Canada needs a ‘good mix’ of new tech like drones, AI: NATO commander
Next week’s federal budget is expected to have more details about how Canada intends to meet ambitious defence spending targets by 2035.
Canada’s senior defence official is advising the country to embrace a diverse range of advanced technologies in its national defence strategy. Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, emphasized the importance of incorporating AI targeting, advanced drones, and other unmanned systems into military plans.
Vandier clarified that drones and swarms should not replace existing forces but instead enhance their capabilities. He stressed the importance of a balanced approach, combining drones with electronic warfare tactics and traditional military assets to improve both the lethality and survivability of forces. Vandier highlighted that exercises between NATO and the Latvian Ministry of Defence, known as Digital Backbone eXperimentation (DIBaX), demonstrated that drones can extend the reach and effectiveness of existing military systems.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have also been considering these developments, with the Department of National Defence recently launching the Defence Drone Initiative (DDI) to integrate drone technology into the CAF’s operations. As the government continues to invest billions in national defence, the push for modernizing Canada’s military capabilities, including its drone capabilities, is gaining momentum.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
