Key Takeaways
- NAV CANADA has selected Indra Group as the technology partner to develop the RPAS Flight Information Management System (rFIMS), the core digital platform for Canada’s remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) traffic management.
- The agreement, signed at Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon, advances the 2023 RPAS Traffic Management (RTM) Concept of Operations toward a 2030 collaborative ecosystem involving NAV CANADA, RTM Service Providers (RSPs), Transport Canada, and industry partners.
- rFIMS will be deployed in phases, with initial capabilities slated for 2029, providing foundational flight‑management, monitoring, and connectivity services before evolving toward enhanced operational intelligence and tactical conflict‑management.
- The partnership offers greater transparency for prospective RSPs, clarifying how and when they can integrate with rFIMS and contribute differentiated services across Canada.
- NAV CANADA’s leadership emphasized the agreement as a foundational step to safely integrate drones, support exponential sector growth, and maintain Canada’s global leadership in air navigation services.
Agreement Formalized at Airspace World 2026
On May 26, 2026, NAV CANADA announced the selection of Indra Group as its technology partner to deliver the RPAS Flight Information Management System (rFIMS) during a signing ceremony at Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon. The event took place on the margins of the premier annual gathering for the global air traffic management industry. NAV CANADA representatives present included President and CEO Mark Cooper, Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer David Sheppard, and Director of RPAS Traffic Management Alan Chapman, alongside Indra Group’s Executive Vice President of ATM Victor Martínez and other senior leaders. The handshake between Sheppard and Martínez symbolized the collaborative intent to build a shared digital backbone for drone integration in Canadian airspace.
Strategic Alignment with the 2023 RTM Concept of Operations
The partnership directly supports the joint vision outlined by NAV CANADA and Transport Canada in their 2023 RPAS Traffic Management (RTM) Concept of Operations. That document envisioned a 2030 ecosystem where NAV CANADA, RTM Service Providers (RSPs), Transport Canada, and industry stakeholders cooperate to enable safe, sustainable growth of RPAS operations across Canada. By selecting Indra Group to construct rFIMS, NAV CANADA moves from conceptual planning to tangible implementation, establishing the digital infrastructure required to realize the collaborative model described in the RTM roadmap.
Foundational Platform for Canada’s Drone Future
rFIMS is designed as a centralized digital platform that will provide essential services and key interfaces between NAV CANADA and an expanding network of RSPs. The system will be rolled out in phases, beginning with foundational flight‑management, monitoring, and connectivity capabilities targeted for launch in 2029. Subsequent phases will introduce enhanced operational intelligence and tactical conflict‑management features, progressively increasing the system’s ability to support complex, high‑density drone operations while maintaining safety and efficiency.
Leadership Perspectives on Safety and Growth
Mark Cooper highlighted that NAV CANADA’s mandate—to keep Canadian skies safe and ready for the next generation of airspace users—drives the agreement. He described rFIMS as the digital infrastructure necessary to safely and efficiently integrate drones, reinforcing Canada’s position as a global leader in air navigation services. David Sheppard echoed this sentiment, citing a recent NAV CANADA study forecasting exponential growth in Canada’s drone sector. He stressed that the partnership demonstrates NAV CANADA’s commitment to enabling that economic opportunity through the right digital infrastructure, ensuring safe integration of remotely piloted aircraft.
Indra Group’s Commitment to Aviation Innovation
Victor Martínez emphasized that the new agreement consolidates Indra Group’s existing collaboration with NAV CANADA and directs it toward one of aviation’s foremost challenges: the safe and efficient integration of drones into shared airspace. He expressed pride in accompanying NAV CANADA to build an ecosystem where manned and unmanned aircraft operate in a coordinated manner, thereby transforming air traffic management in Canada and strengthening Indra’s reputation as a leading technological partner in North America.
Clarifying the Path for Prospective RTM Service Providers
A significant outcome of the Indra partnership is increased visibility for the broader Canadian RPAS industry, especially for prospective RSPs, regarding how and when they will engage with rFIMS as it comes online. NAV CANADA’s architecture was deliberately designed to be open, allowing third‑party RSPs to offer differentiated services—whether regionally focused or nationwide—to drone operators. Over the coming months, NAV CANADA will collaborate with Transport Canada, prospective RSPs, and other stakeholders to refine the framework governing RSP participation, including the safety and quality standards required for service provision. Alan Chapman noted that the announcement marks the start of a more concrete engagement with the RPAS community, with initial rFIMS capabilities expected in 2029 and further development to follow.
NAV CANADA’s Active Role at Airspace World 2026
Beyond the signing ceremony, NAV CANADA’s senior leaders contributed throughout the three‑day Airspace World 2026 conference. They participated in international panels covering civil‑military collaboration, airspace resilience amid shifting geopolitics, the future of air traffic management, the talent needed to deliver it, and the practical implementation of Trajectory‑Based Operations (TBO). NAV CANADA’s reputation as a global leader in enabling safe drone integration—built on five years of operational experience with NAV Drone, sustained automation gains, heightened situational awareness, and a robust safety management framework—was highlighted as a foundation for the new partnership and for Canada’s ongoing influence on the evolving global drone traffic management landscape.
Corporate Profiles: NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA is a private, not‑for‑profit entity established in 1996, responsible for providing air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings, and aeronautical information services across more than 18 million square kilometres of Canadian domestic and international airspace. The organization is internationally recognized for its exemplary safety record and continual technology innovation, positioning it at the forefront of air navigation services worldwide.
Corporate Profiles: Indra Group
Indra Group (www.indracompany.com) stands as the foremost Spanish multinational and a leading European enterprise in defence and advanced digitization. Through its Minsait subsidiary, Indra operates at the cutting edge of defence, space, air traffic management, mobility, and transformational technology, integrating sovereign AI, cybersecurity, and cyberdefence capabilities into its IndraMind platform. The company pursues a strategy rooted in sustainability, aiming to address current and future social and environmental challenges. At the close of the 2025 fiscal year, Indra Group reported revenues of €5.457 billion, maintained a local presence in 46 countries, and conducted business operations in over 140 nations worldwide.
Conclusion
The agreement between NAV CANADA and Indra Group to develop rFIMS represents a concrete, forward‑looking step toward realizing Canada’s vision for a safe, scalable, and collaborative RPAS traffic management ecosystem. By establishing a centralized, open‑architecture digital platform slated for initial operation in 2029, the partnership lays the groundwork for future phases of enhanced intelligence and conflict management, offers clear engagement pathways for prospective RSPs, and reinforces Canada’s leadership in integrating drones into national airspace while supporting sector growth and technological advancement.