Ottawa, ON – Finnish defence-technology company Kelluu has been selected as a qualified supplier under Canada’s new Defence Drone Initiative, a milestone that comes just months after the airship-maker opened its Canadian office at Area X.O.

The company recently announced the selection on LinkedIn, noting the arrangement runs to the end of July 2031. Kelluu says it is the only airship company among the suppliers named to date.

About the Defence Drone Initiative

Launched in July 2026 and co-led by the Department of National Defence and the Defence Investment Agency, the Defence Drone Initiative is designed to accelerate how Canada’s armed forces develop, test, and field uncrewed and autonomous systems. The program establishes a pool of qualified Canadian suppliers who can compete for future defence work, from testing and prototyping to limited acquisitions and potential production.

Built for the Arctic

For Kelluu, the selection opens a path to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), the persistent aerial monitoring its airships are built for.

“Under this arrangement we can offer tactical ISR to the Canadian Armed Forces. Our platform delivers exactly what is valued here: autonomous, persistent and cost-effective surveillance that was designed for Arctic conditions,” said Janne Hietala, CEO of Kelluu, in a recent LinkedIn post.

Kelluu develops autonomous, lighter-than-air airships that deliver persistent aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Built and tested in the demanding conditions of Finland’s north, the platform is designed for exactly the kind of vast, remote terrain that defines Canada’s Arctic, offering detailed situational awareness over large and thinly monitored areas.

Why Ottawa

Kelluu established its Canadian presence at Area X.O this summer, Canada’s hub for defence innovation and emerging technology, through Invest Ottawa’s Global Expansion program. The location gives Kelluu direct access to the government, defence, and research partners most relevant to its growth, along with the testing infrastructure to move from validation toward operational integration.

Kelluu’s selection reflects a broader trend of global defence-technology companies scaling into the North American market through Canada’s Capital, and reinforces Ottawa’s position as a growing centre for Arctic security and autonomous systems innovation.

Invest Ottawa is proud to support companies like Kelluu as they build and grow their presence in Ottawa’s defence and security ecosystem.

---

• Learn more about Kelluu and its autonomous aerial intelligence platform.
• Is your global company scaling into Canada’s Capital? Explore how Invest Ottawa’s Global Expansion program supports foreign direct investment, talent growth, and long-term success in one of North America’s most concentrated tech ecosystems.