True north precision: Low cost drones with laser ranging
The challenge
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are seeking innovative solutions for cost-effective range finding and targeting capabilities to be used on small drones. The goal is to increase battlefield awareness and support indirect fire missions through aerial surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance.
This Call for Proposals (CFP) is supporting the MINERVA initiative, a practical, soldier-focused approach to integrating drones and autonomous systems into operations.
This challenge is being supported by the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS).
What IDEaS provides
- Development funding: this challenge will offer $2.1 million of development funding (total), with funding focussing on promising concepts that can quickly advance their capabilities.
- Capability assessment: There will be an opportunity to validate your technology (Technology Readiness Level 7 or better) against Canadian Armed Forces requirements in a realistic environment.
What innovators bring
- Solutions will be compact and lightweight, with the combined weight of the drone and payload not to exceed 25 kilograms.
- Ideal range finding capabilities should be low-power, ruggedized and easily integrated into a small Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) drone.
- Innovators must propose and validate how their project will get to a test ready state by spring of 2027 in order to participate in the final capability assessment.
The challenge
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are seeking innovative solutions for cost-effective uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to provide accurate range and target cueing information to support indirect fire missions and battlefield awareness. Current systems either lack the precision and resilience required for use in contested electromagnetic environments or are prohibitively expensive for widespread deployment.
This challenge is being supported by the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS).
Background and Operational Context
Modern battlefield environments present significant challenges for tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, particularly at the platoon and company levels. While advanced ISR platforms offer exceptional performance, their high cost, export restrictions, and sustainment complexity limit their scalability and accessibility for frontline units. Conversely, small commercial drones, though affordable and widely available, lack the geolocation precision required to support sensor-to-shooter integration and effective fire mission coordination.
Canadian and allied forces currently rely on a polarized mix of ISR capabilities: low-cost quadcopters for short-range reconnaissance and high-end Class 2 systems for more complex missions. This polarization has created a capability gap in the mid-tier range, specifically, the absence of affordable, durable ISR drones that can deliver precise rangefinding and target cueing under contested electromagnetic conditions.
To address this gap, there is a need for compact, low-power, and ruggedized rangefinding or target-designation payloads that can be integrated into small ISR drones.
The initial operational focus is on supporting mortar and artillery observers by providing accurate range and geolocation data to improve calls for fire, enabling observers to operate from protected positions. Once validated, the system could be scaled to support mounted reconnaissance teams, partner force augmentation, and networked fires coordination across combined arms teams.
Validation, Refinement, and User Engagement Activities
As part of this Challenge, structured user engagement and iterative capability development activities will be integrated into the contract period to support solution maturation and ensure alignment with CAF operational needs.
A mid point Capability Validation and Refinement Activity is expected to be scheduled approximately three to four months after contract award. This activity will be conducted over several consecutive days and will bring together all participating innovators to assess progress achieved to that point through hands on testing.
The Capability Validation and Refinement Activity is intended to enable iterative, collaborative engagement between innovators and CAF end users. During this period, innovators will have the opportunity to test and present their evolving solutions, receive direct operational feedback, and make adjustments or refinements in response. Follow on testing and exchanges during the same activity window will allow innovators to validate refinements and engage in further technical and operational discussions, helping to inform priorities for the next development sprint.
At the conclusion of the contract period, a Final Capability Assessment Activity will be conducted and DND/CAF will provide feedback. This activity will assess the overall maturity, performance, and operational relevance of proposed solutions against the Challenge outcomes.
The timing, location, and detailed format of all activities will be communicated at a later date.
