The Canadian Armed Forces recently conducted a test for nearly twenty drone manufacturers in a remote area near Ottawa to explore various types of unmanned systems and potential partnerships with adaptable companies. The event, named RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026, allowed military personnel to test aerial, ground, and maritime drones, along with long-range precision strike systems. Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, overseeing the military’s joint forces command, highlighted the participation of twenty companies, with the majority being Canadian, in the demonstration held at a test range in Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, Ont.
Key selection criteria for participating companies included Canadian ownership or partnerships, aligning with the federal government’s defense industrial strategy. While Canadian suppliers are known for innovation, the practical experience and technology related to battlefield drones are primarily concentrated in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Molstad expressed confidence in Canadian companies’ ability to meet the military’s technological requirements, emphasizing the need for agile partners due to the rapid evolution of drone technology.
The military’s specific focus includes aerial reconnaissance and surveillance drones, ground drones for complex terrains, and maritime platforms for surface and subsurface warfare. Additionally, there is interest in acquiring precision deep-strike capabilities, similar to tactics utilized by Ukraine against Russian targets. Historically, the Canadian military has been slow in adopting dedicated drone capabilities, with limited deployment of surveillance drones, including leased units in Afghanistan.
In 2023, 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. The military has also acquired a fleet of 50 Teal 2 micro drones for local surveillance in recent years. Furthermore, the government announced the forthcoming construction of a $30 million military drone research and development facility in Mirabel, Quebec, last month.