The Canadian government has confirmed its plans to enhance its technological presence in the Arctic by purchasing 11 high-tech drones from an American company for a total of $2.5 billion. These MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, manufactured by General Atomics, will be based at 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia and 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia, with some of their missions also focusing on the Arctic.
Originally, the drones were to have their own advanced operational site in the Arctic to facilitate specific operations with two aircraft and maintenance personnel. However, this plan has been modified. The drones will now be deployed as needed at existing advanced operational bases in the Arctic, sharing space with other Royal Canadian Air Force planes. These bases will benefit from new or renovated hangars, integrated into NORAD’s modernization efforts.
The Arctic environment poses particularly rigorous challenges for drone operations. Extreme conditions, with temperatures dropping to -35 degrees Celsius, isolated and icy runways, and limited satellite coverage, require specific adaptations. The transmission of flight instructions and surveillance data is crucial, and adapting the drones to these constraints has delayed delivery initially scheduled for 2025 to 2028.