Canada targets millions of drones as it taps Ukraine’s battlefield expertise PHOTO

Canada is turning to Ukraine’s experience in drone warfare as Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seek to deepen defence and security co-operation.

The two leaders met in Calgary on September 10, where they signed agreements covering defence, security, economic and energy ties, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Drones were a central focus of the meeting, with Carney saying Canada had much to learn from Ukraine’s rapidly developing drone industry.

“In just four years, Ukraine has built a world-leading drone industry. You’re defining the future of defence and security,” he said.

Carney said Canada currently had about 2,000 drones but would ultimately need “millions” as it modernised its armed forces and expanded its domestic defence industry.

“Ukraine is constantly innovating,” he said. “Canada can learn from you. We can continue to work together, and we can expand our partnership to defend your freedom and to defend ours.”

The two leaders signed a 100-year Canada-Ukraine partnership declaration covering economic, security and political co-operation, as well as a joint declaration on defence and security co-operation.

Canada also launched a national drone marketplace initiative modelled on Ukraine’s Brave1 programme. It is intended to give individual Canadian Armed Forces units direct access to nearly 400 Canadian suppliers, as Ottawa seeks to develop an industry capable of producing millions of drones within two years.

Under the initiative, 30 per cent of the drones produced will be destined for Ukraine.

Canada and Ukraine also announced a partnership between General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada and Ukrainian company Green Tech Harvest to develop and produce drones and related technologies.

Following the signing ceremony, Carney and Zelenskyy watched drone demonstrations and met representatives of Canadian manufacturers, including Calgary-based North Vector Dynamics.

The company is developing low-cost interceptor technology designed to counter aerial threats.

North Vector Dynamics chief executive Paul Ziade said Ukraine needed more interceptors capable of dealing with increasingly fast and sophisticated Russian aerial attacks.

Carney also announced C$350m to help deliver critical air-defence interceptors to Ukraine, alongside nearly C$23m to strengthen the country's security capabilities.

Ottawa is separately committing more than C$600m to help Ukraine repair and reinforce its energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson and Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and energy minister, Denys Shmyhal, signed a joint statement aimed at strengthening bilateral energy co-operation and supporting Ukraine’s energy security.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was facing Russian attacks around the clock and needed new defensive tactics.

“They attack us 24/7, and that’s why we need the new tactics of defending,” he said. “Because the best way is to end this war.”

After the Calgary meeting, Carney and Zelenskyy travelled to Banff, where the Canadian federal cabinet is meeting.

By Aghakazim Guliyev