Next Sunday: Drones! Drones! Drones! Part 3

Canada wants a drone army. Its procurement system is in the way.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve looked at the drone revolution from two different angles:

Part 1 examined why drones are changing warfare at a pace that few military institutions anticipated. Part 2 explored how Ukraine built one of the world’s most effective military innovation ecosystems and what Canada might learn from it.

Next Sunday, we’ll turn our attention home.

Part 3 of the Deep Dive series focuses on Canada’s Minerva initiative, defence procurement culture, and the larger question that sits behind every discussion about drones: can Canada actually build a credible domestic drone capability?

The challenge is not simply acquiring equipment. Drones are evolving so quickly that traditional procurement systems struggle to keep pace. The countries gaining an advantage are those that can connect innovators, operators, manufacturers, researchers, and military users into a system that learns and adapts continuously.

Canada has exceptional universities, talented engineers, innovative companies, and a military that increasingly understands the importance of autonomous systems. What we do not yet have is a clear understanding of how all those pieces fit together.

Part 3 will examine what Minerva is attempting to accomplish, where the obstacles remain, and what lessons can be drawn from countries that are moving much faster.

If you missed the first two installments, now is a good time to catch up before Sunday.

See you then.

~ Maritimer