The Canadian military still expects the first of its large drones to be operational in 2028, but the systems will be limited initially in what they can do, according to internal documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

Department of National Defence spokesperson Kened Sadiku said the delivery of the first of 11 MQ-9 drones was on track for 2028. But an unclassified briefing pointed out that the first drone would have “limited” capabilities initially. It would only be able to conduct “basic domestic ISR (intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance)” and would “not be carrying weapons” or capable of intercepting communications, according to the document obtained through an access-to-information request.

In January 2025, I wrote another article for the Ottawa Citizen pointing out that the construction of the first of the drones had started but that the fleet wouldn’t be fully operational until 2033.

DND posted on the social media site X on Jan. 10, 2025, that the first two MQ-9B drones were in production at a U.S. company in California. In its posting, the department called the news “exciting progress.”

Canada is purchasing the General Atomics MQ-9B for operations both overseas and domestically. The drones could be used on international missions to conduct surveillance and attack targets, while at home they would have a role on sovereignty patrols, surveillance of large events and gathering information in support of responses to natural disasters. The new drones will be stationed at 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S., and 19 Wing Comox, B.C.

Back in September 2023, I wrote that the Canadian military had set the stage for its purchase of a fleet of armed drones by requesting the United States government provide it with 219 Hellfire missiles.