The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has flown its first uncrewed aircraft system. The CU179 Peregrine made its inaugural flight Sept. 1 at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) near Nanaimo, B.C.
Why it matters: The Peregrine lets a warship launch its own surveillance aircraft and see well past its horizon without putting a crew in the air. The ISTAR UAS project marks the first time the RCN will operate and support a Class-2 UAS.
Driving the news: The Advanced Naval Capabilities Unit carried out the launch and recovery. National Defence says the flight validates years of planning, collaboration and testing to deliver the navy's maritime drone capability.
DND credited sailors, engineers, aviation specialists and defence scientists across the RCN, defence partners and Canadian industry.
The flight also builds the operational techniques and airworthiness knowledge the navy needs to run uncrewed aviation safely at sea.
The details: The Peregrine is based on the Schiebel Camcopter S-100, a vertical takeoff and landing helicopter drone.
It will deploy first on Halifax-class frigates, then move to River-class destroyers as they enter service.
DND says it carries advanced sensors, wide-area surveillance payloads and long-range radar.
Schiebel says the aircraft can operate day and night in all weather, delivering real-time surveillance out to 100 nautical miles from the ship.
DND says the drone will improve maritime situational awareness, help secure Canadian waters and support search and rescue while reducing risk to personnel.
Until the drones are in service, existing Halifax-class ship sensors, including the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter, will continue to provide the ISTAR data-gathering capability.
By the numbers:
Up to six: aircraft planned for the Halifax class
$39 million: initial acquisition contract for two aircraft, including taxes
$27 million: initial five-year in-service support contract, including taxes, which could be extended to 20 years
145: jobs created or maintained annually, plus $18 million a year in GDP, over 20 years, per DND
2028: initial operational capability, with full operational capability expected in 2032
Background: Ottawa awarded two contracts to MDA Space in August 2025 under the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (ISTAR UAS) project. Vanguard covered the award at the time.
Schiebel was later confirmed as MDA's supplier for the aircraft.
The project covers acquisition, integration and long-term in-service support.
Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy applies. MDA must provide business activities and targeted investments in the Canadian aerospace and defence sector equal to the value of the contracts.
What they're saying: At the contract award, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) Stephen Fuhr called the purchase "a critical step forward in enhancing our maritime surveillance and operational effectiveness."
MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley said the project draws on "deep domestic Canadian industrial capabilities."
The bigger picture: DND says the Peregrine puts the RCN among a growing number of allied navies using uncrewed aviation for maritime security. It adds that the system will support closer interoperability with Canada's defence partners.
What's next: The navy hasn't said when the Peregrine will fly from a frigate at sea.
