Canada plans to invest more than 900 million Canadian dollars ($663 million) to expand drone and airborne defense research, including the creation of a new testing and research facility, CBC reported.
The funding will be managed by the National Research Council (NRC), Ottawa’s main public research organization responsible for scientific and technological development across sectors, including aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing.
According to officials, the new research facility will study drone technologies for both military and civilian applications, including surveillance, disaster response, and infrastructure monitoring.
As part of the initiative, the NRC will acquire a Canadian-built Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to support flight testing and defense-related research.
The Bombardier Global 6500 research aircraft will be assembled at Bombardier’s facility near Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, with final interior work carried out in Dorval, Quebec.
More than 65 Canadian suppliers are expected to contribute components to the platform.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the program is intended to strengthen Canada’s ability to develop critical technologies domestically, while supporting national companies involved in aerospace, unmanned systems, quantum technologies, and biomedical innovation.
Boosting Defense
The initiative falls under Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, a broader plan introduced last month by Prime Minister Mark Carney to expand national military capabilities and reduce dependence on the US for key defense systems.
The strategy outlines investments exceeding 500 billion Canadian dollars ($366 billion) to strengthen security, support domestic industry, and reinforce technological sovereignty.
The plan includes 80 billion Canadian dollars ($58.6 billion) in direct defense spending over the next five years.
It also allocates 180 billion Canadian dollars ($131.9 billion) for defense procurement and 290 billion Canadian dollars ($212.5 billion) for security-related infrastructure over the coming decade.
Funding will cover facilities, bases, and other strategic assets needed to support military operations and equipment production.
