Large, expensive fixed-wing drones such as the Predator and Reaper still have their place. Canada has ordered a fleet of similar drones expected to be up and running in 2033.

But the war in Ukraine has shifted the focus away from multimillion-dollar UAVs to much cheaper, smaller and sometimes disposable drones.

Reece says Canada is in a strong position partly because Transport Canada has been ahead of most national regulators in recognizing the potential of the industry and creating conditions permissive enough to allow drone use to flourish.

“We’ve got the skills here, we’ve got the know-how and we’ve certainly got the need,” he said. “So if we’re already ahead in drones and robots and we can keep pace with AI, putting those together definitely makes us an international powerhouse.”

  • ikidd@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    Jesus, even my prosumer drone doesn’t have silly safety guards for the props.

    So badass.

  • panda_abyss@lemmy.ca
    4·
    2 days ago

    I’m very curious where these will take warfare.

    I think these types of asymmetric capabilities are hugely important while we ramp up our other industries and reconsider defence contracts.

    Ukraine is strong proof of how valuable drones can be in the field, countering highly expensive gear very well. Ukraines attacks within Russia with drones are a good example of just how hard it is to defend against this, and similarly Israel’s use in Iran to incapacitate air defenses.

    • BlameThePeacock@lemmy.caEnglish
      61·
      2 days ago

      I’m honestly surprised we haven’t seen a mass drone attack in the US yet from a terrorist group.

      It’s just so fucking easy from a technology and cost perspective.

  • DaddleDew@lemmy.world
    32·
    2 days ago

    Imagine how obsolete these drones will be in 2033. It will be a waste of money at that point.

    This isn’t the first time critically needed equipment ends up arriving far too late to be useful because of the insane delays caused by the procurement bureaucracy.

    Government procurement needs to trim some bureaucracy. By trying so hard to minimize waste we end up guaranteeing waste.