Volatus Aerospace has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Calian Group and Instrumar to evaluate technologies designed to improve the performance and resilience of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in Arctic and cold-weather environments.
Icing and extreme weather can restrict aircraft availability and mission execution in northern environments. Addressing these challenges could expand the operational use of UAS across defense, surveillance, infrastructure inspection and other missions requiring reliable cold-weather performance.
Under the agreement, Volatus will participate as the UAS industry partner, providing expertise in aircraft applications, operational requirements, user needs and Arctic-hardening considerations. Its involvement will also cover potential demonstration opportunities and pathways for technology evaluation and integration.
Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus, stated, “Reliable uncrewed operations in the Arctic require technology that is designed for the realities of extreme environments. By bringing together Volatus’ operational and aircraft integration expertise with Calian’s de-icing technology and Instrumar’s icing detection capabilities, we have an opportunity to explore an integrated approach to improving UAS performance in cold-weather conditions. This collaboration brings together complementary Canadian expertise to advance technologies that could strengthen sovereign capability and support safe, reliable operations in the Arctic.”
Calian will contribute technical knowledge of its electrically heated de-icing laminate technology, which is already used on antenna systems in Arctic environments to support industry and Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces applications.
Through the collaboration, the companies will explore how this technology could be adapted, tested and integrated into UAS for operations in northern conditions.
Russ Beaudin, Vice President, Defence at Calian, commented, “Operating in the Arctic and cold-weather environments requires technologies that are resilient, reliable and purpose-built for demanding missions. Calian developed de-icing technology to enable reliable operations of antenna systems in extreme conditions. This collaboration gives us an opportunity to explore how that proven Canadian technology, already in use, could be adapted for UAS platforms, operating in some of the harshest environments.”
Instrumar will contribute expertise in integrated icing detection, including potential sensing, detection and monitoring requirements, alongside related technical requirements for smart-skin applications.
The companies aim to explore an integrated approach that could allow UAS to detect ice formation and activate protective measures in response.
Leigh Puddester, CEO of Instrumar, added, “You cannot protect against ice you cannot sense. Our collective vision is an UAV that can detect and measure ice as soon as it forms, activate the protection it needs and shed what remains. Bringing those capabilities together on an uncrewed aircraft would represent an important step forward for reliable operations in Arctic and cold-weather environments. Volatus brings the aircraft and operational expertise, Calian brings the ice-protection technology, and Instrumar brings the detection capability. Together, we have an opportunity to explore an integrated system where the aircraft can sense what is happening on its surface and respond accordingly.”
The MOU establishes a non-financial, non-binding framework for an initial one-year term, renewable by mutual written agreement.
Any future demonstrations, testing, aircraft integration activities, funding applications, development programs or commercialization initiatives will be subject to technical feasibility, applicable approvals and regulations, and separate agreements or scopes of work where required.
