{"id":4478,"date":"2026-10-30T19:04:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T19:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/30\/canada-needs-a-good-mix-of-new-tech-like-drones-ai-nato-commander-national-globalnews-ca\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T19:04:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T19:04:22","slug":"canada-needs-a-good-mix-of-new-tech-like-drones-ai-nato-commander-national-globalnews-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/30\/canada-needs-a-good-mix-of-new-tech-like-drones-ai-nato-commander-national-globalnews-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada needs a \u2018good mix\u2019 of new tech like drones, AI: NATO commander – National | Globalnews.ca"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As Canada prepares to invest billions into national defence in the coming years, a senior NATO<\/a> official is advising the alliance\u2019s militaries to include a mix of cutting-edge technology like AI targeting and advanced drones<\/a> into their plans.<\/p>\n

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Speaking to Global News from Riga, Latvia, on Friday, Adm. Pierre Vandier said that it\u2019s not a question of replacing \u201ceverything\u201d with drones \u2014 but rather incorporating drones and other unmanned systems to protect and enhance existing military capabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cA force that is not protected against drones and (drone) swarms is a force at risk,\u201d Vandier, NATO\u2019s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, said in an interview.<\/p>\n

Vandier was speaking after observing NATO exercises in Latvia that included a mix of electronic warfare and drones along with \u201cboots on the ground\u201d to simulate a cross-border invasion.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is top of mind for the alliance forces stationed in Latvia, including the roughly 3,000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel stationed in the country as part of Operation Reassurance.<\/p>\n

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That conflict has seen dramatic developments in the use of drones in warfare, including to limit the effectiveness of more traditional military assets \u2014 such as tanks and ground forces.<\/p>\n

But Vandier said that one of the lessons learned through the NATO exercises is that drone warfare doesn\u2019t make those traditional military systems obsolete \u2014 but rather that drones and electronic warfare tactics, including in a \u201cgood mix\u201d of other military capabilities, can make a force more effective.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we demonstrated was we can extend lethality and extend survivability of existing capabilities \u2026 if we bring them with a good mix of new technology,\u201d Vandier said.<\/p>\n

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Vandier gave the example of an attack helicopter. With the use of both drones and anti-drone defences, the French admiral said that weapons system can execute missions \u201cthat were impossible before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat robots are bringing is a risk management system, where you can open the tactical portfolio \u2026 and have better use of what you have,\u201d Vandier said.<\/p>\n

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Since 2022, NATO has been running exercises with the Latvian Ministry of Defence to test electronic warfare, drone and AI technologies in \u201cfield-like conditions.\u201d The exercises, known as the Digital Backbone eXperimentation (DIBaX), include the participation of defence companies and academics to test cutting-edge technology in a realistic setting.<\/p>\n

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According to a NATO official, this year\u2019s exercise included testing of drone swarms, drone-to-drone combat and a cross-border incursion, along with electronic warfare tactics meant to jam or otherwise disable enemy drones.<\/p>\n

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