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Saskatoon Drone Maker Joins Canada's New Drone Program

September 19, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Draganfly selected to supply surveillance drones to Canadian Armed Forces.
Contract worth up to $50 million across all six suppliers.
Drones to increase Canadian military's surveillance capabilities by 10 times.
Draganfly's Astiia UAS designed for low-cost, short-range missions.

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Strategic Implications

This deal may signal Canada's growing investment in domestic defence capabilities, which could strengthen its position in the global defence market. The partnership with Draganfly suggests a shift towards leveraging Canadian technology and manufacturing, which could have long-term implications for the country's defence industry.

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What Happened

Canadian Defence Industry Expands With New Surveillance Drones

A Saskatoon-based drone maker, Draganfly, has been selected to supply surveillance drones to the Canadian Armed Forces under a procurement plan worth up to $50 million. The company’s Astiia UAS is designed for low-cost, short-range missions and will increase the Canadian military’s surveillance capabilities by 10 times. This development is part of Canada’s broader effort to expand its domestic defence industry, with the federal government increasing defence spending by over $9 billion for 2025-26. The news was first reported by Canada’s National Observer.

Source | Originally Published: September 18, 2026

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