Canada expands domestic drone industry through $50 million procurement plan

Canada is moving to strengthen its domestic drone industry and sovereign defense capabilities. The federal government has launched a procurement plan worth up to $50 million across six suppliers to increase the number of drones deployed by the Canadian Armed Forces by approximately ten times.

Saskatoon-based company Draganfly has been selected to supply the Astiia UAS, a low-cost surveillance drone designed for information gathering via cameras and sensors. While Draganfly has historically supplied the US military, this contract marks a shift toward supporting domestic defense needs. The drones are intended to assist in monitoring vast territories, including the Arctic.

This initiative follows a significant increase in Canadian defense spending, which has reached NATO’s 2-percent target. Simultaneously, the CANUC alliance, comprising fourteen companies, is advocating for public procurement to prioritize domestically designed systems. Industry leaders emphasize that maintaining control over intellectual property, software, and manufacturing is essential to avoid reliance on foreign suppliers during conflicts.