In-Depth Report on Ontario Dual-Use Technologies Released by OVIN

In-Depth Report on Ontario Dual-Use Technologies Released by OVIN

Oct 28, 2026 | Autonomy, Defence, Defence Industrial Strategy, OVIN, OVIN Report, Robotics, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

A comprehensive new report on Ontario’s capabilities in dual-use technologies – and how best to advance those capabilities in a changing world – has been released by the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, or OVIN.

“Driving Dual-Use Technologies: Advancing Ontario’s Mobility and Defence Advantage” is a 74-page document that outlines how Ontario is already well-positioned to become a major centre for technologies that service both defence and civilian purposes. The final 12 pages contain 181 references (including dense reports), so the OVIN document is incredibly well-researched and sourced.

It’s difficult to summarise such a thorough piece of work, but it essentially comes down to a few main streams of thought:

  • Ontario has a wealth of expertise, including more than 300 defence-related organisations (accounting for some 35 per cent of Canada’s total defence industry employment), along with more than 400 companies specialising in connected and autonomous vehicle development and Smart Mobility, plus 700 automotive parts suppliers
  • The province also boasts a concentration of firms at the cutting edge of AI, robotics, sensors, secure communications, battery technologies and more – along with multiple research and testing facilities and other technology infrastructure
  • Collectively, there is tremendous opportunity to create new economic opportunities while strengthening Canada’s national security and technological independence – and it’s an opportune time to remove any barriers and build on synergy

 

The Executive Summary contained many key points, but one paragraph struck us here at InDro in particular:

“Ontario’s mobility ecosystem is particularly relevant because many of the technologies underpinning next-generation transportation systems are increasingly applicable to defence and security,” it reads.

“Autonomous navigation, advanced sensing, intelligent decision-making, software-defined vehicles, secure communications, fleet coordination, and resilient infrastructure are becoming important across both commercial mobility and defence applications.”

These are the very areas where InDro excels – and where InDro partners.

Above: The Cypher Robotics catapult, capable of rapidly accelerating this high-payload, long-range blended-wing drone to launch speed with powerful electromagnetic motors. Below: The Talos, the long-range (7,000km on a single tank of diesel fuel) dual-purpose hybrid ground vehicle, which InDro is in the midst of transforming into a fully robotic and autonomous platform

 

 

A PARADIGM SHIFT

 

Traditionally, defence departments (and, later, space programs) around the world have driven many of the technological developments that eventually made their way into consumer use.

Canned food was invented for Napoleon’s army. Microwave ovens had their genesis in World War II radar research when an engineer noticed that a magnetron tube melted a candy bar in his pocket. The Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the US Department of Defence in the Cold War and later was opened up to commercial and civilian use. The internet was originally ARPANET – an advanced, decentralised communication system built by the US to survive node failures. Duct tape, Super Glue, freeze-dried food and even aviator glasses can all be traced to military origins.

In other words, defence innovation has historically been driven by military requirements: Governments identified a need, contracted defence companies to build a solution and eventually purchased what worked best. Somewhere down the road, many of the technologies made their way into consumer use.

But there’s been a shift. Increasingly, non-military companies have been developing breakthroughs in robotics, autonomy, AI, secure communications and other areas for the commercial market – but those innovations have a defence application. An autonomous robot designed for inspecting a remote asset in harsh conditions, for example, can easily be repurposed for situational awareness on the battlefield. A large cargo UGV could be used to transport critical supplies to the front lines. And, of course, we’ve seen how civilian drones, used so widely early in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, led to rapid innovation on the defence front.

“Advanced technologies that were once developed primarily for commercial markets are increasingly being recognized as strategic assets that contribute to defence capability, infrastructure resilience, emergency preparedness, and economic security,” states the report.

Below: A figure from the OVIN report, illustrating key examples of dual-use technologies. 

