additionally, they are interested in precision deep-strike capability, similar to Ukraine’s successful use against Russian oil facilities.
The Canadian military has been relatively slow in adopting dedicated drone capabilities, despite their increasing prominence on the battlefield over the past two decades. Only a limited number of surveillance drones, some leased, were deployed with the army in Afghanistan. It wasn’t until 2023 that the federal government signed a contract with General Atomics to procure 11 MQ-9B SkyGuardian (CQ-9B Guardian) long-range armed remotely piloted aircraft systems, set for delivery from 2028 onwards. Moreover, in the last two years, the military acquired a fleet of 50 Teal 2 micro drones from the United States for local surveillance purposes.
In a recent development, the federal government announced the construction of a $30 million military drone research and development facility in Mirabel, Quebec, further highlighting the country’s commitment to advancing drone technology and capabilities.
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