The Canadian Army is inviting private-sector companies to compete for the right to develop low-cost precision drones that can identify, track and support destroy adversarial weapons, the government announced in May 2026. The Minerva Initiative, a public-private partnership, was aided by $1.5 million in government seed money, part of the modernization of the Canadian Armed Forces. “The Minerva Initiative reflects our commitment to equipping the Canadian Army with cutting-edge, cost-effective capabilities that deliver real results in the field. By harnessing Canadian innovation and strengthening partnerships across sectors, we are developing smarter tools that enhance decision-making and support our soldiers where it matters most,” National Defence Minister David J. McGuinty said in a May 21 news release.
The Army, supported by the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program, crafted the strategy, which seeks to identify cheap ways to build and deploy effective fleets of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), stated a Canadian Department of National Defence news release.
The commander of the Canadian Army said the initiative will maintain his force’s ability to fight in the 21st century. The prominence of drones in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has redefined how countries are arming themselves, said Canadian Army Lt. Gen. Michael Wright. “We are investing in innovation that will redefine operational effectiveness and safeguard our soldiers on tomorrow’s battlefields. Through the Minerva Initiative, we are accelerating the delivery of affordable, high-impact uncrewed system technologies — while shaping a more agile, collaborative, and forward-learning procurement partnership with industry. Minerva will involve the soldiers, as the end users of the capabilities, and bring them together with industry so that solutions are grounded in operational reality.”
The Army hopes to support indirect fire missions and enhance battlefield awareness for the Canadian Army by improving:
- Situational awareness and decision-making
- Soldier safety and survivability
- Sensor-to-shooter integration for indirect fire
- Operational resilience in harsh environments
“The Government of Canada continues to engage the Canadian innovation ecosystem to strengthen collaboration with industry and advance general purpose uncrewed systems. These systems are fundamental to Canada’s national security, offering the persistence and responsiveness that complement land power capabilities while maintaining a domestically sustainable capability,” the release stated.