The Department of National Defence will conduct drone detection trials over downtown Ottawa, near Parliament Hill, from November 24 to 28, 2025, as part of its Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program. These trials will test urban counter-uncrewed aircraft system (CUAS) detection capabilities in a controlled, scientific environment.
The week-long event will bring together defence science experts and innovators, Canadian Armed Forces personnel, police, and other defence and security allies to evaluate how well detection technologies perform in a complex urban environment.
Testing will take place at ground level, on mid-level and high-level balconies of high-rise buildings, and on rooftops in the vicinity of Kent, Queen, Sparks, and Wellington streets.
The trials will focus on detecting small drones (micro and mini uncrewed aerial systems). All technologies being tested are safe to operate in the presence of people and pose no risk to the public. The drones being used are registered and fully compliant with all Transport Canada requirements for flying drones in the city. One of the objectives of the sandbox event is to identify detection technologies that could be safely used in the future for protecting people at public gathering events.
Trials will be strictly limited to drone detection demonstrations, and a detect-only approach means drone destruction is not permitted during testing.
Testing will be conducted during the day throughout the week, as well as one weeknight. The public will not be directly affected during these tests and residents of downtown Ottawa will not be disrupted by the tests at night.
Drones will be visible in Ottawa's downtown core as part of this scheduled testing exercise; however, for safety and operational security reasons, access to this event is closed to media and members of the public.
This event has been organized in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa Police Service, Transport Canada and other partners, and is carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure public safety.
