The Canadian Armed Forces recently conducted a comprehensive evaluation of nearly twenty drone manufacturers at a remote site near Ottawa to explore various types of unmanned systems and potential partnerships with adaptable companies. The event, known as RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026, provided military personnel with hands-on experience with aerial, ground, and maritime drones, along with long-range precision strike systems. Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, overseeing the military’s joint forces command, highlighted that twenty companies, predominantly Canadian, participated in the demonstration held in Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, Ontario.
A key criterion for selecting participant companies was Canadian ownership or partnerships, aligning with the federal government’s defense industrial strategy. While Canadian suppliers are innovative, much of the cutting-edge drone technology and battlefield expertise is 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 includes acquiring aerial reconnaissance and surveillance drones, ground drones capable of navigating challenging terrain, and maritime platforms for surface and subsurface warfare. Additionally, there is a keen interest in developing precision deep-strike capability, similar to tactics seen in Ukraine targeting Russian oil facilities. Despite a delayed adoption of dedicated drone capabilities, the Canadian military has taken steps to enhance its drone fleet, such as procuring MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones and Teal 2 micro drones for surveillance purposes.
Looking ahead, the construction of a $30-million military drone research and development facility in Mirabel, Quebec, along with ongoing partnerships with drone manufacturers, signifies Canada’s commitment to strengthening its unmanned systems capabilities for future defense operations.