**DEADLINE TO REGISTER DEC 15, 2025
The challenge:
Building on the results of the 2024 CUAS Sandbox, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF and their defence and security partners (RCMP, Public Safety, etc.) are seeking CUAS solutions capable of detecting and/or defeating Micro and Mini UAS with systems that can be integrated into the broader military command and control systems.
As was done in 2024, Sandbox prizes will be awarded for the top three “Diamond in the rough” solutions.
Background and context:
The UAS landscape is rapidly evolving. The rapid increase of availability, affordability, complexity, and capabilities of UAS systems continues to pose increasing threats to the DND/CAF and our defence and security partners. Potential adversaries are also adapting UAS designs to evade current CUAS capabilities, by reducing the UAS visibility, minimizing radio-frequency emissions, increasing autonomy, operating at higher velocities, etc., thus rendering the current CUAS approaches obsolete. Proposed solutions to this challenge should take into account not only what is available and a threat today, but also emerging UAS and CUAS capabilities and how they might be detected, defeated, and/or exploited tomorrow.
CUAS was identified as one of the priorities in Canada’s 2017 defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) which stated: “As the development of remotely piloted systems increases… Canada will require the appropriate capabilities to identify and defend against these burgeoning threats.” (page 73).
Due to the importance of this challenge, the CAF is in the process of establishing a strategic level Joint CUAS Office (JCO) for coordinating with the Canadian Army (CA), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM), and our allies and partners. The information presented in this CUAS challenge represents a blending of characteristics of interest to one or more of the services, as well as the RCMP.
The following CAF projects have a direct interest in CUAS systems and the results of this challenge:
Canadian Forces Land Electronic Warfare Modernization (CFLEWM). CFLEWM is upgrading the Army’s Mobile Electronic Warfare Teams in Light and Armoured platforms. While dedicated CUAS capabilities are out of scope for CFLEWM, a beneficial outcome would be to understand how multi-role EW Sense and Attack capabilities can contribute to the CUAS fight, and how dedicated CUAS sensors could be integrated into the EW sensor network.
Land Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Modernization (Land ISR Mod). Land ISR Mod is investigating capabilities that can provide sensor systems for the purposes of targeting. This project is mandated under SSE Initiative #42 and is funded. This project is in Options Analysis transitioning to Definition.
Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS). A specific CUAS initiative is investigating CUAS systems capable of defending critical infrastructure, vehicles, and personnel from Micro and Mini UAS. This project is not funded at this time, and consequently an intended date for any future procurement cannot yet be stated.