As there are a variety of strategies and methods that could be proposed for meeting this challenge, DND/CAF is providing some guidance to innovators based on the current state of this capability domain and experiences with similar projects:
| Examples of proposal activities | Typical budgets are approximate |
|---|---|
| Integration of technologies onto existing UAS platforms | $100,000.00 |
| Mid-point capability validation | $20,000.00 |
| Development and refinement of UAS technologies | $160,000.00 |
| Assessment activity of capabilities | $20,000.00 |
| Total for all proposal activities | $300,000.00 |
Essential outcomes
Proposed solutions must demonstrate the following:
| Essential outcomes | Capability area | Performance outcome |
|---|---|---|
| EO1 | Precision rangefinding | ±2 m range accuracy at 1 km to a vehicle-sized target (10 figure Military Grid Reference System (MGRS)). Continuous range updates for targets moving up to 10 m/s with ≤ 1 s latency and ≤ 2 m positional error at 1 km. |
| EO2 | Platform performance | Must fall within operational radius of 3 - 4 km (Line of Sight (LOS) or Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) with waiver); ≥ 30 minutes endurance under standard conditions. |
| EO3 | Resilience & navigation | Maintain rangefinding/geolocation capability during Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) degradation; provide a fallback navigation (e.g., visual odometry, inertial fusion, Real-Time Kinematic correction). |
| EO4 | Environmental & operational robustness | Operable at 0°C and above. Maintain functionality in sustained/gusting winds up to 10 m/s. Demonstrate performance of target acquisition in presence of dust/smoke/obscurants (e.g. MIL-STD-810 Method 510.5 compliance). |
| EO5 | Data handling & safety | Class 1 eye-safe laser operation for rangefinder and information handling compliant with ITSP.10.171. |
| EO6 | Size | Integrated system including drone and sensor payload must not weigh more than 25 kg. |
| EO7 | Operational testing | A prototype of the innovative solution will be ready for a final capability assessment activity to be held in May 2027. |
Desired outcomes
Proposed solutions should include capabilities and considerations such as, but not limited to, the following:
| Desired outcomes | Capability area | Performance outcome |
|---|---|---|
| DO1 | Target designation | STANAG 3733 compliant; up to Class 4 laser designation capability. |
| DO2 | Advanced rangefinding | ±1 m accuracy at 1 km on human-sized targets. Continuous range updates for targets moving up to 10 m/s with ≤ 1 s latency and ≤ 2 m positional error at 1 km. |
| DO3 | Environmental & operational robustness | Operable at −20°C and above. Maintain functionality in sustained/gusting winds up to 15 m/s. Demonstrate performance in dust/smoke/obscurants – MIL-STD-810 Method 510.5. Operate in precipitation of 4mm/m²/hr. |
| DO4 | Sensor-to-shooter integration | Real-time telemetry and integration with ATAK based ground control systems. STANAG 4586 for independent control of payload and 4609 for Full Motion Video (FMV) data. Impact adjustment feature for fires. |
| DO5 | High-speed target tracking | Track targets moving up to 20 m/s with predictive smoothing and automatic track handoff to ground C2 systems. |
| DO6 | Modular payload design | The platform is designed with a modular payload bay to allow replacement of sensors or batteries without structural modification. |
| DO7 | Autonomous navigation | Autonomous or semi-autonomous (e.g. waypoint navigation) operation in GNSS-denied environments using multiple alternative navigation methods (e.g., visual odometry, inertial fusion). Front facing automated obstacle avoidance. |
| DO8 | Origin | The countries of origin for critical systems, including data transmission devices, flight controllers, software and onboard computers are clearly identified. |
| D09 | EM resilience | Fibre optic wire or alternate non-Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum means of control and data transfer from Ground Control Station (GCS) to air vehicle. Remote extension of GCS transmitter from operator. |
The following NATO UAS Class definitions are used for this challenge:
| Class | Category | Normal operating altitude above ground-level (AGL) | Normal mission radius | NATO example platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class I <150 kg |
Micro <2 kg | Up to 200 ft AGL | 5 km (line of sight (LOS)) | Wasp, Snipe |
| Mini 2-20 kg | Up to 3000 ft AGL | 25 km (LOS) | Raven, Puma | |
| Small >20 kg | Up to 5000 ft AGL | 50 km (LOS) | Blackjack | |
| Class II 150-600 kg |
Tactical | Up to 10,000 ft AGL | 200 km (LOS) | S-100 Camcopter |
Eligibility
This CFP is open to individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations, and all industry. Federal and provincial crown corporations are not eligible for funding.
How to apply
IDEaS is transitioning to a new Portal to receive submissions from the innovator community for this challenge.
To apply, consult the Solicitation Guide available on CanadaBuys.
Deadline
The CFP opens April 29, 2026, and the deadline to submit proposals is June 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT.