OTTAWA- The Canadian Coast Guard is set to deploy advanced surveillance drones to strengthen monitoring in the Arctic region. The decision to begin trials with Israeli-made drones comes as the delivery of aircraft intended for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) faces delays.
The Elbit Systems-manufactured ‘Hermes 900 Starliner’ is currently preparing for test flights. This summer, the drone will conduct routine surveillance over the Arctic Ocean. As part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government restructuring, responsibility for surveillance aircraft—which previously fell under Transport Canada—has been transferred to the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Coast Guard.
The drones ordered by the RCAF are not expected to arrive until 2028. By utilizing this technology now, the Coast Guard aims to track pollution and address other security needs well ahead of the military’s timeline. Defense experts note that these new drones will allow for more precise monitoring of operations in the northern territory. Defense spokesperson Craig McCartney confirmed that the Aircraft Services Directorate, including Coast Guard assets and personnel, now operates entirely under the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction.
