Canada considers $11.6 billion drone acquisition for Royal Canadian Air Force

David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, commented on this development: “The broad thrust of the idea of having an unpiloted vehicle that would be able to operate with a piloted vehicle is that you provide additional numbers in a way that could potentially help provide enough quantity to overwhelm opposition forces.”

The United States Air Force (USAF), Navy, and Marines have been experimenting with various types of UCAV and UAS drones. Companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, Kratos, and Anduril are involved in developing these systems. The USAF selected Anduril Industries and General Atomics to build Increment 1 prototypes for air-to-air warfare.

Ground test assessments began in May for production test vehicles YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A by General Atomics and Anduril. These evaluations focus on propulsion systems, avionics, autonomous integration, and ground control interfaces. The systems will undergo flight testing later this year.

A CCA drone can serve as a decoy or shield for manned systems like the F-35. Drones are less expensive and time-consuming to maintain compared to sophisticated weapons systems like the fifth-generation F-35. Using UAS for high-risk operations preserves airframe life on manned jets.

As Canada invests in platforms like the F-35 for long-term use, delays in defense program development risk losing strategic advantage. The future fleet composition remains uncertain as Canada explores incorporating UCAVs into its defense strategy.