ECONOMICS

 

That shift has opened the door, particularly in this geopolitical era, to a broad variety of privately developed solutions finding their way into the defence stream. NATO initiatives like DIANA and the NATO Innovation Fund reflect this growing interest in commercially developed defence technologies. And now, in Canada, we have the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Defence Investment Agency, and the Drone Defence Initiative offering unprecedented opportunities for companies that are not traditional prime defence contractors to adapt and evolve dual-purpose solutions. On top of those, there are multiple agencies in Ontario such as OVIN which help advance technologies. OVIN has launched a dedicated stream under its R&D Partnership Fund to support defence and dual-use technologies. The funding is intended to help companies develop, test, validate and demonstrate technologies while reducing commercialisation risks.

Not only does Ontario have the right stuff when it comes to expertise and raw numbers, it also has the infrastructure and a strong existing manufacturing base. In addition, the province has significant stores of minerals required for production of many defence-related items, including cobalt, titanium, tungsten, platinum group elements, and rare-earth minerals. So the province has the potential to reduce its reliance on vulnerable external supply chains.

“OVIN’s Regional Technology Development Sites (RTDS) including facilities such as Area X.O, Ontario Tech University’s Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE), CORE5, the Catalyst Connected Infrastructure Network (CCIN), and various demonstration and pilot environments provide companies with opportunities to test, validate, and refine technologies under closed-circuit and real-world operating conditions,” states the report.

But it also says there’s room for improvement, including breaking down barriers to entry and strengthening both the domestic and allied supply chain. It recognises the traditional North American supply chain as both advantageous and a potential vulnerability. The long-term goal: Strengthen strategic sovereignty through resilient supply chains, domestic manufacturing and partnerships with trusted allies.

The report also suggests assisting businesses on the ins and outs of procurement and in other areas. Some of these needs were identified in a national survey of 642 small and medium-sized businesses. The report emphasises that dual-purpose technologies will play a greater role in Ontario’s total economic power in the future. There will be significant opportunities in robotics, uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence and autonomous decision-making, says the report. In fact, it suggests there’s an opportunity for Ontario to build a globally competitive autonomous systems cluster. That’s just one of eight strategic opportunities identified in the report.

Below: The dual-purpose, all-terrain InDro Obsidian. The extended-range hybrid electric can be operated remotely but has complete autonomous capability. It could be used for civilian or military purposes

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We applaud OVIN for this thorough and timely report. We are also honoured that InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece was one of five sources interviewed, along with:

We highly recommend reading the report in full, which you can download here.

A Canadian First: InDro’s Prowler Robots Part of Museum Security Team

A Canadian First: InDro’s Prowler Robots Part of Museum Security Team

Oct 23, 2026 | Case Studies, InDro News, InDro Prowler, Quadrupeds, Scott Simmie, Uncategorized

By Scott Simmie

 

For decades, it’s been the standard practice for security: Locks, keys, fobs, ID cards, cameras, motion sensors, alarms, etc. All of those, plus a human being standing guard or patrolling the site, monitoring for suspicious activity and keeping an eye on people and assets.

And when those facilities close at night? Often just one or two people, keeping an eye on monitors, watching for motions sensor alerts, and walking regular in-person patrols.

In fact, this still is the standard industry practice.

But at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, one of several Ingenium museums of science and innovation in Ottawa, the security teams have two new members: InDro Robotics Prowler security robots.

“They’re a game-changer,” says Erik Bisson, Chief of Protection Services and CSO at Ingenium. “With our two robots, we can patrol 24/7 right now. Not only is it a game-changer, I think it’s going to be a force multiplier.”

We agree.

Above: The InDro Prowler, an affordable and highly effective security robot for regular patrols. Below: A LinkedIn post featuring Prowler from Erik Bisson of Ingenium

Industrial Inspection and Security Monitoring Robot Dog

THE SPARK

 

Bisson joined Ingenium in 2000 and became Chief of Protection Services in 2008. He loves the field, and he loves technology.

When he took on the Protection Services role, Canada had a minority Conservative government and was in an era of fiscal belt-tightening. Bisson sat down with management to find efficiencies and savings. They began integrating a lot of access control systems, and adding more cameras that could be remotely monitored. But Bisson wanted to push things further.

“I started looking at robots in 2008,” he says. “I was a little ahead of my time back then.”

