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Canadian Armed Forces Accelerate Drone Adoption With Minerva Challenges
The Army is using industry challenges to test prototypes and speed up drone use, with a $500,000 Arctic challenge among the funded projects.
- On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Canadian Armed Forces' Minerva program launched industry challenges and tenders for Arctic surveillance, cargo, targeting, and breaching drone systems to accelerate military adoption.
- Facing global drone threats, military leaders are treating uncrewed systems as an "expendable commodity," prioritising disposable, low-cost units over expensive hardware capitalised over 20 years.
- The program utilises "industry challenges" to cover early research costs, encouraging domestic firms to build prototypes without guaranteed orders; one Arctic aerial drone challenge offers a $500,000 maximum funding award.
- Army personnel are testing prototypes through next fall, while the military recently issued a tender for a counter-aerial drone system to protect domestic installations against emerging threats.
- Coordinators expect to complete a new drone wish-list within three to four months, aiming to balance rapid procurement with building a domestic defence sector integrated into Canadian military operations.
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As the war waged with drones rages in Ukraine, the Canadian Army's program to quickly acquire basic drones is just beginning to expand.
·Montreal, Canada
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meadowlakeNOW+9 Reposted by 9 other sources
In the news today: military drones, sentencing for child killer, B.C. election debate
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed … As drones reshape war around the world, the Canadian Armed Forces sprints to catch up As drone-fuelled warfare rages on half a world away in Ukraine, the Canadian ...
The Toronto Star+16 Reposted by 16 other sources
As drones reshape war around the world, the Canadian Armed Forces sprints to catch up
OTTAWA - As drone-fuelled warfare rages on half a world away in Ukraine, the Canadian Army's program for rapidly acquiring basic drones is just ramping up.
·Toronto, Canada
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Total News Sources33
Leaning Left18Leaning Right0Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Left
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources lean Left
62% Left
L 62%
C 38%
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