The Sentinel Shield challenge is an early test of Canada's push to move defence innovation from prototype to procurement.

DND is looking for Canadian innovators that can help detect, recognize, identify and track small uncrewed aerial systems before they reach military bases, radar stations and other critical defence infrastructure.

The Sentinel Shield challenge, run through IDEaS and supported by BOREALIS, is focused on wide-area detection for Class I and II UAS threats. The goal is continuous monitoring within 10 kilometres of a protected site, and ideally beyond, against low radar cross-section systems that can be difficult to spot with conventional sensors.

The challenge also matters because it is being run under POINT, the Procurement and Operationalization of Innovation and New Technology pilot. That gives DND a possible pathway to buy promising solutions after R&D and testing, rather than leaving successful technologies stuck at the demonstration stage.

For industry, the signal is useful. Counter-UAS is moving from a battlefield lesson learned in Ukraine to a standing defence infrastructure requirement, and Ottawa is trying to connect the innovation pipeline more directly to operational use.

The solicitation period closes June 24, with Build and Test selections expected in July. Each Build and Test contract may be worth up to $1 million, with a possible follow-on acquisition contract valued at up to $20 million if the technology meets DND's requirements.