Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Project

Explore the project to acquire remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS).

Project at a glance

Overview: RPAS support Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance during domestic and international operations
Procuring: Medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft featuring beyond-line-of-sight capability, ground control stations and communications systems
Status: Request for proposals (RFP) released to qualified suppliers
Next steps: Contract award anticipated by 2024

Project description

The Government of Canada committed to acquiring RPAS as part of its defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. These RPAS will be integrated into a network of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems to enable near real-time flow of information essential to CAF operations. The aircraft will be piloted by certified CAF pilots from remote locations and will be capable of carrying and launching precision-guided munitions.

This is a multi-phased procurement. The national security exception provided for in the trade agreements that govern federal procurement processes has been invoked. RPAS and their associated systems are sensitive and are anticipated to be subject to the Controlled Goods Program.

The Government of Canada will continue to provide updates on progress by sharing non-sensitive information when possible.

The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy applies to this procurement, requiring the winning suppliers to place investments in Canada equal to the value of the contracts.

Current status

On February 11, 2022 the formal RFP was released to qualified suppliers.

Procurement progress and engagement

Learn about the progress of and engagement involved in the procurement.

2012 and 2016

2012: Request for information (RFI) was posted to consult industry on the availability of potential solutions to address this requirement
2016: Updated RFI was posted
- The information gathered through engagements with industry contributed to the development of the proposed procurement strategy and continued into 2019

2019 to 2021

January 7, 2019: The Government of Canada provided an update on the remotely piloted aircraft system project
April 5, 2019: A draft invitation to qualify was released
May 2, 2019: Using the feedback from the draft invitation to qualify (ITQ), a formal invitation to qualify was released
May 30, 2019: Following the ITQ process, a list of qualified suppliers was published:
- L3 Technologies MAS Inc.
- United States Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
November 16, 2020: A draft RFP was issued to qualified suppliers
- Continued engagement with qualified suppliers to review and refine preliminary requirements through 2021

2022 and beyond

February 11, 2022: Formal RFP was issued to qualified suppliers
2024: Contract award anticipated

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