Canadian Armed Forces holds major drone testing event with manufacturers

OTTAWA - The Canadian Armed Forces held a two-day drone testing event in the Ottawa Valley, showcasing its commitment to accelerating the adoption of uncrewed systems. Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, commander of the Canadian Joint Forces Command, emphasized the military's need to change its relationship with industry as it seeks to adopt fleets of low-cost drones.

The RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator event brought together 200 defence personnel and nearly 30 drone technology companies, including Screaming Geese, ARA Robotics, Draganfly, and Sentinel R&D. The event featured a range of drone technologies, from quadcopters to counter-drone systems and ground vehicles. Lt.-Col. Jayme Leclerc, involved in organizing the event, explained that the gathering was designed to facilitate direct interaction between the military and industry to foster innovation and collaboration.

The economic development group Invest Ottawa established a facility in Ottawa to support tech companies in bringing their products to market and collaborating more closely with the military. This is the first opportunity for companies to demonstrate their drones at the Killaloe facility, which offers unique testing, demonstration, and validation opportunities.

The federal government is also developing a new procurement arrangement for drones, based on a pool of pre-qualified suppliers, to expedite the military's acquisition of new drones and foster the growth of the domestic industry.