Bisson worked with different universities and robotics students, seeing if they could come up with a security robot. It was, he says, “a lot of fun” but didn’t lead to the kind of solution he needed. In fact, the path that ultimately led to security robots on the job began two years ago, when he sat down with InDro’s Head of R&D Sales, Luke Corbeth, and explained his needs. He did so with the support and vision of Chief Operating Officer Kimberlee Hemming and CEO Christina Tessier.

They discussed, at length, what such a robot would need to accomplish. It would, obviously, require a camera that could provide full situational awareness. It would need good range without having to stop and recharge. It would have to be easy and intuitive to operate, with the ability to take on autonomous patrols. And yes, it would also have to climb stairs.

“Working with Erik was fantastic, because he had a really clear vision of what features were needed for his security use-case,” says Corbeth. “Together, we settled on the capabilities and components that would ultimately become a fully deployable robot.”

 

THE INDRO PROWLER

 

One of the barriers to entry for security robots has typically been cost. Robust smart systems that handle multiple terrains can easily cost $100k-$200k. For a Crown Corporation like Ingenium, that wasn’t in the cards.

“We don’t have the millions and millions of dollars to put into security like the big organizations have,” says Bisson. “But with our two robots, we can patrol 24-7 now.”

Prowler’s wheeled quadruped design allows it to climb stairs, speed along flat surfaces, handle rough terrain and even clamber over small fences. It has a 360° camera that allows the operator to get the full picture, as well as an ultra-wide (360° x 90°) LiDAR. That means Prowler can spot everything in – and even behind – its path. And when their shift is over? Prowler returns to its home base and wirelessly recharges. It also has InDro’s Cortex brain-box on board. Cortex contains a powerful AI EDGE computer, out of the box remote teleoperation over 5G or WiFi, and multiple ports for additional sensors.

And while Prowler is already highly capable, InDro plans to add additional features that further leverage its AI and Machine Vision capabilities.

“Think person detection, animal detection, various other features that turn what the robot is seeing into actionable intelligence – and even actions as well,” says Corbeth. “So down the road, Prowler could send text messages to security teams, perhaps notifying local authorities, things of that nature.”

In the case of the Canada Science and Technology Museum, having a pair of Prowlers has proven a hit with attendees. Adults are fascinated by the technology, and children are allowed to pet colour-coded areas of these dogs when they’re in the prone position.

“Kids are drawn to them. They want to know more,” says Bisson. “We’re the perfect venue to explain the science, the technology behind it, right?

The robots are even used to escort contractors to job sites, and allow remote monitoring of the work and two-way audio communication. And the existing security guards? The reaction there has been mixed.

“I’ll be honest with you, 50 per cent of them hate them because they know it’s the future and it might change the way they do stuff. And 50 per cent love them; they see the potential, they see the future, they see the new jobs that these will create,” says Bisson.

“Nobody in Canada is doing what we’re doing right now. And leadership is allowing me to do it, which is incredible.”

Below: Listen to Erik Bisson discuss Prowler and security on EP53 of our SoundByte micro-podcast

INDRO’S TAKE

 

The Prowler is a perfect example of the synergy that takes place when a client with specific needs comes to InDro for a solution. With a laser focus on their use-case, InDro builds solutions that work. We believe Prowler is the most cost-effective security robot available in Canada, and it can be further customised to any client’s needs.

“Erik Bisson and Ingenium showed a lot of forward thinking in embracing a security robot to enhance efficiency and coverage,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We’re proud to have Prowler on the job at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and look forward to further deployments already underway.”

The Prowler is priced at $50k US, fully equipped. You can learn more by having a friendly conversation with Luke Corbeth.

GCXpo highlights next-gen technologies at Area X.O

GCXpo highlights next-gen technologies at Area X.O

Sep 30, 2026 | Defence, Defence Industrial Strategy, GCXpo, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

This year’s GCXpo – the showcase of next-generation technologies in the nation’s capital – was the biggest ever.

