CAE and ADM Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) have signed an agreement to advance the development of the YMX Control Centre at Montréal’s Espace Aero Aerospace Innovation Zone.
The centre will form a primary component of the Uncrewed Systems Defence Innovation Secure Hub (UxS DISH), a project recently launched in partnership with the Government of Canada.
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As part of the agreement, CAE will participate in designing the YMX Control Centre, focusing on the definition of its digital infrastructure and building an operational framework suited for testing autonomous and uncrewed systems.
The partners aim to establish an environment conducive to the development, integration, and evaluation of advanced technologies.
The facility will provide a “secure setting” where government partners, industry, and other stakeholders can develop and transition emerging autonomous technologies from concept to practical application.
In addition to supporting defence, the centre will also serve the broader aerospace and advanced air mobility sectors, with the goal of accelerating the adoption of new capabilities in real-world operational settings.
Situated within Montréal’s established Aerospace Innovation Zone, the YMX Control Centre is also expected to contribute to the long-term growth of Quebec and Canada’s defence sector, offering opportunities for technology demonstration, capability development, and operational application.
CAE Defense & Security president Pascal Grenier said: “Increasingly sophisticated autonomous systems create the need for environments that reflect real operational conditions and help shape how these capabilities will be integrated.
“The Espace Aero Aerospace Innovation Zone, DISH and its partners will bring together the expertise, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to strengthen Canada’s defence capabilities.”
In separate development, the Government of Canada has introduced the Defence Drone Initiative (DDI), a national programme aimed at accelerating the development, testing, and fielding of Canadian uncrewed and autonomous systems for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
The DDI, jointly led by the Department of National Defence and the Defence Investment Agency (DIA), intends to connect Canadian defence requirements with domestic innovation in autonomous technologies.
To facilitate participation, the government is using a Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA), which will remain open for submissions via CanadaBuys until 14 August 2026.
The DIA will hold a virtual information session on 30 July to provide suppliers with further details on the process and submission requirements.
The initiative will cover a range of emerging technologies including robotics, AI, aerospace manufacturing, sensors, secure communications, navigation, propulsion, and advanced materials.
