Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Sandbox 2026

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.

CUAS outcomes

Essential outcomes

Aside from addressing the challenge in an overall sense, there are no specific detailed essential challenge outcomes at this time.

Desirable outcomes: Integration into an external command and control system

DND/CAF is open to receiving all types of solutions with variable outcomes that are not restricted to the list in the Applicant Guide; however, the desirable outcomes on the list are of particular interest and solutions that address these in whole or in part have an increased likelihood of being selected to attend the 2026 CUAS Sandbox.

Operational scenarios

UAS threats occur in a variety of operational scenarios, six of which are of specific interest to defend against. It is desirable that a solution addresses as many of these as possible, each to the maximum extent possible, in both day and night conditions:

• Operating base. Defending a Forward Operating Base (FOB), airfield, or VIP conference location in which a CUAS system can be in a static location once deployed, and where equipment size and power consumption is not a major issue. The perimeter of the area to be defended is a circle with a 2.5 km radius. The combined location and quantity of the systems used must be located within that circle with an effective range extending beyond that perimeter in all directions to prevent the UAS from approaching the perimeter. The capability to distinguish authorized and non-authorized aircraft, drones, and other objects in the airspace is relevant.
• Mobile vehicle. Defending a mobile vehicle force element such as a patrol of five vehicles, in which the CUAS system must be vehicle-mounted and powered for mobility, creating a defensive bubble around the vehicles while on the move.
• Dismounted personnel. Defending a small element of 12 dismounted soldiers or a VIP group in an isolated location, in which case the CUAS system and its power source must be “Person Portable”. Ideally also operating while the group is on the move, creating a defensive bubble around the group.
• Urban environment. Operating in urban scenarios such as complex and cluttered infrastructure, obstacles, and electromagnetic environments. The area to be defended is a major city downtown location and a square of 4 x 4 city blocks, with office towers up to 10 stories high on some or all the blocks to be defended.
• Naval environment. Defending an RCN frigate sized ship that is (i) underway in littoral waters that vary from large straits to confined entries to harbours; and (ii) alongside a dock or anchored in a harbour. The equipment will have to contend with obstacles such as the ship's superstructure, the unique electromagnetic environment surrounding the ship, the various speeds and movements of a ship, a variety of coastal, urban, and port landscapes, and it will have to withstand prolonged exposure to the marine salt environment.
• Monitoring and defending a linear border. Such borders are relevant to military front lines of combat and to geo-political boundaries and can be many kilometres in length. For the purposes of relative resource and capability comparisons amongst different solutions, for any one system, how many are required at what spacing to provide a CUAS capability along a 10-kilometer straight line border?

CUAS methodologies

The general methodologies for achieving CUAS effects can be characterized as:

• Active detection, in which the CUAS system is transmitting a signal in order to detect the UAS (such as radar), which has the disadvantage of potentially revealing the location of the transmitter, depending on the technology used.
• Passive detection, which conceals our own position and relies on detecting the UAS from effects it generates (such as visual detection, electronic signatures, audible noise, etc.).
• Soft-kill neutralization, using means such as radiofrequency effects or other methods to deter, disable, take over, or otherwise mitigate the UAS.
• Hard-kill neutralization, using ammunition, nets, entanglers, missiles, lasers, microwave devices, or other means to physically disable the UAS.

Areas of CAF CUAS interest

DND/CAF is open to receiving all types of solutions, however technologies and concepts that are new, different, and have an unknown future potential will be of higher interest relative to technologies and concepts that are largely duplicating other existing similar solutions.

Utilization of a method that is substantively different than any other means of detecting and defeating drones, such that it would fill a niche in a layered CUAS approach of multiple capabilities. Current known methods include but are not limited to:

Detect:

• Radar
• Acoustic
• Radio Frequency (RF) Signal
• Optical

Defeat:

• RF Jamming and Cyber
• Nets
• Small arms ballistic projectiles

Selection emphasis in the following technology areas can be expected, provided their performance is relevant. Even if these technology areas are previously known, improvements in these areas are of interest:

• Hard-kill solutions, particularly proximity munitions, and directed energy such as lasers and microwaves.
• Beyond line-of-sight capability.
• Networks of low-cost sensors.

Eligibility and how to apply

Who can apply?

• Applications are open to individuals, academia, not for profit organizations, and industry of any size, as well as provincial, territorial, and municipal organizations.
• Federal government departments/agencies, and federal Crown Corporations are not eligible to submit applications to this Call for Applications (CFA).
• Foreign companies can apply. Sandboxes are not exclusively restricted to made in Canada products/solutions; however, the level of Canadian content within each application will be given consideration during the evaluation process as described in section 6 of the Application Form.

How developed must my solution be? Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or higher. At a minimum, at the time of application your solution must have already successfully completed the work and validation testing associated with refining the integration of the solution’s components (TRL 5 or higher). This ensures that solutions are ready for the near-end state demonstrations and testing in a simulated environment that DND/CAF expects in a Sandbox. Learn more about TRLs.

