Defence and security science blog posts - 2023

Defence scientists with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) experimented with commercial satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) for military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in the Arctic, during Operation NANOOK – TUUGAALIK – NUNAKPUT 2023.

The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program, working with the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM), has completed its first ever Test Drive - on detecting and identifying online cyber threats.

The Canadian Safety and Security Program hosted an Innovation Day in Ottawa on Nov. 16, 2023, focused on science and technology to bridge capability gaps for the first responder and preparedness and resilience communities.

The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program recently awarded a $2-million grand prize in the Pop up city contest, to build more efficient “green” energy, water and waste management solutions for camps used by the Canadian Armed Forces.

Wildland fires, pandemics, floods, and more – Canada is increasingly feeling the consequences of extreme disasters.

The Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP) is looking to develop several research micro-nets to advance the application of promising artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to support first responders.

It’s hard to find a place that can serve as both a training ground for military ships and aircraft, and as a home to sensitive wildlife.

With electric cars becoming increasingly popular, it’s easy to see how quickly electrification is taking a hold of the car market – but what about Navy ships? Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is tackling that very question.

One of the best ways to increase energy efficiency is to map out how it is used and look for opportunities to cut back. But with a system as complex as a Navy vessel, it’s nearly impossible to do without potentially compromising the ship’s operations.

A Second World War-era innovation is being revived by a team of researchers in Toronto, that will improve care for trauma patients and possibly save lives of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who are in combat or in remote locations.

Coping with heat hasn’t been easy this summer. For many, it’s been finding air conditioning, gaining access to pools or some other means of cooling down. It’s not that easy for CAF members in combat or in training – but Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) researchers are looking at solutions.

Millions of people worldwide can now recognize the burnt smell, the thick smoke, and the red haze of a fire burning kilometres away. With the effects of climate change increasing their number, frequency, and intensity, wildfires have spread across Canada at an unprecedented rate. We are in the middle of the worst wildfire season yet, with 5530 recorded in 2023 to date.

Foresight analyst sounds like a job where you might need a crystal ball to go along with your degree, but as Inbal Marcovitch, a defence scientist with the Department of National Defence’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada, explains, her work is more practical than mystical.

Testing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) technology is no easy feat – but it’s made easier with friends. That’s why Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is getting military personnel and scientists from around the world to put on their protective suits and get their gloves dirty at Exercise PRECISE RESPONSE (EX PR) 2023.

DRDC tested the most-advanced military GPS technology to date - a system that has the potential to improve mission effectiveness, reduce risks to personnel, and enhance operational efficiency. This research could revolutionize the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) navigation and communication capabilities.

Serious gaming may seem like an oxymoron, but war games are a valuable tool for the Canadian Forces and government departments to work through complex problems with limited resources and sometimes competing agendas.

DRDC researchers worked with NATO partners to test sensors on drones to look for improvised explosive devices (IED), mines, and unexploded ordinance in six scenarios including buildings, power transmission towers, and roads.

The Marine Mammal Monitoring (M3) program, led by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), is helping the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces (DND / CAF) understand, monitor, reduce and mitigate its impact on the marine environment.