Mr. Joe Armstrong reports

49NORTH QUALIFIES ACROSS ALL FIVE STREAMS OF CANADA'S DEFENCE DRONE INITIATIVE MARKETPLACE

49North, a wholly owned subsidiary of MDA Space Ltd., has qualified across all five streams of Canada's Defence Drone Initiative (DDI) marketplace. The qualification positions 49North to compete for opportunities spanning uncrewed systems and counter-drone capabilities, secure mission systems, engineering, testing, training, and innovation.

This milestone is a natural strategic expansion of 49North's considerable experience in deploying, operating and supporting drone fleets in addition to its continuing delivery of capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces. That experience has covered the Canadian Army's Miniature Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (MUAS) program, the Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) program, and the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) program.

The five DDI streams for which 49North has qualified are:

• Stream 1: UxS and Counter-UxS systems
  • Encompasses uncrewed and autonomous platforms across air, ground, maritime and subsurface domains, alongside counter-drone sensors, effectors, launch/recovery equipment and platform-level support.
• Stream 2: C2, communications, data, EW and cyber systems
  • Covers command and control, communication networks, data processing links, electronic warfare (EW), and cyber capabilities.
• Stream 3: integration, interoperability and engineering services
  • Focuses on systems integration, interoperability protocols and engineering support services.
• Stream 4: test, evaluation and training
  • Dedicated to operational testing, performance evaluation and training frameworks for uncrewed systems.
• Stream 5: innovation and experimentation
  • Acts as a lower-barrier lane aimed at early stage technology, research adaptation and rapid concept experimentation.

49North's qualification across all five streams of the DDI marketplace builds on their hands-on experience in deploying, operating and sustaining military drone capabilities in demanding conflict environments. That experience includes on-the-ground support to Canadian operations in Afghanistan and drone services supporting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in Ukraine, bringing a practical understanding of the reliability, adaptability and continuous support required to keep uncrewed systems effective during live operations.

49North brings this operational perspective to its work across Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force drone programs. The company combines advanced sensing, secure mission systems, and complex systems integration with the engineering and in-service support needed to maintain readiness as conditions and threats evolve. Qualification across all five DDI streams creates an opportunity to apply that experience more broadly, helping Canada field and sustain its next generation of uncrewed capabilities.

Launched by the government of Canada on July 23, 2026, the DDI is designed to accelerate the development and fielding of Canadian uncrewed and autonomous capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Coast Guard. The marketplace establishes a pool of qualified suppliers eligible to compete for future work, from research and prototyping through testing, demonstrations and potential production. For 49North, qualification across all five streams is a natural, strategic expansion of its established capabilities, creating further opportunities to bring proven engineering discipline, operational reliability and mission assurance to Canada's evolving defence priorities.

Quotes

"Qualification across all five DDI streams is a natural next step for 49North. We bring practical experience supporting Canadian military drone programs and a clear understanding of what it takes to turn advanced technology into dependable operational capability. This qualification positions us to apply that experience more broadly, helping Canada move from innovation to fielded capability with the integration and long-term support that missions demand."

- Joe Armstrong, president, 49North

About 49North

49North delivers sovereign Canadian defence capabilities with a focus on C4ISR and mission critical systems, strengthening decision advantage in complex and contested environments. Building on more than five decades of trusted Canadian defence delivery and prime contractor execution from MDA Space, 49North brings engineering discipline, operational reliability and mission assurance to large, mission-critical defence programs. 49North integrates advanced sensing technologies, autonomous systems, secure digital mission systems, defence-qualified electronics, and long-term sustainment and in-service support of complex defence platforms across land, air, maritime and joint domains. Headquartered in Ottawa, 49North brings trusted defence capability to reinforce Canada's long-term sovereignty and security.

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