Canada to test drone-detection systems in downtown Ottawa

Canadian defence and security agencies will hold drone detection trials over downtown Ottawa in late November to evaluate how well counter-unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technologies operate in dense, urban environments.

The exercises will span over four days and involve Canadian Forces personnel, defence science experts, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), as well as representatives from the United States government, according to Canadian media outlets.

The Department of National Defence (DND) revealed that the test area will extend over several city blocks, including office towers of various heights. Trials will take place both during the day and at night. To assess detection in different scenarios, officials have divided test locations into four categories: ground level, mid-level balconies on high-rise buildings, high-level balconies, and rooftops.

The emphasis on urban drone detection comes at a time when small drones—especially first-person view (FPV) aerial vehicles—have become central to global conflicts. Costing as little as $500, such systems are being deployed extensively in the war between Russia and Ukraine and in conflicts in Gaza, Haiti, Lebanon, and Syria.

Beyond the battlefield, drones have also created public security issues in Europe, with incursions recently reported in Denmark and Poland.

The Ottawa trials are part of Canada’s Counter-UAS Sandbox program. Earlier iterations of this initiative were carried out at Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta, where systems were tested in open-range conditions. The move to downtown Ottawa marks a significant expansion of the program, bringing testing into a real-world urban setting.

Sixteen companies have registered to showcase their drone detection technologies during the Ottawa demonstrations. DND has stated that the purpose of the tests is to evaluate the ability to detect and track drones both before they cross into a secured perimeter and once they have entered it. Officials have clarified that the demonstrations will focus solely on detection, and no systems designed to neutralise or destroy drones will be used during the exercise.

Detection methods vary widely and include the use of radar systems, acoustic monitoring, and interception of radio-frequency signals used to operate drones. Each method comes with its strengths and limitations, particularly in dense urban environments where tall buildings, background noise, and heavy radio traffic complicate detection.

DND has also noted that adversaries are continuously advancing UAS technologies to evade monitoring systems. Current adaptations include lowering the visual and radar profiles of drones, minimising radio-frequency emissions, flying at higher speeds, and enhancing autonomous functions that reduce reliance on external signals. These evolving features make detection increasingly difficult, raising the stakes for effective counter-UAS measures.

Canada has already invested heavily in counter-drone and air defence systems. The federal government has announced more than $200 million in funding for such technologies, including systems deployed with Canadian troops on NATO’s mission in Latvia. These systems are intended to safeguard forces against the growing threat of small, commercially available drones used in combat operations.

In parallel with counter-drone investments, Canada is also expanding its own drone fleet. On December 19, 2023, the government announced the purchase of 11 General Atomics MQ-9B Reaper drones from the United States in a deal worth $2.5 billion. The acquisition of these long-endurance drones is expected to strengthen Canada’s surveillance and reconnaissance capacity.

By Nazrin Sadigova