The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has decided to limit the use of its 973 drones manufactured in China to non-sensitive operations due to concerns over their high security risks linked to the country of origin. These Chinese drones constitute approximately 80% of the RCMP’s total fleet of 1,230 remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), which are utilized for surveillance along the Canada-U.S. border and in various law enforcement activities.
Responding to inquiries from the national security committee of the Senate, the RCMP highlighted that replacing these Chinese drones would incur a substantial cost exceeding $30 million, equating to around $35,000 per device. The agency noted that the elevated expenses are attributed to the fact that non-Chinese drones are nearly twice as costly. Experts have indicated that the RCMP’s apprehensions revolve around potential risks associated with the communication and data transmission systems of the drones.
Ygal Bendavid, an operations management specialist at the Université du Québec à Montréal, emphasized that any interconnected device raises security concerns regarding vulnerabilities. Wesley Wark from the Centre for International Governance Innovation commended the RCMP for addressing its use of Chinese drones, stating that proactive mitigation measures are preferable.
Presently, the RCMP has imposed restrictions on the in-flight data transmission of these Chinese drones, reserving them for non-sensitive tasks like search operations for missing individuals, addressing car theft incidents, and community policing initiatives. Notably, the RCMP clarified that Chinese drones are never deployed for emergency response team activities, VIP protection, border security operations, or joint investigations with U.S. authorities.
For more sensitive operations, the RCMP relies on drones sourced from France, the United States, and Belgium, as indicated in responses to queries from Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan. The RCMP also mentioned that a small percentage of its drones, categorized as custom or part of research and development, do not have a listed country of origin.
The RCMP emphasized that the Chinese drones were procured before the imposition of usage restrictions in 2023, highlighting the cost-effectiveness and operational advantages of these devices compared to traditional aircraft like planes and helicopters. The agency underscored that RPAS offer a cost-effective alternative for investigative operations and enable access to challenging locations, optimizing resource allocation.
Experts have advised the RCMP to exercise caution regarding Chinese drones, emphasizing the need for vigilance given the uncertainty surrounding the origin of various components, software, and data storage systems. They recommended that future drone procurements for security purposes by federal agencies should undergo centralized acquisition processes and security assessments to mitigate vulnerabilities. Additionally, they suggested prioritizing Canadian manufacturers and supply chains for security-related drone acquisitions.