MILAN — Canada and Ukraine have signed a long-term defense agreement to jointly produce uncrewed technologies, counter-drone systems, and munitions, as Kyiv’s need for more weaponry grows amid intensifying Russian attacks.
During a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Calgary, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Thursday a series of deals to support the war-torn country as part of a “100-year partnership.”
“Canada and Ukraine are forging a long-term, government-to-government partnership to jointly produce uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies and priority munitions — combining Ukrainian battlefield experience with Canadian manufacturing, software and AI,” Carney’s office said in a statement.
One of the new partnerships is between Canada’s General Dynamics Mission Systems and Ukraine-based Green Tech Harvest, which signed an agreement to explore co-producing “Ukrainian-designed” drones, per a company press release.
In addition, Canada pledged to invest approximately $350 million to purchase air defense interceptors via the US-led Joint Ukraine Multinational Program, also known as JUMPSTART. Under this mechanism, allies can finance the procurement of military equipment, services, or training for Ukraine based on its requirements to defend itself against Russia.
“I am grateful to Canada for the new defense package. Above all, it will strengthen our air defense — both our Patriots and our combat aircraft […], Zelensky wrote on X, noting that 21 Ukrainian pilots are being trained in Canada, part of what he called a “significant reinforcement.”
While specific details on how the drone cooperation will work were sparse, the Ukrainian president added in another post that, as part of the new deal, “Canada is ready to place large orders” and that “30% of the production [of drones] will be transferred to Ukraine.”
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During a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, held in Kyiv on Tuesday, Ukraine’s new defense minister Yevhenii Khmara said that the country was falling short of $27 billion in funding for drone supplies.
Ottawa further committed to spend $23 million to strengthen Kyiv’s ability to “detect, prevent, and respond to hybrid threats” affecting civilian safety. The Canadian government document says the funding will support the country’s police, national guard, and military needs, as well as help fight disinformation.
Canada’s New Defense Drone Marketplace
The Canadian government also unveiled on Thursday a new digital drone marketplace modelled after Ukraine’s government-backed defense tech cluster Brave1, which serves as a coordination platform to fast-track military innovation.
“The Defense Drone Initiative Marketplace Supply Arrangement will ensure the reliable, rapid, and continuous supply of drones for the Canadian Armed Forces and Coast Guard — allies will have privileged access to 400 trusted Canadian suppliers,” Carney said.
The project will act as a sort of procurement portal for drone and counter-drone capabilities by connecting operators and customers to the Canadian defense industry. The government has awarded up to $50 million in initial contracts to six national companies manufacturing primarily unmanned ground vehicles and intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance drones.
This funding is intended to increase the number of drones deployed by the CAF tenfold.