What’s the Latest: Canada needs a ‘good mix’ of new tech like drones, AI: NATO commander
Hundreds of international researchers and military personnel are attending the NATO Innovation Continuum at The Cove in Dartmouth to explore new defence technologies. The event focuses on addressing evolving security concerns through collaboration between emerging companies and military forces, with confirmed participation from NATO and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Hundreds of international researchers and military personnel are gathering in Halifax this week for the NATO Innovation Continuum to address emerging security concerns through new defence technologies. The Digital Backbone eXperimentation (DIBaX) exercises have been testing drone and AI technologies in field-like conditions since 2022, with a focus on enhancing military capabilities.
NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Adm. Pierre Vandier, emphasised the necessity for member states to integrate advanced technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence into their military strategies, stating that “a force that is not protected against drones…is a force at risk.” As Canada increases its defence spending, further details on achieving the NATO target of 5% of GDP by 2035 will be provided in the upcoming budget presentation by Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.
What remains unclear — The government has not provided specifics on how it plans to achieve the target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.
NATO commander advocates for integration of AI and drones in Canada’s defence strategy
As Canada prepares to boost its national defence spending, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Adm. Pierre Vandier, emphasised the necessity for military forces to integrate new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and drones. Speaking from Riga, Latvia, Vandier advised that a balanced mix of these innovations is essential for enhancing existing military capabilities. “A force that is not protected against drones and (drone) swarms is a force at risk,” he stated.
Vandier’s remarks follow NATO exercises in Latvia, where a combination of electronic warfare and drones was utilised alongside ground troops to simulate cross-border conflicts. The ongoing war in Ukraine has sharpened focus on drone warfare’s evolving role, which has seen drones increasingly mitigating the effectiveness of conventional military assets, such as tanks.
The admiral articulated that the incorporation of drones does not render traditional military systems obsolete. “What we demonstrated was we can extend lethality and extend survivability of existing capabilities … if we bring them with a good mix of new technology,” he said. An example provided was an attack helicopter’s operations, which can now accomplish missions previously deemed impossible by leveraging both drones and anti-drone defenses.
NATO’s Digital Backbone eXperimentation (DIBaX) exercises have allowed for testing of advanced drone technologies and have included trials of drone swarm capabilities and electronic warfare strategies designed to disrupt enemy drones. According to NATO officials, these exercises have underscored the significance of innovation in warfare, with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) also prioritising advancements in drone technology.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged significant investment in defence to meet NATO’s targets, including an increase to 2% of Canada’s GDP. However, further details on reaching the ambitious goal of 5% by 2035 are yet to be disclosed, with the upcoming budget set to provide more clarity on these plans.