Ottawa, Ontario – The Department of National Defence (DND) and its Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program invite innovators, industry, and academia to apply for participation in the Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox 2026, to be held September 14 to October 9, 2026, at Defence Research and Development Canada – Suffield, Alberta.

This Sandbox provides an opportunity for Canadian and international innovators to test, demonstrate, and refine technologies designed to detect and/or defeat small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in realistic operational scenarios. Participants will collaborate directly with members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), U.S. Government partners, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Key Details:

• Event Dates: September 14 – October 9, 2026
• Location: Suffield, Alberta
• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET
• Eligibility: Canadian and international innovators from industry, academia, and non-profits
• Focus: Detection, tracking, identification, and defeat of micro and mini UAS
• Funding: Up to $1.75 million in prizes for top-performing solutions

The CUAS Sandbox 2026 supports Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, by advancing capabilities to counter emerging UAS threats in both military and domestic environments.

Quick Facts:

• Technologies must be at TRL 5 or higher (prototype ready for demonstration).
• Participants will receive access to a full-scale test range and live-fire scenarios.
• End-user feedback will help refine and accelerate promising CUAS technologies.

Quote:

“Through the IDEaS program, Canada continues to strengthen its defence innovation ecosystem—bringing together government, industry, and academia to tackle evolving security challenges like uncrewed aerial threats.”
— Department of National Defence

Learn more and apply:
Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems Sandbox 2026 – IDEaS

Media Contact:
IDEaS Sandboxes Team
Email: [email protected]
Department of National Defence
Government of Canada