MONTRÉAL, Québec, September 29, 2026 — Top Aces Inc. (“Top Aces”) today announced that it has qualified as a supplier under three streams of the Government of Canada’s Defence Drone Initiative (DDI) Marketplace:
Stream 2: C2, Communications, Data, EW and Cyber Systems
Stream 3: Integration, Interoperability and Engineering Services
Stream 4: Test, Evaluation and Training
Launched in July 2026 by the Department of National Defence and the Defence Investment Agency, the DDI Marketplace is designed to provide a faster, more flexible pathway to develop, test, integrate and acquire uncrewed and autonomous systems and related capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Top Aces’ qualification enables the company to compete for future opportunities across three capability areas aligned with its operational, engineering and training expertise. Under the DDI Marketplace, qualified suppliers may be invited to respond to subsequent solicitations addressing specific operational requirements.
“Turning emerging technology into effective operational capability is where Top Aces can make a meaningful contribution to the Defence Drone Initiative,” said Paul Bouchard, Chief Executive Officer of Top Aces Inc. “For more than 25 years, we have supported the Canadian Armed Forces through advanced combat training and the integration, testing and evaluation of new technologies and mission systems in realistic operational environments. As uncrewed and autonomous systems take on an increasingly important role in modern defence, we are ready to apply that experience to help Canada advance these technologies toward operational employment.”
Top Aces brings relevant experience in airborne electronic warfare, advanced mission systems integration and engineering, operational test and evaluation, and small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS) training.
Through its subsidiary, Blue Air Training – a leading global provider of contracted close air support (CAS) training for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) – Top Aces is already delivering tactical training that incorporates small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) into realistic operational scenarios for allied ground forces. This includes the use of sUAS for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and target prosecution in combat training scenarios.
This operational experience provides Top Aces with a proven foundation to bring tactical sUAS training to Canada, integrating uncrewed systems with crewed aircraft and ground forces in realistic training environments.
Qualification under the DDI Marketplace builds on Top Aces’ longstanding support to the Canadian Armed Forces and allied nations, creating a new pathway for the company to contribute to Canada’s sovereign uncrewed and autonomous systems capabilities and operational readiness.
About Top Aces
Founded in 2000 by former Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 pilots, Top Aces delivers advanced live and synthetic-blended air combat training to the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as NATO and allied forces worldwide. With an industry leading safety record of more than 160,000 accident free hours, Top Aces operates the world’s largest fleet of commercially owned tactical fighter aircraft, including the only privately operated F-16s.
Top Aces also owns Blue Air Training, a leader in Close Air Support training. Built on an uncompromising commitment to safety, credibility, and operational realism, Top Aces and Blue Air Training provide mission critical training informed by real world experience – preparing allied forces to operate against advanced, near peer threats in an increasingly complex and contested environment. Experience Matters. Learn more at www.topaces.com.