Canada picks six systems in drone push, expands Ukraine ties

Canada has established a national marketplace in order to buy drones for its armed forces and coast guard, while expanding defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine under a new agreement signed during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the measures in Calgary on September 10, 2026, alongside Zelenskyy. 

The Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace (DDIM) Supply Arrangement will serve as the procurement vehicle for the Defence Drone Initiative launched on July 23, 2026. 

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, nearly 400 suppliers have qualified for the marketplace, which Ottawa says is modeled on Brave1, Ukraine’s defense technology cluster. 

Canada claims to have awarded up to C$50 million ($36 million) in initial contracts that would increase the Canadian Armed Forces’ drone inventory tenfold. It did not disclose the current size of that inventory. 

An accompanying backgrounder, however, describes the awards more cautiously, suggesting that Canada “intends to proceed” with the orders once evaluations are complete, including foreign ownership, control and influence assessments. 

Six systems selected for Canada’s first drone buys 

The proposed first batch comprises four uncrewed aircraft systems: the AVSS Drone D1, Volatus Aerospace Huntsman X6, Draganfly Astiia and Objexis AI MAQ-C. 

It also includes two uncrewed ground vehicles: the Twenty20 Insight XRC RHINO and Beonyx VTSE-TC. 

Not all of these systems are Canadian designs. The backgrounder describes the Huntsman X6 and XRC RHINO as manufactured in the United Kingdom with Canadian support, while the Astiia, based on Australian technology, is produced in Canada under license. 

Canada and Ukraine move toward joint drone production 

Carney and Zelenskyy also signed a Joint Declaration on Enhancement of the Defence and Security Cooperation covering the co-development and co-production of defense equipment. 

According to their joint statement, the partnership builds on a letter of intent for  co-production signed in Kyiv on August 24, 2025. 

Zelenskyy’s office described the declaration as the first step toward implementing Ukraine’s Drone Deal framework in the Americas, a model Kyiv has also pursued with the United States. 

Kyiv declared that 30% of drones produced under the joint program would be delivered to Ukraine’s Defense Forces. However, that figure does not appear in the Canadian government’s published documents. 

Separately, General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada will work with Ukrainian company Green Tech Harvest to develop and produce drones and related technologies. 

Ottawa adds $253 million for air defense interceptors 

Canada also committed approximately C$350 million ($253 million) for air defense interceptors through the Joint Ukraine Multinational Program: Services, Training and Articles Rapid Timeline, or JUMPSTART. 

The US-led mechanism uses allied contributions to procure military equipment for Ukraine. Canadian documents did not specify which interceptor types would be purchased, though. 

Zelenskyy has suggested that the overall value of the arrangements announced during the visit exceeded $2 billion, including a government defense package worth more than $1 billion covering “missiles for Patriots, munitions for F-16s” and drone co-production, alongside commercial agreements focused mainly on energy. 

Canada itemized just over C$1 billion ($722 million) in new commitments for Ukraine, with most of that amount consisting of energy financing and loan guarantees. 

The additional funding comes as Ukraine’s partners seek to secure more Patriot interceptors ahead of the winter season. Germany pledged PAC-2 interceptors from Bundeswehr stocks on September 8, 2026. 

Zelenskyy also noted that Carney had offered Canadian technology for Freyja, the European anti-ballistic missile program presented by Ukrainian manufacturer Fire Point on July 13, 2026. The post Canada picks six systems in drone push, expands Ukraine ties appeared first on AeroTime.

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