More than 2400 attendees registered for the event, which included exhibits from 100+ firms. Organized by Invest Ottawa (which owns and operates Area X.O, the exhibit site) and with the support of the Federal Government and others, it was a clear success.

At last year’s event, Defence Minister David McGuinty first flagged that a new Defence Investment Strategy was on its way. The subsequent release of that policy, which commits close to half a trillion dollars in defence spending between now and 2035, meant this year’s GCXpo saw a greater emphasis on defence and other dual-purpose technologies.

The Honourable David McGuinty was here again, kicking off the event with a short keynote address.

“Everyone here today understands how quickly the security environment is changing,” he said.

“Technology is changing the battlespace at extraordinary speed. The cycle between innovation, deployment and countermeasure is getting shorter. Supply chains are under pressure, and the demands on our people and equipment are growing.”

McGuinty said we cannot respond to this environment with systems designed for a different era.

“Ukraine has shown us how quickly militaries must be able to adapt. Uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies and electronic warfare have become central to the fight. And the pace of innovation has been breathtaking and relentless,” he said.

“The lesson for Canada is clear: Military advantage increasingly depends on how quickly we can test, adopt and scale it – scale the technology.”

Many of the companies at GCXpo came here to signal they are ready for that challenge.

Below: Defence Minister David McGuinty, followed by a counter-UAS interceptor designed in Ukraine that will be built in Canada. Above: An electro-magnetic catapult for launching large fixed-wing drones, from Cypher Robotics

DEFENCE AND AGRITECH

 

The sprawling exhibit area was divided into two zones: One for dual-purpose and defence technologies, and the other for agricultural technologies. In a changing world, even the agriculture technologies took on a new significance.

“Agri-tech is a pillar of Canadian sovereignty, and it is about far more than food,” says the GCXpo site. “It covers secure supply chains, resilient rural infrastructure, and dual-use technologies that move between the field and other sectors.”

The Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Agri-Tech zone was busy, and included:

  • Robotics and autonomous machinery for use in the field
  • AI and analytics for crop health/yield, livestock and resource management
  • New and sustainable production techniques, some of which take into account climate change

There were many impressive new solutions on display and the Agri-Tech area was busy, but there was arguably more buzz around the second zone.

 

ACCENTURE DEFENCE AND DUAL-PURPOSE ZONE

 

Dual-purpose technologies are ones that can be used in both civilian and defence applications. For example, the new InDro Obsidian – a hybrid-electric all-terrain vehicle – could be used to transport emergency supplies in a disaster scenario, or move critical goods to the front lines on a battlefield.

And the TALOS – the world’s longest-range hybrid-electric ground vehicle with a range of 7,000 kilometres – could be used for multiple use-cases in civilian or military applications. The vehicle, which was originally designed to be driven by humans, is currently being transformed by InDro into a robotic vehicle capable of remote teleoperation or even fully autonomous missions. From far north sovereignty and reconnaissance patrols through to transporting critical supplies in a disaster scenario, TALOS is truly a dual-purpose device.

But, in a sign of how quickly the geopolitical scene has shifted, there were many exhibitors whose products and innovations are built solely for military applications. Several companies were displaying drone technologies specifically for the battlefield. These included First-Person View drones capable of carrying explosives designed for taking out larger drones in flight or targets on the ground. One firm had very small but high-speed drones intended for battlefield reconnaissance. Multiple companies had military-style vehicles designed to be remotely operated for moving supplies without putting a human being at risk. There were also several firms with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones.

Some of these solutions will find a place in Canada’s defence supply chain; others will not. The challenge will be to find solutions that won’t quickly become outdated. Though Ukraine is not the only conflict on the planet, the pace of innovation in that war has been astonishing – and was noted more than once by Minister McGuinty. Today’s cutting-edge drone solutions in that war will likely be eclipsed six months from now.

Below: Gallery showing the InDro Obsidian, two images of InDro TALOS, and InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece

 

InDro Obsidian

INDRO TALOS EXHIBIT

INDRO TALOS SIDE

Philip Reece

INDRO’S TAKE

 

Since its inception as “TCXpo” – where the TC stood for Transport Canada – InDro has participated in every one of these events. We’ve watched this exhibition grow and evolve over time, with 2026 breaking all previous years for attendance. We anticipate the greater emphasis on dual-purpose and defence is a trend that will continue for the foreseeable future.

