Canadian Army launches MINERVA’S first innovation challenge at 4 Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa

May 21, 2026 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time: 2:08

The Canadian Army (CA), with the support of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program, announced the launch of its first innovation challenge original to the MINERVA Initiative at an industry event held at 4 Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa on April 29. The True north precision: Low cost drones with laser ranging challenge focussed on improving target acquisition capabilities for the General-Purpose Uncrewed Aerial System (GPUAS) category.

A field demonstration to showcase the CA's real-world operational needs to industry

The inaugural event brought together members of the Canadian defence sector for a field demonstration aimed at highlighting the Army's actual operational requirements. Hosted by the CA's 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery - the challenge's sponsor unit - with the support of IDEaS, the demonstration provided industry participants with first-hand insight into the issues encountered by tactical units in contemporary operating contexts.

Modern battlefield conditions increasingly impose heightened demands on Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, particularly at the platoon and company levels. Although sophisticated ISR platforms deliver superior performance, their cost, export limitations, and sustainment requirements limit their widespread use by frontline units. In contrast, commercially available small GPUAS, though affordable and readily accessible, often lack the geolocation accuracy required to enable effective sensor-to-shooter integration and indirect fire coordination.

As Colonel Jordan D. Schaub, Commander 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group / 4th Cdn Division, noted during the event, "Operation IRON STALKER is 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group's Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) and Counter-UAS initiative, focused on institutionalizing the systems we have today by deliberately building competence across all units, aligned to the operational functions of Command, Sense, Act, Shield, and Sustain. Our aim is to embed UAS into how we train and fight now, while informing how we transition and prepare for tomorrow by augmenting existing capabilities to be more effective on the modern battlefield. This initiative is nested within the Canadian Army's broader MINERVA framework."

Initiated via the IDEaS program, the True north precision innovation challenge supports the Defence Industrial Strategy 's key sovereign capabilities, especially in the domain of uncrewed systems. It also aligns with the CA modernization demand-signal to accelerate the adoption and operationalization of uncrewed systems that aim to bridge this gap.

Solutions developed through this innovation challenge are intended to enhance CA indirect fire missions and overall battlefield awareness by improving:

• situational awareness and decision making;
• soldier safety and survivability;
• sensor-to-shooter integration for indirect fire; and
• operational resilience in harsh environmental conditions.

Development funding, up to $2.1 million in total, will be available to innovators to develop low-cost solutions for targeting and range finding using small drones.

An integrative methodology for innovation

The True North Precision challenge marks the first in a series of innovation challenges to be launched under the MINERVA Initiative. Together, these challenges will unite various defence and security stakeholders from government, industry, and the CA to collaboratively develop, test, and mature emerging technologies in direct support of military operations.

Stay prepared - new challenges launching soon!