The Canadian Armed Forces conducted a rigorous evaluation of nearly twenty drone manufacturers in a remote area near Ottawa on Wednesday, seeking diverse types of unmanned vehicles and potential partnerships with adaptable companies. The event, named RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026, allowed military personnel to test various aerial, ground, and maritime drones, along with long-range precision strike systems, as mentioned by Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, overseeing the military’s joint forces command.
Twenty companies, with 18 being Canadian-based, participated in the demonstration at a test site in Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, Ontario. The selection criteria included Canadian ownership or collaborations, aligning with the federal government’s defense industrial strategy. While Canadian suppliers are innovative, significant drone expertise resides in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
Lt.-Gen. 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 is specifically interested in aerial reconnaissance, surveillance drones, ground drones for complex terrains, and maritime platforms for surface and subsurface warfare, including precision deep-strike capabilities similar to operations in Ukraine.
Despite a delayed adoption of dedicated drone capabilities, the Canadian military recently signed a contract with General Atomics for MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones and acquired Teal 2 micro drones for surveillance. Additionally, a $30 million military drone research and development facility is set to be constructed in Mirabel, Quebec.
