The Canadian Armed Forces recently conducted a testing event 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, as well as long-range precision strike systems. Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, overseeing the military’s joint forces command, highlighted the importance of Canadian ownership or partnerships in line with the government’s defense industrial strategy.
The demonstration, held in Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, Ontario, featured participation from twenty companies, with the majority being Canadian. Molstad expressed confidence in Canadian companies’ ability to meet military technology requirements, emphasizing the need for agile partners due to the rapid evolution of drone technology. The military is particularly interested in aerial reconnaissance and surveillance drones, ground drones for complex terrains, maritime platforms for surface and subsurface warfare, and precision deep-strike capabilities like those seen in Ukraine.
Despite a delayed adoption of dedicated drone capabilities, the Canadian military is making strides. In 2023, a contract was signed with General Atomics for 11 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, with delivery expected to begin in 2028. Additionally, the military recently acquired a fleet of 50 Teal 2 micro drones for local surveillance. In line with this progress, the government announced plans for a $30 million military drone research and development facility in Mirabel, Quebec.