Canada’s push toward sovereign defence capability is increasingly being shaped not just by hardware, but by the digital environments that enable it. In a move that underscores this shift, Dominion Dynamics and Denvr have partnered to develop what they describe as Canada’s first sovereign AI simulation environment designed specifically for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs).
The announcement, made jointly from Ottawa and Calgary, signals a growing focus on ensuring that next-generation defence technologies—particularly those powered by artificial intelligence—are developed, tested, and validated within Canadian-controlled infrastructure.
At the centre of the effort are ACPs: unmanned aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed fighter jets, extending their reach and capability. As air forces globally invest in collaborative combat aircraft concepts, the ability to simulate, train, and validate these systems in secure environments is becoming a strategic necessity.
Dominion’s role builds on momentum already underway. Earlier this month, the company committed an initial $50 million toward developing this capability, reinforcing its position within Canada’s emerging sovereign defence tech ecosystem. That ecosystem is further anchored by Dominion’s role as a founding partner in the Canada AI Platform (CAIP) Defence Coalition—a group of Canadian firms focused on building a national AI platform for defence applications.
The simulation environment itself will be built on Denvr’s Canada AI Platform, a fully sovereign AI Trust Platform designed to support classified workloads. The platform operates entirely within Canadian jurisdiction and is powered by secure, stable energy, eliminating exposure to foreign legislative frameworks—an increasingly important consideration as defence data sovereignty becomes a priority.
Together, the partnership blends Dominion’s operational and defence technology expertise with Denvr’s infrastructure capabilities. Dominion, which recently completed a $21-million seed round, is already advancing its technologies through Arctic trials with the Canadian Rangers. Its advisory board includes General Wayne Eyre, former Chief of the Defence Staff, underscoring the company’s close alignment with Canada’s defence leadership.
“We believe Canada can be a world leader in building autonomous systems that operate in extreme environments,” said Eliot Pence, CEO of Dominion Dynamics. “By partnering with Denvr, we will create a secure, Canadian-owned simulation environment to train and validate ACPs for the Canadian Armed Forces and our allied partners.”
“Dominion Dynamics is building something remarkable — an autonomous wingman capability, from the ground up, by Canadians, for Canada’s security and for our NATO allies,” said Geoff Gordon, CEO of Denvr. “The Canada AI Platform was built for exactly this purpose: a sovereign AI platform, designed to Canadian defence standards, operating entirely under Canadian jurisdiction.”
Beyond the immediate collaboration, the initiative speaks to a broader strategic shift. AI-enabled defence systems and collaborative aircraft are rapidly becoming central to modern air power. For Canada, the ability to develop and test these capabilities domestically—under national command authority—has implications that extend well beyond technology.
The joint simulation environment is expected to support key priorities including NORAD modernization, Arctic defence operations, and the long-term readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces. In doing so, it positions Canada not just as a participant in allied defence innovation, but as a contributor shaping how those capabilities are built, secured, and deployed.