The Canadian Armed Forces conducted a comprehensive evaluation of nearly twenty drone manufacturers on Wednesday at a remote site located to the west of Ottawa. The purpose was to explore various types of unmanned vehicles and establish potential partnerships with adaptable companies. Known as RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026, the event 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, mentioned that twenty companies participated in the demonstration, with eighteen being Canadian. The selection criteria included Canadian ownership or partnerships, aligning with the federal government’s defense industrial strategy. While Canadian suppliers are innovative, the operational experience and technology related to battlefield drones are predominantly concentrated in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
During an interview, Molstad expressed confidence in Canadian companies’ ability to meet military requirements and technological standards. Emphasizing the need for agile partners due to rapid advancements in drone technology, Molstad highlighted the importance of establishing such collaborative relationships.
The military is particularly interested in acquiring aerial reconnaissance and surveillance drones, ground drones capable of navigating complex terrain, and maritime platforms for surface and subsurface warfare. Additionally, there is a focus on precision deep-strike capability, similar to tactics observed in Ukraine targeting Russian oil facilities.
Despite a delayed adoption of dedicated drone capabilities, the Canadian military signed a contract in 2023 with General Atomics to procure 11 MQ-9B SkyGuardian (CQ-9B Guardian) long-range armed remotely piloted aircraft systems, set for delivery starting in 2028. In recent years, the military also acquired a fleet of 50 Teal 2 micro drones from the United States for local surveillance purposes.
Furthermore, the federal government announced plans to construct a $30-million military drone research and development facility in Mirabel, Quebec, last month, indicating a growing focus on enhancing Canada’s drone capabilities.