Unmanned Horizons: The Future of Aerial, Land, and Naval Drones

Unmanned Horizons: The Future of Aerial, Land, and Naval Drones

As the nature of modern warfare and security rapidly evolves, unmanned systems have emerged as decisive assets across all domains including air, land, and sea. Unmanned Horizons will bring together defence leaders, industry innovators, policymakers, NATO member states and researchers to explore the accelerating development of drone technologies and their strategic implications.

The session will commence with a keynote speech delivered by former Minister of Defence and current Chair of the NATO Association of Canada, Hon. David Collenette.

Panelists include Major-General Jeff Smyth, Chief of Air and Space Force Development of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Ms. Paula Folkes, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, Colonel Christian Labbe, Chief of Combat Systems Integration at VCDS, and Colonel Paolo Pavese, Director of Force Development at Canadian Special Operations Command.

Moderated by Dr. Alexander Salt, Post-doctoral Fellow at Triple Helix, Canadian Global Affairs Institute, the discussion will bring institutional insight into capability development, procurement, and innovation.

Drawing lessons from Ukraine and other recent conflicts, the event will examine how drones are reshaping operational doctrines, force structures, and industrial priorities to ensure NATO allies remain at the forefront of technological change. Participants will engage in discussions on the integration of unmanned platforms across the joint force, the balance between mass and sophistication, and the challenges of sustaining innovation in a fast-moving capability area.

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