Ottawa and Kyiv have agreed to produce Ukrainian-designed reconnaissance unmanned aerial systems in Canada under a new defense-industrial partnership in support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ottawa and Kyiv have agreed to produce Ukrainian-designed reconnaissance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in Canada under a new defense-industrial partnership in support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The arrangement, signed by the defense agencies from both countries in Canada, establishes a joint venture between Ukrainian defense technology firm Airlogix and Canadian drone manufacturer Sentinel Research and Development.
Officials said the initiative will increase platforms used for gathering intelligence and related operational planning in Ukraine while expanding defense cooperation between the two countries.
“By supporting joint ventures like Airlogix‑Sentinel, we are helping deliver the critical capabilities Ukraine needs while supporting high‑value Canadian jobs and strengthening Canada’s industrial base,” Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty stated.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting Ukraine while driving economic growth and resilience here at home.”
Kath Intson, CEO at Sentinel, noted that her company views collaboration with Ukraine as an opportunity to learn from a country with extensive real-world combat experience.
“Sentinel’s approach to this project is rooted in a position of support, humility, and a genuine desire to make a difference to this war,” she said. “Today, we take the first step with an incredible partner, Airlogix, to jointly deliver critical capabilities to Ukraine.”
Airlogix Chief Commercial Officer Dmytro Piatrin added that the venture’s priority is to deliver effective systems to Ukrainian troops as quickly as possible.
“We are optimistic that this joint venture is in line with that goal,” he said.
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The venture forms part of Canada’s broader effort to expand cooperation with Ukraine on drones, counter-UAS technologies, and electronic warfare while increasing its own domestic production capacity for critical defense technologies.
In May, the country opened a local competition to transform drones into low-cost precision assets to assist indirect fire operations.
That effort follows the Canadian military’s force-wide deployment of anti-drone solutions for critical infrastructure the same month in response to increasing autonomous threats, with strategies drawing from Ukraine’s lethal UAS strike operation against Russia last year, Operation Spiderweb.
In March, Canada pledged $663 million to expand its drone research and other developments tied to airborne defense, including the opening of a testing hub.