“The Federal Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy is a prudent and clear path toward greater reliance on Made-in-Canada solutions,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece.

“The challenge for Canadian companies will be in iterating solutions that stay ahead of the technology curve and provide truly useful, long-term utility for the Department of National Defence. InDro is proud to contribute to those solutions, along with many other dedicated Canadian companies. Collectively, we are dedicated to innovations that will help ensure Canadian sovereignty and preparedness.”

We’ll have more on TALOS in the near future. Stand by.

How InDro’s Custom Robots Speed High-level R&D

How InDro’s Custom Robots Speed High-level R&D

Sep 15, 2026 | InDro Commander, InDro Solutions, Innovation, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

At the University of Toronto Robotics Institute‘s recent annual conference, a small convoy of robots was getting a lot of attention.

They were autonomously navigating, with each robot following the other at a precise distance and speed, all while sharing data about their surroundings with the entire group. It was the result of a lot of work by two PhD candidates from the University of Toronto’s Aerospace Institute (UTIAS), who have been working together out of the Robotics Institute’s lab.

The researchers are Luka Antonyshyn and Alec Krawciw. Luka is in his second year as a PhD student at the Autonomous Space Robotics Laboratory, run by Professor Tim Barfoot under the Robotics Institute. Alec previously studied mechanical engineering at the University of Victoria prior to coming to the U of T in 2022. He’s also working on his PhD in that same laboratory.

Those two, working together as closely as those robots, are responsible for that convoy’s precision.

“Throughout my PhD, I’ve generally been working on algorithms that make it easier for robots to drive safely and reliably in unstructured off-road environments,” says Krawciw. Meanwhile, Antonyshyn has been working on complementary research: Control. Specifically, getting the robots to ‘think’ about the environment around them and adjust their driving accordingly.

“If you imagine a human being hiking or mountain biking, they tend to look at their environment and kind of pre-compensate based on the terrain they see ahead of them,” he says. “So I’m trying to do this in the context of a computer and a robot.”

It’s high-level work, with an even higher-level goal: To have their research someday control autonomous robots on the moon.

Above: Channeling the Beatles Abbey Road. The robot platforms were supplied by InDro but the research and modifications were done by Luka Antonyshyn and Alec Krawciw under the direction of Professor Tim Barfoot. Below: A closer look at those robots, which feature InDro Commander on the Hunter 2.0 platform

U of T Hunter 2.0 Lunar

MOONBOTS

 

The work these PhD students are working on is very real. They have been collaborating with MDA Space, a leader in the field whose accomplishments famously include the building of the Canadarm – a remotely controlled arm used in NASA’s Space Shuttle program. (You can review MDA Space’s many accomplishments on a timeline here.)

MDA Space has been working alongside the Canadian Space Agency to develop what will be called the Lunar Utility Vehicle. It will be a fairly large moon rover that will be used as part of the Artemis program, NASA’s long-term mission to return humans to the moon. That vehicle will transport cargo from landing and launch sites on the moon to the habitats where astronauts will be living.

“So the idea of the convoy we’ve been exploring is essentially that using multiple robots would allow us to carry much bigger pieces of cargo than a single robot could by itself,” explains Antonyshyn.

Of course, a good algorithm can be scaled to larger devices. We asked these researchers if there were plans to eventually do that – taking it up from the Hunter 2.0 and InDro Commander platforms they’re currently using. The answer?

“It’s actually something we’ve already worked on,” says Krawciw.  “In November of 2025, we visited the Canadian Space Agency’s Mars Analogue Terrain and used two vehicles called the Lunar Exploration Light Rovers, which are essentially path-to-flight prototype vehicles. They’re about the size of the minivan. And we used the exact same algorithms developed on the Hunter 2.0 platforms on the two large vehicles carrying a payload that weighs about 500 kilograms.”

