SASKATOON — Local drone and software company Draganfly Innovations Inc. put itself in the defence industry spotlight, after scoring a major U.S. Air Force contract on advanced systems and battlefield training.
The two-year contract, announced in early February, will have Draganfly supplying its modular Flex FPV Drones and training to the USAF Special Operations Command units.
The project is in partnership with DelMar Aerospace Corporation, a leading provider of advanced uncrewed aircraft systems training, tactics, techniques, and procedures for the US government, according to a news release.
The partnership brings together Draganfly’s operationally proven uncrewed platforms with DelMar’s expertise in delivering cutting-edge, mission-relevant UAS instruction to government operators.
Initial training activities include First Person View UAS instruction, with a comprehensive curriculum covering FPV assembly, repair, flight operations, advanced mission planning and execution.
Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell told SaskToday that they will also be working on several other similar contracts and initiatives with various branches of the US military.
“Being selected by any of the Special Operation Commands is the premier position to be in and acts as a strong reference for work within the US DOW or practically any military,” said Chell.
He said that their drone had systems different from what the US military currently uses, and despite not disclosing them, it stands out based on its technological capabilities.
“There are several undisclosed differentiators; the obvious or overt differentiator is that this system can be configured for multiple mission types due to the swapable arm and propeller sizes,” he said.
Chell said the design is based on real-world operational experience and complies with the US National Defence Authorization Act.
“It also has multi-mission capabilities, is swarmable, and is integratable with other drones, i.e., deployable from other drones and many more undisclosable features,” he added.
Draganfly’s drone technology, where speed, scalability, and adaptability are critical to operational success, puts Saskatoon and the province on the defence industry radar.
“Much of our core engineering and testing is done in Saskatoon, and this will continue as the industry and company scale,” he added.
Chell last week addressed the Senate’s Committee on National Security, Defence, and Veterans Affairs, on the country’s evolving defence landscape.
He also commented on the role of domestic industries in strengthening national security, emphasizing Canada’s urgent need to align procurement processes with the realities of modern conflict.
“Weapons can win a battle, but industrial capacity wins wars and ensures sovereignty. Canada has world-class innovation and talent,” Chell said in his remarks.
