Canadian drone developers are increasingly considering overseas testing to evaluate how their unmanned systems perform against radio-frequency jamming and other electronic warfare threats, citing restrictions under federal legislation.
Canada’s Radiocommunication Act prohibits the installation, use, possession, manufacture, import, or sale of radio-signal jamming devices, creating challenges for companies seeking to conduct realistic electronic warfare testing.
While the legislation provides exemptions for the Canadian military and authorized suppliers, private-sector developers have fewer opportunities to test their platforms against operational jamming systems. Ontario-based Sentinel R&D is among the companies affected by these limitations, prompting Canadian drone developers to explore testing opportunities outside the country.
The restrictions could make it more difficult for domestic manufacturers to validate the electronic warfare resilience of their drones under realistic battlefield conditions, particularly as counter-drone and radio-frequency warfare capabilities become increasingly important in modern military operations.