 

HOW INDRO SPEEDS R&D

 

InDro deals frequently with universities and other institutions carrying out research and development. Most of them want to spend their time on algorithms and research, not on building and integrating robots. That’s where InDro comes in. Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth works closely with such institutions, taking time to fully understand their needs and requirements. He then pulls together packages within budget. In this case, it was four Hunter 2.0 platforms, with InDro Commander integrated. Commander, which does high-speed EDGE computing and allows for additional sensors to be quickly added, allowed this team to rapidly get into their research.

“One of the more annoying parts of working with real robots is sorting out the physical and computer integration,” says Krawciw.

“So whether that’s wiring things up such that your sensors are getting power, or setting up routers so you can actually communicate with the computer onboard the robot – all of these are time-consuming and expensive tasks that essentially take away from any real research output you might rather be doing. By utilizing something like InDro Commander, you essentially cut that time to a fraction of what it originally would be.”

We’ve heard variations of this many times over the years. Researchers want to get on with their R&D, not build robots. They leave that to us.

Below: InDro’s Scott Simmie interviews Luka Antonyshyn and Alec Krawciw on our SoundByte micro-podcast.

INDRO’S TAKE

 

Because InDro itself is an R&D company, we truly understand the needs of other researchers. So we take great satisfaction not only in speeding that research with plug & play custom robots – but in seeing that research pay off. We congratulate Luka Antonyshyn and Alec Krawciw on their work, and Professor Tim Barfoot as well.

“Research like this paves the way for new and important use-cases. And it doesn’t get more novel than developing algorithms that may one day be used on the moon,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece.

“We are always eager to help universities and other R&D institutes get the right product to help accelerate their work at a competitive price point. Because we ourselves live in that research and development world, we try to go above and beyond to ensure researchers have the right tools to advance both their work – and the industry.”

Interested in a discussion? Contact Luke Corbeth for a no-pressure conversation.

InDro Robotics stands shoulder-to-shoulder with others for new Defence Drone Initiative

InDro Robotics stands shoulder-to-shoulder with others for new Defence Drone Initiative

Sep 1, 2026 | Defence, Defence Industrial Strategy, Defence Investment Agency, InDro Solutions, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

InDro Robotics is pleased to announce it has been selected as one of the “Qualified Suppliers” for the recently announced Defence Drone Initiative (DDI), part of the broader Defence Industrial Strategy, or DIS.

Things have been moving incredibly quickly on the defence side of things in Canada. in October of 2025, the new Defence Investment Agency was announced. Its role is to modernise the defence procurement process “by centralizing expertise, cutting red tape and streamlining decisions. This means faster delivery of critical equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard, protecting Canada’s sovereignty and strengthening our armed forces.”

That was followed, in February of 2026, with Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing the Defence Industrial Strategy, stressing the country is at a critical turning point.

The DIS commits the Federal Government to investing some $500B between now and 2035 to enhance our armed forces and defence/sovereignty capabilities. A significant portion will be earmarked for Canadian technology companies. The goal is to bolster Made-in-Canada capabilities and jobs, while reducing traditional reliance on US primes. Defence Minister David McGuinty hammered that point home:

“Today’s announcement reflects the government’s clear commitment to ensuring Canada has secure, timely, and reliable access to the capabilities required to defend our country, protect our sovereignty, and confront current and future threats,” he said.

And in July of 2026, the new Defence Drone Initiative (DDI) was announced, with a goal “to accelerate the development, testing, adaptation, and production of uncrewed and autonomous systems for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).

The DDI has six initial priority areas, including low-cost tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones, and Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for logistics and complex terrain.

“Led collaboratively by the Department of National Defence and the Defence Investment Agency (DIA), the initiative will establish a competitive supply arrangement that connects operational requirements with Canadian innovation and creates a more agile pathway to develop, acquire and integrate these technologies,” it states.

Already, the agency has reviewed applications from hundreds of Canadian companies. From those, it has selected a smaller number that are now designated as “Qualified Suppliers” for the Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace competitive Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA). Those within that smaller, pre-qualified pool can submit proposals to compete for research, prototype development, testing, demonstrations, and – assuming all requirements are met – potential production.

