On August 12, the Canadian Armed Forces hosted the RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator, bringing Canadian defence companies, innovators and military personnel together to test emerging autonomous technologies and provide direct operational feedback.
In this episode of the Expert Series, Dr. Alexander Salt examines what these new initiatives mean for the rapid integration of drones and autonomous systems into the Canadian Armed Forces and the broader defence industrial base. He discusses how the Defence Drone Initiative, RED COBALT, and the Uncrewed Systems Defence Innovation Secure Hub are intended to shorten the distance between military users and industry, accelerate procurement, and help Canada adapt to rapidly changing technology.
He also explores the challenges Canada faces in balancing the demand for cheap, mass-produced systems with the need for secure supply chains, the lessons that can be drawn from Ukraine, and the risks of relying on foreign components. Finally, he considers whether these new approaches can overcome Canada’s longstanding culture of risk aversion and create a more flexible defence procurement system capable of delivering new capabilities at speed.
