Canada to Upgrade Air Force With $2.49 Billion Investment in Weaponizable Drones

A General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) performs a fly-over during the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, on July 14, 2022. Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

The Canadian government will make a $2.49 billion investment to acquire state-of-the-art drones for its military, giving itself the capability to strike enemy targets without having personnel over the battlefield.

The 11 new drones, MQ-9B SkyGuardians also called Reapers, have the main function of conducting surveillance but can also be fitted with armaments. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have currently no reported drones in its inventory, and the ones previously used could not be weaponized.

The SkyGuardians, roughly the size of a fighter jet, will enable the CAF to monitor Canada’s vast territory and lengthy coastline, supporting civilian aid operations such as responding to natural disasters like forest fires and floods, says the Department of National Defence (DND).

During operations, they will provide “near real-time information” to commanders, the department said, adding that the drones are capable of detecting, recognizing, identifying, tracking, and engaging targets.

Whereas the Heron, a drone model operated by the CAF during its mission in Afghanistan that ended in 2011, were unarmed, the SkyGuardians have the potential to be equipped with missiles and laser-guided bombs. The drones will not need to routinely carry weapons during operations in Canadian airspace.

SkyGuardians are capable of 40 hours of sustained flight in any weather condition, superior to the Heron’s potential 24 hours of continuous operation.

The SkyGuardians will be stationed at 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S., and 19 Wing Comox, B.C., with operations also supported from one of four forward operating locations for missions in northern Canada. A new ground control centre will be established in Ottawa, and new infrastructure will support drone operations at the designated wings.

Drone manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will finalize the acquisition through a direct commercial sale contract, with certain specific components being acquired via a Foreign Military Sale from the U. S. government.

The first delivery of the SkyGuardians is anticipated in 2028, with the systems expected to reach full operational capability by 2033, allowing Canada to join many of its NATO allies in the military employment of these advanced devices.

“At a time when defence and security needs are changing faster than ever, we must ensure Canada has a modern, adaptable military that is prepared to respond to evolving and emerging security challenges,” stated Bill Blair, minister of national defence, in a Canadian government Dec. 19 news release.

“Canada must meet the growing demand for domestic assistance while preserving our ability to defend Canada, protect North America, and support our allies. This [drone] capability will provide Canadian Armed Forces members with nimble response options during deployed operations, further contributing to their safety and effectiveness.”

The tactical use of weaponized drones has surged in recent years, by state and non-state actors alike.

Ukraine and Russia are employing them extensively against each other in their current conflict. The U.S. Navy, stationed in the Red Sea as a part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, recently downed drones launched by Houthi rebels based in Yemen. Iran-backed groups also use drones to attack U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq.