The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has decided to limit the usage of its 973 drones manufactured in China to non-sensitive operations due to significant security concerns associated with their country of origin. These Chinese drones account for around 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 in writing to the national security committee of the Senate, the RCMP disclosed that the replacement of these Chinese drones would incur a cost exceeding $30 million, amounting to approximately $35,000 per device. The higher expenses are attributed to the fact that non-Chinese drones are nearly double the cost, as stated by the RCMP.
Security experts have emphasized potential risks linked to the communication and data-transmission systems of these Chinese drones, citing concerns about security vulnerabilities associated with any connected device. Ygal Bendavid, an operations management specialist at the Université du Québec à Montréal, highlighted the need for caution in this regard.
The RCMP is taking measures to address these security issues by restricting the in-flight data transmission of the Chinese drones and assigning them to less sensitive tasks, such as aiding in cases involving missing persons, vehicle thefts, and community policing. Notably, the RCMP has specified that Chinese drones are not used for emergency response, VIP protection, border operations, or joint investigations with U.S. authorities.
To handle more critical operations, the RCMP relies on drones from other countries, including 112 from France, 96 from the United States, and 24 from Belgium. Additionally, a small percentage of drones in the RCMP’s fleet are of unknown origin, categorized as custom or part of research and development projects.
While emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of the Chinese drones for investigative purposes, the RCMP highlighted their ability to access challenging locations efficiently, saving time and resources compared to traditional aircraft deployment. However, experts caution that the RCMP should exercise prudence due to uncertainties surrounding the origins of various components, software, and data storage systems in the Chinese drones.
Looking ahead, experts recommend that federal agencies streamline drone procurement processes for security purposes, prioritize Canadian manufacturers and supply chains, and conduct thorough security assessments on all drone acquisitions to mitigate potential vulnerabilities and safeguard national interests.