Nav Canada chooses Indra Group as its technological partner for the safe integration of drones into Canadian airspace
The agreement, signed at Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon, will facilitate the development of the core digital platform set to underpin Canada’s future ecosystem for the safe integration of drones into airspace and the operational co-existence of manned and unmanned aircraft
Indra Group’s solution will make the coordination between NAV CANADA, operators, authorities, and future drone traffic management service providers easier, progressively evolving towards more advanced operational intelligence and tactical conflict management capabilities
Indra Group is playing a key role in the transformation of air traffic in Canada as a result of its partnership with NAV CANADA, a status strengthened by its provision of simulators and the Canadian entity’s involvement in the iTEC Collaboration
NAV CANADA, Canada’s air navigation service provider, and Indra Group have signed an agreement at Airspace World 2026, the leading global event for the air traffic management industry currently being held in Lisbon, for the development and implementation of the Flight Information Management System (rFIMS) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), the central digital platform set to form the core of Canada’s future framework for the safe integration of drones into its airspace. The project will constitute a decisive step in the evolution of air traffic management, facilitating safe co-existence of manned and unmanned aircraft.
Indra Group’s solution will provide the digital services and interfaces required to connect NAV CANADA with the ecosystem of drone traffic management service providers operating within the country. The platform will allow for the sharing of critical information, the coordination of operations, and a common vision of airspace, laying the foundations for the safe and sustainable growth of drone operations in Canada.
Based on technologies developed by Indra Group within the framework of the European SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking programs that have already been deployed in trailblazing drone integration initiatives in Spain, the system will be able to monitor operations, verify compliance with flight plans, facilitate secure exchanges of information between players, and provide a high degree of situational awareness for all of the participants in the ecosystem.
The technology will be deployed progressively, with its initial capabilities, including essential flight management, monitoring, and connectivity services, set to become operational in 2029, It will thereafter evolve towards more advanced functions, incorporating operational intelligence and tactical conflict management capabilities to enhance the safety and efficiency of the airspace.
"A recent NAV CANADA study forecasts exponential growth in Canada's drone sector — a significant economic opportunity that can only be realized with the right digital infrastructure in place. Today's agreement with Indra Group demonstrates our commitment to enabling that growth and to safely integrating drones into Canadian airspace," said David Sheppard, Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer at NAV CANADA.
“This new agreement will consolidate our close collaboration with NAV CANADA and project it towards one of the major challenges facing the future of aviation, namely the safe and efficient integration of drones into the airspace. “We’re proud to be accompanying NAV CANADA to build an ecosystem in which manned and unmanned aircraft can operate in a coordinated manner, contributing to transforming air traffic management in Canada and, at the same time, enhancing our standing as a leading technological partner in North America,” highlighted Victor Martínez, Executive Vice President of ATM at Indra.
Strategic collaboration in Canada
Indra Group is a key technological partner of NAV CANADA in the field of the modernization of air traffic. In recent years, the company has bolstered its presence in Canada by supplying advanced simulation solutions for the training of ATM professionals and participating in international innovation initiatives such as the iTEC Collaboration, thereby consolidating a strategic relationship geared towards the digital transformation of the country’s air traffic management system.
This new project, in addition to strengthening Indra Group’s relationship with the Canadian air navigation service provider, will significantly enhance its standing as one of the leading technological partners in the convergence between ATM and UTM. The company boasts a comprehensive range of drone operation management products, and it has recently increased its capabilities by acquiring the assets of GuardianUTM, expanding its portfolio of solutions for U-space and unmanned traffic management.