InDro Robotics is on that list, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other innovative Canadian firms.

Above: The world’s longest-range vehicle, which InDro is extensively modifying for remote operations. Below: InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece

 

Philip Reece Area X.O

DEFENCE INVESTMENT AGENCY GOALS

 

With cutting red tape one of its stated goals, the Defence Investment Agency has already begun awarding contracts. They include an initial contract valued at approximately $2.3B for “military communications to support Arctic Sovereignty and National Security,” awarded to Telesat.

“The contract will defend Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic by delivering the first phase of next-generation military satellite communications capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) through the Telesat Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation,” states this news release. “This is the first contract awarded following the strategic partnership established in December 2025 between the Government of Canada, Telesat and MDA Space.”

The Defence Investment Agency has some key areas and initiatives it will be prioritising. They are:

  • Air and Space: Radar, surveillance, early warning, air mobility
  • Joint and Digital: “Using advanced technology and training to help protect Canada and North America”)
  • Sea: Modernising submarines/naval fleet to support defence and Arctic sovereignty
  • Land: “Upgrading vehicles, gear and infrastructure to keep the Army mobile, safe and ready for new challenges.” This includes Canadian Forces bases themselves

 

DIS OPPORTUNITIES FOR TECH COMPANIES

 

Buried within those broad categories are many opportunities for selected companies with expertise in long-range RPAS and ground robotics. In fact, InDro has already put in proposals in both of those domains. One of them involves a robotic version of the world’s longest-range vehicle: A rugged hybrid-electric AWD that can travel 7,000km on a single tank of diesel.

This is clearly an opportune time for Canadian suppliers to potentially grow their businesses while contributing to critical national goals. Part of the DIS aims to strengthen economic ties with European allies, meaning opportunities will arise to showcase and potentially sell Canadian innovations to global partners, many of whom are also pivoting on their own traditional reliance on US military and defence manufacturers.

Things are moving quickly. And the recent “RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026” event at the new Area X.O Killaloe was a clear indicator of that. Multiple Canadian companies, including InDro, were invited to exhibit defence-related RPAS, ground robotics and more at a hands-on event that included key decision-makers from the Department of National Defence, the Defence Investment Agency, and the Defence Drone Initiative.

Below: The recent RED COBALT event, followed by an image of the long-range vehicle InDro is transforming into a robot

Red Cobalt Area X.O
TALOS

INDRO’S TAKE

 

InDro is proud to potentially play a role in Canada’s defence and sovereignty at this critical point in history – and believe we have several dual-purpose technologies that could prove useful in these endeavours. In addition to the vehicle mentioned above, InDro is also involved with a long-range ISR RPAS that can withstand Arctic temperatures and carry a payload in addition to multiple sensors – which may well prove a fit for the Drone Defence Initiative.

While the Defence Investment Agency has narrowed the playing field, we also know there are no guarantees. The DIA and DDI will, as they should, scrutinise all proposals to ensure that the best selections are made in the interests of the country – and its taxpayers.

“These are, indeed, changing times,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We have carried out multiple projects for the Department of Defence in the past, and are now laser-focused on these newer and far more ambitious initiatives.

“Yes, we share in the industry’s enthusiasm for potential business opportunities. But even more than that, InDro is proud to be answering Canada’s call for new and innovative technologies we believe will benefit the country at large at this critical point in history.”

Area X.O highlights defence-related drone and robotics testing site

Area X.O highlights defence-related drone and robotics testing site

Aug 12, 2026 | Defence, Defence Industrial Strategy, InDro News, InDro Solutions, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Area X.O has put the spotlight on its third facility with a clear emphasis on defence-related drone and robotics testing – and it’s very much related to Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy.

Area X.O Killaloe is located at an airport in the Ottawa Valley, and it held a defence-capabilities demonstration called RED COBALT Uncrewed Systems Accelerator 2026 this week. It was heavily attended by senior officials from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Department of National Defence, and Canadian Joint Forces Command. The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of Defence, was also in attendance.

