The Canadian Armed Forces is conducting a major testing event with Canadian drone manufacturers as the military looks to accelerate the adoption of uncrewed technology for modern warfare.
The event, known as the RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator, is taking place at a NATO testing facility in the Ottawa Valley, where manufacturers are putting their drone platforms through real-world scenarios.
The initiative comes as the federal government seeks to expand the military’s use of drones amid rapid technological developments and their growing importance on modern battlefields.
Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, commander of Canadian Joint Forces Command, said the initiative demonstrates the need for the military and defence industry to work more closely together to develop and deploy new technologies quickly.
The testing event brings military drone operators directly together with industry specialists responsible for designing and developing the systems, allowing them to exchange feedback on their capabilities and potential operational uses.
Molstad is also overseeing Canadian Armed Forces efforts to determine the appropriate types and combination of uncrewed platforms required for future operations.
Those efforts include examining lower-cost drone systems similar to those that have played an increasingly significant role in the war in Ukraine.
The RED COBALT initiative is part of the military’s broader push to identify emerging technologies that can be rapidly tested, refined and potentially incorporated into Canadian defence operations.
