Canada Builds Drone-Testing Hub to Boost Defence Tech

Ottawa will build a new secure drone-testing facility in Mirabel, Quebec, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Canada’s defence capabilities. Defence Minister David McGuinty announced the Uncrewed Systems Defence Innovation Secure Hub on Tuesday, adding to a separate drone development centre already under construction in the same city.

The hub is the second in a planned national network designed to foster sovereign capabilities in key technologies. A maritime hub launched in Nova Scotia serves as a pilot project. The government has committed $29 million over two years to establish and operate the uncrewed systems hub, which will be led by a consortium of 30 organizations.

This facility aims to bridge the gap between industry innovation and the Canadian Armed Forces' needs, streamlining testing and security clearance processes. Canada currently lags behind other nations in drone technology, and this initiative seeks to accelerate development in areas like Arctic performance and scalable production.