As drones become smaller, cheaper and more capable, the security challenges they pose are expanding just as quickly. From protecting public events and critical infrastructure to safeguarding military installations and urban centres, detecting and tracking micro and mini uncrewed aerial systems in dense city environments has become a national priority.
Now, following a week of rigorous live trials in the nation’s capital, Canada has identified three innovators rising to meet that challenge.
On February 18, 2026, in Ottawa, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, announced the winners of $1.75 million in prizes stemming from the 2025 “Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox” demonstration event. The event, held from November 24 to 28, 2025, brought together 19 innovators tasked with developing advanced drone detection technologies capable of operating effectively in complex urban environments.
The Sandbox was delivered under the Department of National Defence’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program—an initiative designed to accelerate cutting-edge solutions into Canada’s defence and security ecosystem.
A High-Stakes Urban Testbed
Urban drone detection is not a simple technical problem. Cities are saturated with radio frequency noise, dense infrastructure, moving vehicles and civilian air traffic. In this environment, identifying small, low-flying drones in real time—without generating false alarms—is both technically demanding and operationally critical.
During the November trials in Ottawa, participating teams underwent rigorous testing and evaluation. Defence science experts, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and other defence and security partners assessed the technologies under realistic conditions designed to simulate emerging threats.
The goal was clear: identify solutions capable of detecting and tracking micro and mini drones in real time—technologies that could help close critical gaps in Canada’s counter-uncrewed aerial systems posture.
And the Winners Are…
After comprehensive evaluation, three Canadian companies emerged as this year’s “Diamond in the Rough” prize recipients.
First place, and the recipient of $1,000,000, is DARIT Technologies of Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Tied for second place, and each receiving $375,000, are OBJEXIS of Oakville, Ontario, and Prandtl Dynamics of Toronto, Ontario.
The “Diamond in the Rough” designation underscores more than performance—it signals ingenuity, technical excellence, and operational promise. Each of the winning solutions demonstrated exceptional capability to detect and track micro and mini drones in real time, directly addressing a security challenge that is growing more urgent as commercial drone access expands and technologies evolve.
Innovation as Operational Readiness
The CUAS Sandbox reflects a broader shift within Canada’s defence innovation ecosystem: moving from concept to capability through competitive, real-world demonstration environments.
By challenging 19 innovators to prove their technologies in an operationally relevant urban setting, the IDEaS program created a direct pathway between Canadian ingenuity and national security requirements. Rather than theoretical solutions, the Sandbox demanded deployable performance.
Minister McGuinty emphasized the strategic importance of this approach:
“Canada’s defence and security depend on staying ahead in a rapidly changing world. This counter uncrewed aerial systems sandbox exemplifies how innovation drives resilience and operational readiness. Congratulations to DARIT Technologies, Prandtl Dynamics and OBJEXIS for showcasing solutions that will enable the Canadian Armed Forces and Canada’s defence and security partners to better protect Canadians against emerging threats.”
The statement reflects a core reality: resilience in the modern threat environment is inseparable from innovation. As uncrewed aerial systems proliferate globally, defensive countermeasures must evolve just as quickly.
Recognizing the Broader Innovation Community
While three companies claimed top honours, the Sandbox’s impact extends beyond the podium.
All 19 participating innovators contributed to advancing Canada’s counter-drone knowledge base. Their creativity and technical expertise strengthen Canada’s defence and security capabilities, reinforcing the value of competitive innovation frameworks like IDEaS.
More information on the prize winners and all participating innovators is available on the Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox 2025 (Urban) web page.
Securing the Skies Ahead
The 2025 CUAS Sandbox demonstrates how Canada is proactively confronting emerging aerial threats in one of the most challenging environments imaginable: its own cities.
Through structured experimentation, collaboration across defence and law enforcement communities, and direct financial incentives for breakthrough performance, the Department of National Defence is helping ensure that Canada’s security architecture keeps pace with technological change.
In a rapidly evolving threat landscape, staying ahead is not optional—it is operationally essential. And in Ottawa last November, Canada’s innovators proved they are ready to meet that test.