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WARPOWER: CANADA
RCAF Airpower
Drone Force
Canadian Army Land Power
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Canadian Military Ranks
Canadian Military Manpower
GFP Report Card
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Royal Canadian Air Force Drones


Unmanned Fixed-Wing | Rotorcraft | Drones

Current Canadian unmanned drone capabilities are limited to the Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance role and includes a mix of foreign solutions originating from the United States, Israel, and Sweden. The ISR role remains a critical component to warplanners and ground commanders alike, providing real-time data collection and information on enemy strength and current positions. The products in play are proven over-battlefield solutions which help in laying the groundwork for future expansion by the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Fleet Strength (Total Units): 18 Aircraft



Material Suppliers


Primary and Secondary military suppliers, be they direct or indirect and or past and present contributors.
U.S. national flag Israeli national flag Swedish national flag

Age Assessment Key


The Age Assessment Key provides a quick-reference look into the hull age values of the active fleet as a whole. New classes of units are marked as Green followed by modern in-service units in Blue. Aging units are showcased in Yellow with obsolete - or near-obsolete - units being colored Red.
New Procurement (0)
Modern Solution (2)
Requiring Attention (1)
Obsolete; Near-Obsolete (0)
Current Active Inventory (18)
The current active inventory displays all combat drone aircraft available to all participating aviation services of the country. Branch-of-service, active hull totals, and variant model type (in yellow-orange) are all displaced as well as a visual reference, country-of-origin, and brief description of role, procurement, and capabilities.

AIR FORCE
Combat uav image

Modern Solution
National flag image
10 units
RQ-21 (Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack)
Role: Reconnaissance
The RQ-21 Blackjack is the most numerous of all the drones available to modern Canadian warfighters and ground commanders with some ten residing in inventory. The unmanned aircraft is an American product featuring a fixed-wing monoplane, twin-tailbooms, and conjoined horizontal plane. Power is through a pusher-mounted propeller unit which frees the forward section of the aircraft for cameras and mission equipment. The Boeing Insitu product was flown for the first time in July of 2012 and saw series introduction in April 2014. It has served with the USN, USMC, and Aistralian Navy for its part with over 100 examples produced to date.
AIR FORCE
Combat uav image

Modern Solution
National flag image
6 units
CU-176 (Gargoyle) (UMS Skeldar V-200)
Role: Reconnaissance
The Swedish UMS Skeldar V-200 rotorcraft UAV is operated by Canadian forces as the CU-176 Gargoyle through six active examples. The drone offers excellent tactical flexibility in having inherent Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capabilities through its helicopter-like arrangement. The drone is compact enough to be featured on warships as well at Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). It can be used in the ISR role but is equally adept as a transport an airborne Electronic Warfare (EW) platform.
AIR FORCE
Combat uav image

Aging, Requires Attention
National flag image
2 units
Heron (IAI Heron)
Role: Reconnaissance
The proven Israeli IAI Heron UAV is a limited addition to Canadian drone ranks with just two in active service (of the three originally featured). The aircraft are restricted to the reconnaissance role and sport fixed mainplanes, twin-tail booms, and a tricycle undercarriage. A first flight for the series took place in 1994 and series entry followed in 2005. Since then, the Heran is recognized globally for its reliability and versatility in active war environments. The aircraft is known in the Israeli inventory as the Machatz-1 and the family of aircraft includes the EADS Harfang, the IAI Eitan, and the Avionics Services Cacador (of Brazil).


CF-18A fighter
Coast-to-Coast Coverage: Canadian Airpower
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is built upon modern technologies aimed at the challenges of the equally-modern battlefield.

RCAF Aircraft
High Mobility: Canadian Army Vehicles
Canadian ground force elements are provided key systems to enforce a mobile, rapid-response component of Canadian offensive and defensive capabilities.

Canadian Armor & Support
Bison 8x8 wheeled vehicle
HMCS Chicoutimi SSK879 submarine
From Shore-to-Shore: the RCN
The Royal Canadian Navy seeks to address shortcomings in their aging sea-going force built atop a modest submarine fleet alongside conventional surface combatants.

RCN Navy Fleet
ISR: Canadian Drone Force
Canadian drone force capabilities are currently restricted to Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance solutions to support ground forces in real-time.

Canadian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Boeing Insitu RQ-21 drone
Canadian officer shoulder patch in detail
Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Canadian Military Ranks
Canada follows the Western approach to its organization of three major branches of service: Air Force, Army, and Navy.

Canadian Military Ranks
Proven Pedigree: Canadian Manpower
Canada fields one of the most-capable fighting forces on the planet.

Canadian Military Manpower
Canadian soldiers undertaking beachlanding exercise
Collection of military and national flags image
Strength in Numbers: GFP 2025 Report
The annual GlobalFirepower.com defense review places Canadian fighting strength in the Top 30, ahead of Singapore and behind Sweden.

Canadian GFP Annual Report
Goods and Services: Canadian Primary Industries
Canada is an industry leader in rich minerals, petroleum production, and energy production.

Canada Primary Industries
Canadian national industries report graphic
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