The Canadian Armed Forces conducted a rigorous evaluation of nearly twenty drone manufacturers on Wednesday at a remote site west of Ottawa. The evaluation, named RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026, allowed military personnel to test various types of 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 the event took place in Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, Ont., with participation from twenty companies, predominantly Canadian.
One of the key selection criteria for participating companies was 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 concentrated in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
In an interview, Molstad expressed confidence in Canadian companies’ ability to meet military requirements and adapt to evolving drone technology. The military is particularly interested in aerial reconnaissance, 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 used in Ukraine against Russian targets.
Despite a delayed adoption of dedicated drone capabilities, the Canadian military recently signed a contract with General Atomics for the procurement of MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones. The military has also acquired a fleet of Teal 2 micro drones for surveillance purposes. Furthermore, the government announced the upcoming establishment of a $30 million military drone research and development facility in Mirabel, Quebec.
The military’s emphasis is on fostering agile partnerships to keep pace with the rapidly evolving drone technology landscape, as demonstrated by the recent testing event.