How do I apply?

Step 1: Carefully read the Applicant Guide for Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox. [PDF-1.1MB]*

Step 2: Download and complete the following:

• Application Form [PDF-184KB]* This is a multiple-choice short answer series of questions used to describe your solution. The questions are the technical criteria used for evaluating your application to attend the Sandbox. The instructions, scoring metrics, and weight factors are included within the form.

• Test Plan template. This tells us what you are proposing to show us during your time in the Sandbox, enabling us to ensure that your plan aligns with the intent of the Sandbox and that the Sandbox is suitably equipped and ready for your arrival.

• Radio Frequency Spectrum, DND Form 552 [PDF-981KB]*. Only if your solution emits any RF energy you must submit this form as part of your application. DND/CAF will use this to determine if the RF usage is supportable in the Sandbox. See Section 4 of the application form for additional details and technical assistance on this topic, as well as the DND 552 form itself.

• Company and Technology Overview “one-pager”. This is a PowerPoint one-pager providing DND/CAF with a brief description and photographs of the company and their technology. It will be used to create a compendium of the applying companies and solutions, as well as to create briefing packages for visitors to the Sandbox and other communications purposes.

* Some users report an error message when opening the Application Form from their browser using Chrome. Internet Explorer does not seem to have this issue. In most cases, this can be corrected by downloading the form to your computer (right-click on the link, Save As…) and opening it from your hard drive. If you continue to have problems, please contact us at IDEaSSandboxes-EnvironnementsprotegesIDEeS@forces.gc.ca and we will email a direct copy of the form to you.

Step 3: Request a “PriviDox” account, the submission portal for your application.

To enable the secure acceptance of files larger than email will normally permit, all applications must be submitted through the PriviDox service from your account to the IDEaS account. There are no fees to you for using this service.

To request a PriviDox account with IDEaS for this Sandbox:

• Do this at least ten business days prior to the application period closing to provide time for the account to be established and any issues resolved.
• Email IDEaSSandboxes-environnementsprotegesIDEeS@forces.gc.ca requesting a PriviDox account including the email address you want to use with your PriviDox account.

All correspondence exchanging files will go through that account.

• You will receive two automated emails from PriviDox inviting you to “Activate” your account, and to “Start Collaborating” with the 2026 CUAS Sandbox. 
• Wait to receive those emails before trying to access your account.  Check your account and spam for emails from PriviDox <no-reply@prividox.com>. Follow the instructions in those emails.  There are further details in the Application Guide.

You will then be able to access and action messages and submit your application at any time prior to the closing date and time.

Step 4: Submit your application using your PriviDox account prior to 2:00 pm ET on December 15, 2025, or other date as posted on Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Sandbox 2026 - Canada.ca:

• Application Form
• Test Plan
• An untouched photograph of your solution, showing it in a "ready to operate" configuration. This should be in high quality JPEGS 15mb. 16x9 aspect ratio.
• To substantiate your TRL selection, submit an untouched 3 minute or less real video (not a virtual creation), showing it in operation by the operator, in mp4 or .mov file format, 1080p.
• If your solution emits any radio frequency energy, you must also submit the DND 552 form.
• Company and Technology Overview “one-pager” from the provided PowerPoint template.

You will receive an application confirmation email receipt within two business days.

Applicant guide and application forms

The Applicant Guide is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know:

• CUAS Sandbox
• Selection
• Funding
• CUAS challenge
• Test Plans
• Other information
• Criteria
• Responsibilities

Download the Applicant Guide, forms, template, and one-pager you will need to complete for your application to attend the Sandbox:

• CUAS Applicant Guide [PDF-1.1MB]*
• CUAS Application Form [PDF-184KB]*
• CUAS Test Plan Template
• DND 552 Spectrum Form [PDF-981KB]*
• Company and Technology Overview “one-pager”

* Some users report an error message when opening the Application Form from their browser using Chrome. Internet Explorer does not seem to have this issue. In most cases, this can be corrected by downloading the form to your computer (right-click on the link, Save As…) and opening it from your hard drive. If you continue to have problems, please contact us at IDEaSSandboxes-EnvironnementsprotegesIDEeS@forces.gc.ca and we will email a direct copy of the form to you.

2025 CUAS Sandbox (Urban)

In addition to the 2026 CUAS Sandbox, there will be a 2025 CUAS Sandbox which will focus on detect-only technologies in an urban setting. This CUAS Sandbox will take place from November 24-28 in Ottawa, Ontario. See 2025 Sandbox for more details.

Frequently asked questions

Please submit your questions to: IDEaSSandboxes-EnvironnementsprotegesIDEeS@forces.gc.ca

If you have any questions on the IDEaS program in general, please visit the IDEaS FAQ webpage.