The Canadian Armed Forces conducted a comprehensive evaluation of nearly twenty drone manufacturers in a remote area near Ottawa to explore various types of unmanned vehicles and potential partnerships with adaptable companies. The initiative, 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 a majority being Canadian, at a test site in Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, Ontario.
Criteria for company selection emphasized Canadian ownership or partnerships, aligning with the federal government’s defense industrial strategy. While Canadian suppliers are innovative, the practical drone expertise and technology are concentrated in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Molstad expressed confidence in Canadian companies’ ability to meet military requirements, emphasizing the need for agile partners due to the rapid evolution of drone technology.
The military’s focus is on acquiring aerial reconnaissance and surveillance drones, ground drones for complex terrains, and maritime platforms for surface and subsurface warfare. Additionally, they are exploring precision deep-strike capabilities, similar to those utilized in Ukraine to target Russian oil facilities. Despite a delayed adoption of dedicated drone capabilities, the Canadian military recently signed a contract with General Atomics for MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones and procured a fleet of Teal 2 micro drones for surveillance purposes. The government’s plan to establish a $30-million drone research and development facility in Mirabel, Quebec, further underscores their commitment to advancing drone technology.