MINERVA Initiative
The battlefield is evolving—and so must we. Just as magnified optics revolutionized marksmanship, uncrewed systems represent the next leap in capability. But this transformation won’t come from a single piece of kit. It will be built step-by-step, through smart design, rigorous testing, and close collaboration between soldiers, engineers, and industry. The MINERVA Initiative is the Canadian Army’s blueprint for that evolution: a practical, soldier-focused approach to integrating drones and autonomous systems into our operations. It’s about getting ahead of threats, adapting to harsh environments, and building a resilient, sovereign defence capability—right here in Canada.
The following are some of the considerations that must be addressed as part of iterative and collaborative development:
- Environmental challenges: Systems must work reliably in harsh Canadian conditions such as Arctic cold, winter weather, rain, wind, darkness, and across long distances. They also need to be rugged and durable enough to withstand the tough handling typical in military operations—what we call “soldier-proofing.”
- Threat scenarios: The technology must be resilient against modern threats like electronic warfare (which can disrupt communications), interference with positioning and navigation systems (such as GPS jamming or spoofing), and enemy drones or interceptors designed to target our systems.
Rationale and approach
- MINERVA is part of the Army’s plan to embrace the benefits that simple drones can provide to protect soldiers and boost combat power. The Canadian Army is launching the MINERVA Initiative to figure out how best to equip our troops with small, uncrewed systems, like drones on land, air, and water, that can scout ahead, deliver supplies, or strike targets. These tools will reduce risk to soldiers and give them better situational awareness and options on the modern battlefield.
- We’re not starting with a procurement project, we’re starting with smart planning. MINERVA is about getting it right from the ground up. We’re working with soldiers, engineers, and industry to understand what kinds of uncrewed systems we need, how many, and what roles they’ll play. This ensures we build capabilities that help our soldiers on the battlefield. The initiative will also leverage other ongoing efforts such as Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS), Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS), Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) and Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).
- The Army is bringing industry into the process early. This is about collaboration, not just contracts. Through MINERVA, we’re not just issuing requirements and walking away. We’re building a partnership with Canadian industry, especially small and medium-sized enterprise, to understand what technology they can provide and to give them realistic field environments to test and refine it. That’s how we contribute to a stronger, sovereign defence industrial base in Canada.
- MINERVA answers three key priorities from Canada’s defence policy. This initiative supports clear direction from Our North, Strong and Free: to speed up acquisition, grow our defence industrial base, and explore surveillance and strike drones. MINERVA is a practical way to get capability into the hands of soldiers faster, while strengthening Canadian innovation and jobs in the process.
- MINERVA is a key piece of Army Modernization because our soldiers can’t fight tomorrow’s wars with yesterday’s tools. Right now, Canadian troops rely heavily on human labour for dangerous tasks. That’s not sustainable in a battlefield filled with sensors, drones, and long-range weapons. Modernization means giving our people the tools to see farther, move smarter, and survive longer.
Upcoming:
Kick-Off Meeting with Industry
2 December 2025 AM
Ottawa
Interested? Contact LCol D’Arcy Lemay, darcy.lemay@forces.gc.ca