Joint production of drones for Ukrainian forces on Canadian territory could help reform Canada's defense industrial base.
Christopher Coates, former commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, said this in an interview with Ukrinform, commenting on the launch of a new project to manufacture Ukrainian unmanned systems in Canada.
"If the agreement forces Canadian institutions and industry to become more agile, it could be very valuable. But if it relies on traditional contracting timelines and bureaucratic processes, it may struggle to deliver what Ukraine actually needs," Coates said.
He stressed that "Canada can help with scale - with mass production - but our defense procurement system is not built for that kind of speed and responsiveness."
"Ukraine's drone effectiveness comes from a very dynamic system: rapid modification, short feedback loops, and close proximity between producers and battlefield users," the lieutenant-general said.
