#Canada #Montreal #Global Spatial Technology #OCIANA #Defense Drone Initiative

OCIANA® Strengthens Position as a Supplier in Canada’s Defense Drone Initiative

OCIANA® (Global Spatial Technology Solutions Inc.) takes a significant step by qualifying as a supplier in the Defense Drone Initiative (DDI) Marketplace, set forth by the Government of Canada. This accreditation positions OCIANA® in three critical areas: Digital Enablers (Stream 2), System Integration (Stream 3), and Innovation and Experimentation (Stream 5).

The DDI, developed in collaboration with the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Defence Investment Agency (DIA), aims to speed up the development, testing, adaptation, and production of Canadian unmanned and autonomous systems. The initiative also ensures the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) have streamlined access to emerging technologies and operational capabilities.

Being recognized as a qualified supplier grants OCIANA® the opportunity to compete for future contracts within the outlined areas, marking a substantial achievement for the company.

Richard Kolacz, CEO of OCIANA®, stated, "By integrating information from multiple land, aerial, and unmanned sensors, we provide operators with a more comprehensive intelligence picture that supports mission planning, threat detection, and the effective deployment of unmanned systems."

Supporting Unmanned and Autonomous Operations

OCIANA®’s support for unmanned and autonomous operations is multi-faceted. The company aims to:

• - Provide operational intelligence to protect unmanned assets by gaining a broader understanding of vessels, threats, and anomalous activities—both within the immediate operational area and beyond.
• - Guide and direct unmanned systems by identifying areas of interest, potential threats, and anomalous maritime activities that require further investigation.
• - Integrate and exploit data from Uncrewed Vehicle (UxV) sensors alongside information from AIS, SAR, EO/IR, RF, and other sources to generate a comprehensive intelligence picture. This data supports applications like detecting “dark” vessels (those without active identification), monitoring ship encounters and activities, protecting critical infrastructures, and mission planning.
• - Assist in the detection and attribution of threats by correlating multiple intelligence sources to identify vessels or maritime activities potentially linked to hostile or unauthorized unmanned systems.
• - Facilitate mission planning and dynamic task assignment using the intelligence picture created by OCIANA® to determine the deployment of unmanned assets and the activities that need closer inspection.

Transforming Maritime Operations

Kolacz emphasizes the transformative potential of Canada’s investment in unmanned and autonomous systems: “This investment is creating the opportunity to radically change the way maritime operations are conducted. The value of these systems significantly increases when connected to a broader intelligence environment, such as that provided by OCIANA®.”

OCIANA® represents a global leader in maritime intelligence, assisting organizations in making the leap from awareness to action. In defense and security missions, OCIANA® enables teams to detect risks early, interpret intentions swiftly, and act decisively. For maritime supply chain organizations, OCIANA® enhances operational planning, reduces fuel consumption, alleviates port congestion, and accelerates vessel turnaround times.

For more information about OCIANA®, please visit OCIANA.com.