Canada Advances Combat Drone Plans to Expand F-35 Fighters Combat Power
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
Canada is exploring the possibility of acquiring combat drones to support its future fleet of F-35 fighter jets, a strategic option reported by Global News in an article published on July 12, 2025. The Department of National Defence has initiated studies to assess the available options for unmanned aerial vehicles capable of operating alongside modern fighter aircraft. This initiative comes as the Canadian Armed Forces seek to modernize their arsenal in response to the rapid evolution of military technologies and emerging threats.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Several cooperative projects are mentioned, including Boeing’s MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” developed in Australia, General Atomics’ YFQ-42 in the United States, and Anduril’s YFQ-44A (Picture source: US DoD)
According to an internal analysis, the potential cost of such an acquisition could reach 16 billion Canadian dollars, though no final decision has yet been made. The implementation of such a program would also require the mobilization of several hundred personnel for the operation and maintenance of these new systems. David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, noted that several of Canada’s allies have already embarked on similar paths. Ottawa, therefore, aims at a minimum to understand how its closest military partners plan to integrate these technologies and adapt its own strategy accordingly.
Combat drones represent an opportunity for the Royal Canadian Air Force to enhance its operational flexibility while compensating for the limited size of its current air fleet. Perry emphasized the economic constraints faced by Western militaries, where the high cost of modern fighter jets limits the number of aircraft that can be procured. The integration of unmanned aircraft could help address this limitation by increasing the number of platforms available on the battlefield at a lower cost. This strategy of numerical augmentation could complicate enemy defenses, as demonstrated by the war in Ukraine, where Russia has launched massive drone and missile strikes to overwhelm defensive systems.
Canada and its allies have not yet deployed drones capable of directly coordinating with fighter jets. Daniel Norton, a senior management systems analyst at the RAND Corporation with over thirty years of experience in U.S. Air Force modernization, explained that the drones under consideration by Canada would be smaller and significantly less expensive than traditional combat aircraft, particularly when procured in large numbers. These platforms, known as “collaborative combat aircraft,” are designed to operate semi-autonomously in tasks such as targeting and navigation, while remaining under human supervision. Norton estimated that operational deployment of such systems is unlikely before 2030.
These drones could carry sensors, electronic warfare equipment, weapons, or serve as decoys in high-risk environments. In the future, some models might be capable of conducting combat missions entirely autonomously. This technological direction is discreetly outlined in the 2024 Canadian defence policy update titled Our North, Strong and Free, which includes plans to explore the acquisition of surveillance and strike drones, as well as counter-drone capabilities.
The preliminary analysis by the Department of National Defence ruled out the prospect of a fully domestically-produced combat drone fleet, favoring instead collaboration with allies involved in similar international programs. Several cooperative projects are mentioned, including Boeing’s MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” developed in Australia, General Atomics’ YFQ-42 in the United States, and Anduril’s YFQ-44A. Some of these systems are already undergoing flight tests or are preparing for them, while several European initiatives are also in development.
Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, the newly appointed Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, confirmed that the rapid progress in drone warfare capabilities is being closely monitored. She indicated that such advancements are already identified as priorities for the future. This consideration comes as Prime Minister Carney has ordered a review of the F-35 procurement program amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. The federal government is expected to decide by the end of the summer on the overall procurement project, which could include the acquisition of combat drones.
Canada has officially planned to acquire 88 F-35s at an estimated cost of 27.7 billion Canadian dollars. So far, only the first batch of 16 aircraft has been formally ordered. Defence Minister David McGuinty has defended this program despite sharp criticism from the Auditor General regarding the continuous cost increases. McGuinty stated that such budgetary variations are typical for projects of this magnitude.
