OTTAWA — May 31, 2026 : Ottawa-based defence technology startup Dominion Dynamics has secured major private investment and government support to develop what could become Canada's first domestically produced Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP), an uncrewed combat aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed fighter jets in long-range and high-risk missions, particularly across the Arctic region.
Founded by Canadian-born former Anduril Industries executive Erik Pence, Dominion Dynamics is developing a sovereign Canadian "loyal wingman" aircraft intended to operate alongside the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)'s future fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircraft.
Funding Supports Development Programme
To support the initiative, Dominion Dynamics has secured advisory services and up to C$500,000 in funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), alongside C$21 million in seed funding led by Toronto-based venture capital firm Georgian. Additional participation in the investment round came from Bessemer Venture Partners and the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI).
Speaking during the CANSEC defence exhibition in Ottawa, Dominion Dynamics Head of Growth Robert Waye said the company plans to complete a subscale prototype of a long-range, weaponised Autonomous Collaborative Platform within 18 months.
Waye said the aircraft is being designed around Canada's northern defence requirements and Arctic operational conditions.
"We saw there's market opportunity to build an airframe that meets the requirements of the RCAF in their Northern mandates, so that's the aircraft that we're designing for," Waye said.
Aircraft Optimised for Arctic Operations
Internally referred to as "Scout," the Autonomous Collaborative Platform is being developed for long-range operations into Canada's Arctic frontier.
The aircraft is expected to operate from southern Canada while retaining the ability to launch from short and unimproved runways, enabling deployment into remote northern regions.
Dominion Dynamics said the aircraft must be capable of flying thousands of miles into the Arctic while carrying a heavy weapons payload, supporting missions including surveillance, strike coordination and electronic warfare.
Airframe Design and Engine Discussions
A concept rendering released in March depicts the aircraft as a large delta-wing platform equipped with two embedded turbofan engines, reflecting requirements for long range, endurance and payload capacity.
Dominion Dynamics is currently in discussions with several engine manufacturers, including Pratt & Whitney Canada, regarding potential integration of the PW800 engine.
The aircraft's larger size is intended to support extended operations and the ability to carry multiple weapons simultaneously.
Operating Alongside the F-35
Although the Royal Canadian Air Force has not publicly released formal requirements or announced a programme of record for an Autonomous Collaborative Platform, Dominion Dynamics is proceeding with development using a combination of private investment and government support while consulting with RCAF officials.
The ACP is designed to operate alongside the Lockheed Martin F-35A, supporting missions through surveillance, electronic warfare, strike support and extended operational reach.
Autonomy and Arctic Communication Challenges
Dominion Dynamics anticipates that while the aircraft will generally operate alongside crewed fighters, Arctic missions may sometimes place the platform beyond the communication range of a pilot in a crewed aircraft.
In such situations, the ACP would be supervised by ground-based operators through satellite communications links, allowing continued operations over long distances while maintaining human oversight.
Simulation and Digital Testing
As part of its development efforts, Dominion Dynamics is developing a simulation engine to digitally test combat scenarios, mission profiles and operational concepts before physical manufacturing begins. The work is being supported through advisory services and up to C$500,000 in funding from NRC IRAP.
The digital environment is being developed in partnership with AI computing provider Denvr, enabling engineers to evaluate autonomy functions, mission planning and operational coordination in a virtual environment.
The company stated that the aircraft will feature a modular architecture designed for interoperability with NATO and Five Eyes command-and-control networks.
Manufacturing Expansion and Future Production
On June 1, Dominion Dynamics plans to relocate to a 35,000-square-foot facility near Ottawa, which will support prototype manufacturing, systems integration, testing and future aircraft production.
The ACP programme also builds upon Dominion Dynamics' broader defence technology portfolio, including Auranet, a distributed and attritable mesh network currently deployed to monitor remote Arctic airstrips.
While the Royal Canadian Air Force has not announced a formal acquisition programme for a collaborative combat aircraft, Dominion Dynamics is continuing prototype development with the aim of delivering a platform tailored to Canada's geography, Arctic operational environment and long-range defence requirements.
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