Manager, DEIB Programs and Engagement

NAV CANADA and Indra Group join forces to integrate drones into Canadian skies. Group photo of the NAV CANADA and Indra Group teams after the agreement reached between the two companies at Airspace World 2026. Photo: Indra NAV CANADA has selected Indra Group as its technology partner to develop and implement the Flight Information Management System for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, known as rFIMS, which will be the central digital platform of the future Canadian framework for the safe integration of drones into its airspace. The agreement was signed during Airspace World 2026, held in Lisbon, considered the main global meeting of the air traffic management sector, and represents a decisive step towards the safe coexistence of manned and unmanned aircraft in Canada. The rFIMS system will provide the digital services and interfaces needed to connect NAV CANADA with the ecosystem of drone traffic management service providers operating in the country, enabling the sharing of critical information, coordination of operations, and a common view of the airspace. First, from left to right, Víctor Martínez, General Manager of ATM at Indra Group, and David Sheppard, Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer at NAV CANADA. Photo: Indra This platform will lay the foundation for safe and sustainable growth of drone operations in Canada, in line with the exponential expansion forecasts for this sector managed by the Canadian air navigation service provider. The solution is based on technologies developed by Indra Group within the framework of the European SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking programs and already deployed in pioneering initiatives for the integration of drones in Spanish airspace, which allows monitoring operations and verifying compliance with flight plans. The system will also facilitate the secure exchange of information between all stakeholders and provide a high level of situational awareness for ecosystem participants, reinforcing operational safety levels. Indra Group will deploy the technology progressively, with initial capabilities planned to become operational in 2029, which will include essential flight management, monitoring and connectivity services for drone operations. From this first phase, the platform will evolve towards more advanced functionalities, incorporating operational intelligence and tactical conflict management capabilities to improve both the safety and efficiency of Canadian airspace. According to a recent study by NAV CANADA, the country faces exponential growth in the drone sector, which represents a significant economic opportunity that will only be fully realized if the appropriate digital infrastructure is in place to support new operations. Drone in flight. Photo: Indra Indra Group already plays a key role in the modernization of Canadian air traffic thanks to the supply of advanced simulation solutions for the training of air traffic management professionals and its participation, together with NAV CANADA, in international innovation initiatives such as the iTEC collaboration. This new project strengthens the relationship with the Canadian air navigation service provider and represents an advance in positioning Indra Group as one of the leading technology partners in the convergence between conventional air traffic management and drone traffic management. The company has a comprehensive offering for drone operations management and has recently strengthened its capabilities with the acquisition of GuardianUTM's assets, expanding its catalog of solutions for U-space and for unmanned air traffic management.

NAV CANADA selects Indra Group as technology partner to deliver rFIMS, advancing Canada's framework for the safe integration of drones. May 26, 2026, 13:36 ET Agreement signed at Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon marks a tangible step forward in Canada's RPAS Traffic Management transformation LISBON, PORTUGAL, May 26, 2026 /CNW/ - NAV CANADA today announced the selection of Indra Group as its technology partner to deliver the RPAS Flight Information Management System (rFIMS), the centralized digital platform at the core of Canada's evolving framework for the safe integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) into Canadian airspace. The agreement was formalized today at Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon, where NAV CANADA leadership joined Indra Group counterparts for a signing ceremony on the margins of the global air traffic management industry's leading annual gathering. In attendance from NAV CANADA were Mark Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer; David Sheppard, Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer, and Alan Chapman, Director of RPAS Traffic Management. The announcement is a concrete step forward on the joint vision NAV CANADA and Transport Canada set out in their 2023 RPAS Traffic Management (RTM) Concept of Operations, which laid out a 2030 collaborative ecosystem of NAV CANADA, RTM Service Providers (RSPs), Transport Canada, and industry partners working together to enable safe and sustainable growth in Canadian RPAS operations. A foundational platform for Canada's drone future rFIMS will deliver the centralized digital services and key interfaces between NAV CANADA and a growing ecosystem of RSPs that will provide services directly to drone operators and pilots. It will be deployed in phases, with initial capabilities targeted to go live in 2029, beginning with foundational flight management, monitoring and connectivity services, and progressing toward enhanced operational intelligence and tactical conflict management. "NAV CANADA's mandate is to keep Canadian skies safe and our airspace ready for the next generation of users. Today's agreement with Indra Group is a foundational step in delivering on that responsibility - putting in place the digital infrastructure to safely and efficiently integrate drones into Canadian airspace, and ensuring Canada continues to lead globally in air navigation services." said Mark Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer at NAV CANADA. "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. Victor Martínez, Executive Vice President of ATM at Indra Group, highlighted: "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". Signalling a path forward for prospective RTM Service Providers A key outcome of the partnership is greater visibility for the broader Canadian RPAS industry - and prospective RSPs in particular - on how and when they will be engaged as rFIMS comes online. NAV CANADA's architecture has been designed from the outset to be open and to enable third-party RSPs to offer differentiated services to operators across Canada, whether in defined geographic areas or at a national level. Over the coming months, NAV CANADA will work with Transport Canada, prospective RSPs and other industry stakeholders to further develop the framework within which RSPs will operate, including the safety and quality standards required for participation. "Canadian RPAS operators and prospective service providers have been waiting for clarity on what comes next," said Alan Chapman, Director of RPAS Traffic Management at NAV CANADA. "Today's announcement is the start of a more concrete engagement with that community, with initial rFIMS capabilities targeted to go live in 2029. We look forward to working with industry as we build out the full RTM ecosystem in the years ahead." Canadian leadership at the table NAV CANADA's presence at Airspace World 2026 extends well beyond today's signing. Senior leaders are contributing across the three days of the conference, joining international panels on civil-military collaboration and airspace resilience in a shifting geopolitical era, the future of ATM and the talent needed to deliver it, and moving Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) from concept to implementation. NAV CANADA is recognized globally as one of the leading air navigation service providers in enabling safe drone integration, drawing on five years of operational experience with NAV Drone, sustained gains in automation and situational awareness, and a robust safety management framework. Today's partnership with Indra Group builds on this leadership and extends Canada's contribution to the evolving global drone traffic management landscape. Associated Links About NAV CANADA NAV CANADA is a private, not-for-profit company, established in 1996, providing air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings and aeronautical information services for more than 18 million square kilometres of Canadian domestic and international airspace. The Company is internationally recognized for its safety record and technology innovation. About Indra Group Indra Group (www.indracompany.com) is the foremost Spanish multinational and one of the leading European companies in the areas of defence and advanced digitization. It is at the forefront of the defence, space, air traffic management, mobility, and transformational technology businesses through Minsait, and it integrates its sovereign AI, cybersecurity, and cyberdefence capabilities into IndraMind. Indra Group is paving the way to a more secure and better-connected future through innovative solutions, trusted relationships, and the very best talent. Sustainability is an integral part of its strategy and culture in order to overcome current and future social and environmental challenges. At the close of the 2025 financial year, Indra Group posted revenues totaling €5.457 billion and had a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in over 140 countries. SOURCE NAV CANADA For further information, please contact: Media Information Line: 1-888-562-8226, [email protected]