Defence and Aerospace: The Systems You Didn’t See
And that’s the point. Ottawa builds the technology you’re not supposed to notice. The satellites overhead. The secure communications you never hear. The systems behind defence operations, airspace, and global security. With 300+ companies across aerospace and defence, this is where mission-critical technology gets designed, tested, and trusted right alongside the institutions that fund, procure and deploy them.
Overview
The Right Stuff
Ottawa has been building high-stakes systems for decades. The kind that requires precision, discipline, and zero margin for error. From satellites and sensing to secure communications and mission systems, companies here develop technologies used by defence forces, space agencies, and aerospace programs around the world. Proximity to global defense attachés and research institutions isn’t a perk; it’s a procurement pipeline. That’s the right stuff.
Adam Dewar
Director, Business Development
By the Numbers
Declassified Data of the Day
Ottawa’s defence and aerospace advantage is built on scale, access, and long-standing trust.
330+
defence and aerospace companies
10000 +
employees in the sector
65 +
federal R&D facilities
4
NATO DIANA test centres
130
embassies and diplomatic missions
1,800
dual use innovation companies
Aerospace and Defence in Action
Where Innovation Builds a Nation
Ottawa-Gatineau is more than a capital — it’s Canada’s command centre for sovereign defence and aerospace innovation. We design the systems that protect our soldiers, secure our skies, defend our North, patrol our seas, and power our allies.
Canada stands at a defining crossroads. This is our moment. We dream here. We build here. We ship here. We lead here.
Already in Orbit
Canada’s Defence Innovation Hub
Great software doesn’t happen in isolation. In Ottawa, there’s an entire support system quietly making sure it doesn’t have to. This is a city where research, infrastructure, and commercialization are tightly stitched together which means companies don’t just build faster, they get further. Here’s what’s working behind the scenes:
NATO DIANA test centres, operational
Ottawa is home to four NATO DIANA test centres, including Area X.O, where companies like TACTIQL, Quantropi and GBatteries test and validate dual-use technologies in real-world environments.
65+ federal labs you can actually work with
From the National Research Council to DRDC, companies have direct access to facilities supporting defence, aerospace, and advanced technologies used by firms like Lockheed Martin Canada, Thales, and General Dynamics Mission Systems.
Proximity to decision-makers
National Defence Headquarters and procurement teams are here, alongside companies like ADGA, Calian, and Gastops that regularly work within Canada’s defence and aerospace ecosystem.
A capital built for coordination
With 130 embassies and allied attachés, Ottawa is a daily meeting point for defence and diplomacy, supporting global players like Airbus, Boeing, CAE, and Leonardo operating in and through the region.
A deep bench of specialized companies
330+ companies including MDA, Telesat, Anvil, Dominion Dynamics and ONE9, Canada’s only defence VC, are advancing space systems, secure communications, autonomy, and mission-critical software.
Ottawa’s Defence and Aerospace Companies
Trusted Partners to Global Defence Programs
You’ll Likely Recognize a Few Names
Ecosystem
A Network Built for National and Global Missions
Aerospace and defence companies in Ottawa operate within a connected ecosystem supporting research, testing, talent development, and procurement.
Federal Institutions
Department of National Defence, DRDC, PSPC
Research & Labs
NRC Aerospace, DRDC labs, CRC
Post-Secondary Institutions
University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College, La Cité, Willis College
Industry & Primes
Lockheed Martin, Thales, General Dynamics, Airbus
Support Organizations
Invest Ottawa, CENGN, Area X.O
Ottawa’s Applied AI Ecosystem
Ottawa’s Story is Being Written by the Company We Keep
“We’re proud of our Canadian beginnings and have grown the team here to 400 employees,” Michael Matta, CEO of Solink. “This expansion is both a celebration of our early ambition and a commitment to making Solink a global leader.”
Stories and Insights
Proof from Mission-Critical Work Done Here
See how Ottawa-based companies are advancing aerospace and defence through applied engineering, secure systems development, and global program delivery.
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Tell us about your plans. Our team will help you explore talent, research partnerships, procurement pathways, and growth opportunities within Ottawa’s aerospace and defence ecosystem.