While no final decision has been made, the potential integration of combat drones alongside Canada’s future F-35 fleet reflects a major strategic consideration. This approach aligns with Ottawa’s intent to modernize its forces in line with technological developments and the evolving practices of its allies, while preparing for the operational challenges that aerial combat may present in the coming decades.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
Canada is exploring the possibility of acquiring combat drones to support its future fleet of F-35 fighter jets, a strategic option reported by Global News in an article published on July 12, 2025. The Department of National Defence has initiated studies to assess the available options for unmanned aerial vehicles capable of operating alongside modern fighter aircraft. This initiative comes as the Canadian Armed Forces seek to modernize their arsenal in response to the rapid evolution of military technologies and emerging threats.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Several cooperative projects are mentioned, including Boeing’s MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” developed in Australia, General Atomics’ YFQ-42 in the United States, and Anduril’s YFQ-44A (Picture source: US DoD)
According to an internal analysis, the potential cost of such an acquisition could reach 16 billion Canadian dollars, though no final decision has yet been made. The implementation of such a program would also require the mobilization of several hundred personnel for the operation and maintenance of these new systems. David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, noted that several of Canada’s allies have already embarked on similar paths. Ottawa, therefore, aims at a minimum to understand how its closest military partners plan to integrate these technologies and adapt its own strategy accordingly.
Combat drones represent an opportunity for the Royal Canadian Air Force to enhance its operational flexibility while compensating for the limited size of its current air fleet. Perry emphasized the economic constraints faced by Western militaries, where the high cost of modern fighter jets limits the number of aircraft that can be procured. The integration of unmanned aircraft could help address this limitation by increasing the number of platforms available on the battlefield at a lower cost. This strategy of numerical augmentation could complicate enemy defenses, as demonstrated by the war in Ukraine, where Russia has launched massive drone and missile strikes to overwhelm defensive systems.
Canada and its allies have not yet deployed drones capable of directly coordinating with fighter jets. Daniel Norton, a senior management systems analyst at the RAND Corporation with over thirty years of experience in U.S. Air Force modernization, explained that the drones under consideration by Canada would be smaller and significantly less expensive than traditional combat aircraft, particularly when procured in large numbers. These platforms, known as “collaborative combat aircraft,” are designed to operate semi-autonomously in tasks such as targeting and navigation, while remaining under human supervision. Norton estimated that operational deployment of such systems is unlikely before 2030.
These drones could carry sensors, electronic warfare equipment, weapons, or serve as decoys in high-risk environments. In the future, some models might be capable of conducting combat missions entirely autonomously. This technological direction is discreetly outlined in the 2024 Canadian defence policy update titled Our North, Strong and Free, which includes plans to explore the acquisition of surveillance and strike drones, as well as counter-drone capabilities.
The preliminary analysis by the Department of National Defence ruled out the prospect of a fully domestically-produced combat drone fleet, favoring instead collaboration with allies involved in similar international programs. Several cooperative projects are mentioned, including Boeing’s MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” developed in Australia, General Atomics’ YFQ-42 in the United States, and Anduril’s YFQ-44A. Some of these systems are already undergoing flight tests or are preparing for them, while several European initiatives are also in development.
Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, the newly appointed Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, confirmed that the rapid progress in drone warfare capabilities is being closely monitored. She indicated that such advancements are already identified as priorities for the future. This consideration comes as Prime Minister Carney has ordered a review of the F-35 procurement program amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. The federal government is expected to decide by the end of the summer on the overall procurement project, which could include the acquisition of combat drones.
Canada has officially planned to acquire 88 F-35s at an estimated cost of 27.7 billion Canadian dollars. So far, only the first batch of 16 aircraft has been formally ordered. Defence Minister David McGuinty has defended this program despite sharp criticism from the Auditor General regarding the continuous cost increases. McGuinty stated that such budgetary variations are typical for projects of this magnitude.
While no final decision has been made, the potential integration of combat drones alongside Canada’s future F-35 fleet reflects a major strategic consideration. This approach aligns with Ottawa’s intent to modernize its forces in line with technological developments and the evolving practices of its allies, while preparing for the operational challenges that aerial combat may present in the coming decades.