About 20 companies, nearly all of them Canadian-owned, were invited to display and demonstrate technologies that will likely one day play a role in Canada’s defence. Indro Robotics was one of those companies. It is the third Area X.O site, with the first and largest the well-known technology hub and NATO DIANA Test Centre in Ottawa (where InDro has its R&D headquarters).

“This is how we help companies grow faster. Strengthen Canada’s sovereign capabilities. Create high-value jobs. Attract investment. And build a stronger, more resilient economy,” announced Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa and Area X.O in this post. Invest Ottawa owns and operates all Area X.O facilities.

“This work directly supports Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy and our evolving strategy for Canada’s Capital Region, Ottawa and Gatineau together, as a global defence innovation hub serving our country, Forces and Allies,” she added.

The August 11/12 gathering provided an opportunity for a cross-section of the Canadian military to observe, even operate, multiple types of drones, counter-UAS systems, ground robotics, and more. The location will allow for testing larger and more complex drone systems and robotics. And, unlike the original Area X.O, is not located near a major airport.

Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, released in February of this year, is the country’s response to a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape – and commits more than half a trillion dollars between now and 2035. Those funds have already started to flow: In July, Ottawa announced it would build a $30M military drone R&D facility in Mirabel, Quebec.

A significant portion of the DIS budget has been set aside to help accelerate Canadian-built and owned innovations – and reduce the reliance on traditional US military primes. The Ukraine conflict and even the recent US war with Iran have forever changed warfare with the heavy use of drones and other robotics on the battlefield.

“If you look at what’s happening in Ukraine, their uncrewed systems — the [updates to] coding that goes into it happen on a daily basis,” Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, who heads the military’s Joint Forces Command, told CBC News.

“…This is the kind of partnerships that we have to establish.”

Below: A portion of Sonya Shorey’s post

Sonya Shorey Killaloe

INDRO AND DUAL-PURPOSE

 

Many of the products InDro manufactures have dual-purpose capabilities, meaning they can be used for commercial/industrial applications, as well as for defensive purposes. Our drones and robots, for example, are involved in a partnership with Montreal software firm CHAAC Technologies to autonomously find, map – and potentially neutralise – the pernicious PFM-1 landmine. It’s a small, air-dropped butterfly-shaped device that is intended to maim. Children often make the tragic mistake of thinking they are toys.

Technology can prove tremendously helpful for those kinds of use-cases – as well as many other defence and sovereignty-related purposes. InDro Vice-President Peter King and Law Enforcement Consultant Brian Fentiman represented InDro at the event, showing two major new innovations we are developing.

The first is Talos, the world’s longest-range vehicle. The rugged hybrid uses a combination of batteries and a highly efficient diesel generator to operate up to 7,000 km on a single, 454-litre tank of fuel. Originally developed to be driven by a human operator, InDro is in the process of turning this vehicle into a remotely tele-operated (and autonomous) robot. The Talos uses standard NATO-compliant mounting systems, and can be rapidly transformed for any use-case, from surveillance and combat in hostile environments through to transporting wounded combatants or getting medical supplies into a disaster zone.

We were also providing a glimpse of technology related to our new, long-range Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drone. It can carry multiple sensors plus an additional payload and fly in weather conditions that would ground conventional aircraft. It’s also a hybrid fixed-wing design, meaning it’s capable of extraordinarily long missions.

Below: A look at the front end of Talos (R), the vehicle InDro is transforming into the world’s longest-range ground robot.

 

Talos

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We were pleased to see the unveiling of the new facility – and to be in the company of so many Canadian companies who are pushing the envelope of technology and defence. The event was a clear indicator of the emphasis the Federal Government is putting on the DIS, and the speed at which it hopes to advance the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces with made-in-Canada solutions.

“It is indeed a changing world, and Canada is investing to keep pace with that change,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We congratulate Invest Ottawa and Area X.O and welcome the opportunities afforded by this facility. InDro is proud to be working on dual-use technologies we feel will be of benefit to the country, and to those who serve it.”

We look forward to testing our new innovations at the site, and will update you when that happens.