Canada to buy Polish drones, deepen defense ties by leveraging EU SAFE funds

[HavokFour]

Canada to buy Polish drones, deepen defense ties by leveraging EU SAFE funds - Breaking Defense

In December, Canada became the only non-European country to gain entry into the €150 billion SAFE defense borrowing and procurement scheme.

breakingdefense.com

https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/kanada-ministrowie-obrony-polski-i-kanady-podpisali-list-intencyjny-ws-wspolpracy-w

According to the Polish source the purchase(s) will include the Warmate loitering munition, FlyeEye mini-drones, and Gladius strike and reconnaissance drones all manufactured by WB Group.

WARMATE loitering munitions - WB GROUP

The WARMATE can be used as a self-contained system, which can be transported or carried by land or special forces units. The system design permits its installation on vehicles (cars,

www.wbgroup.pl

FLYEYE unmanned aerial systemFLYEYE mini UAS - WB GROUP

FLYEYE unmanned aerial system is characterized by the ease of assembly and disassembly.

www.wbgroup.pl

GLADIUS reconnaissance and strike system - WB GROUP

The GLADIUS reconnaissance and strike system is designed to perform aerial reconnaissance and strike missions using specialized unmanned aerial platforms. GLADIUS can be used in battery formations, as part of

www.wbgroup.pl

 

[FJAG]

While I applaud any decision to buy drones, for the life of me, I can't figure out how we haven't thrown money at someone here in Canada to create a complete domestic line of drones and cUAV drones. If we see the need to innovate then we better have the domestic capability to do it.

 

[ytz]

While I applaud any decision to buy drones, for the life of me, I can't figure out how we haven't thrown money at someone here in Canada to create a complete domestic line of drones and cUAV drones. If we see the need to innovate then we better have the domestic capability to do it.

1) Drones need batteries. Something we don't make. Cause EVs were for Hippies or something like that. Now we're building that foundation.

2) To build a drone sector, they need a consumer. A CAF that decided small drones weren't important has no capacity to support the sector.

Story time. In 2017 when I was doing my PG on exchange in the US, the theme was autonomous drone swarms. I contacted my sponsor and asked for any contacts willing to collaborate to give the CAF perspective. Nil returns. This is after ISIS had already used drones to drop grenades on Canadians. And after the Chinese had done autonomous drone light shows. Unfortunately the institution sucks at leaning forward and agile thinking. One of my key findings was that the control chips were in the $250-300 range and were likely to go down to $30 in mid to late 2020s, making proliferation extremely likely. When I got back home, I was told that was some cute academic idea.

If the institution can't support a single member with a relevant research interest or thinks it's a fad, how the hell would they actually develop an entire industry?

 

[WestIsle]

If the institution can't support a single member with a relevant research interest or thinks it's a fad, how the hell would they actually develop an entire industry?

But didnt you see the video from Defense Research Agency trialing frag vests with....molle

You gotta leave some space for the real innovators there bud

 

[Underway]

While I applaud any decision to buy drones, for the life of me, I can't figure out how we haven't thrown money at someone here in Canada to create a complete domestic line of drones and cUAV drones. If we see the need to innovate then we better have the domestic capability to do it.

It's coming. Those are likely for Latvia and an immediate need.

RCN has a few projects on the go with Canadian manufacturers and one with Austria (using Canadian optics).

 

[FJAG]

If the institution can't support a single member with a relevant research interest or thinks it's a fad, how the hell would they actually develop an entire industry?

Money!!!

Change our armaments model from simply buying things to an arsenal structure where we design and build. Drones are weapons. We need to manufacture all of our own armaments.

 

[childs56]

What really sucks is Canada has drone manufactures spread out across the country who are more then capable of filling this and other requirements. Instead we look overseas instead of supporting domestic production.

 

[ytz]

Money!!!

I'm not sure it's money.

I went from the weapons to the space side. And I still see similar issues. The Space Wing wanted to start experimenting with small $10M projects directly partnered with industry. Getting that idea into operation is taking years.

Our institution is not designed for agility. There's an absolute aversion to risk and risk acceptance. Whether it's $1 or $10.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I'm not sure it's money.

I went from the weapons to the space side. And I still see similar issues. The Space Wing wanted to start experimenting with small $10M projects directly partnered with industry. Getting that idea into operation is taking years.

Our institution is not designed for agility. There's an absolute aversion to risk and risk acceptance. Whether it's $1 or $10.

In some ways, the smaller the dollar value, the more risk aversion…

 

[Colin Parkinson]

AI response to an inquiry

Canadian Retailers for Non-Chinese Components
If you are assembling your own drone, these specialized Canadian shops stock components from allied regions (like Taiwan, the EU, and the US):

• Rotor Village: A leading Canadian FPV retailer based in Alberta, supplying BetaFPV, Foxeer, T-Motor alternatives, and TBS (Team Black Sheep) systems Rotor Village.
• Rotorgeeks: Based in Toronto, Ontario, carrying a curated selection of motors, flight controllers, and video transmitters from trusted Western and Taiwanese vendors Rotorgeeks.
• YYC Drones: Based in Calgary, Alberta, this shop supplies non-Chinese brand parts like RadioMaster, FlyFishRC, and Axisflying components YYC Drones.
• RobotShop: Headquartered in Mirabel, Quebec, this major distributor supplies various educational and commercial UAV parts RobotShop.

Commercial and Industrial Alternatives
For off-the-shelf, fully assembled professional and industrial drones, Canadian businesses and public safety agencies rely on the following domestic or allied-nation manufacturers:

• Draganfly: Headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, they manufacture NDAA-compliant drones and integrate platforms for industrial and government applications Draganfly.
• ARA Robotics: Based in Montréal, they design custom commercial and defense drones with proprietary software that guarantees secure data handling ARA Robotics.
• Aeromao: Based in Ontario, they manufacture commercial-grade mapping and surveillance fixed-wing drones and are geared toward BVLOS operations Aeromao.
• Volatus Aerospace: Headquartered in Ontario, they manufacture and supply tactical and commercial UAVs for enterprise and defense markets Volatus Aerospace. [1, 2]