The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has decided to limit the use of its 973 Chinese-manufactured drones to non-sensitive operations due to perceived high security risks associated with their country of origin. Chinese drones constitute approximately 80% of the RCMP’s fleet of 1,230 remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) utilized for monitoring the Canada-U.S. border and various police activities.
Responding to the national security committee of the Senate in writing, the RCMP highlighted that replacing these drones would incur a cost exceeding $30 million, amounting to around $35,000 per device. The elevated expense is attributed to the fact that non-Chinese drones are nearly twice as costly, as per the RCMP.
Experts have pointed out concerns regarding potential risks related to the drones’ communication and data transmission systems. Ygal Bendavid, a professor specializing in operations management at the Université du Québec à Montréal, stressed that any connected device raises security vulnerability questions.
According to Wesley Wark from the Centre for International Governance Innovation, the RCMP appears to have found adequate solutions concerning the use of Chinese drones, emphasizing the importance of proactive mitigation strategies. Currently, the RCMP has restricted the Chinese drones to non-sensitive operations, such as those involving missing persons, car thefts, and community policing, while avoiding their use in emergency response, protecting VIPs, border integrity operations, and collaborations with U.S. authorities.
The RCMP relies on drones from various other countries, including France, the United States, and Belgium, for more sensitive operations. The RCMP clarified that the Chinese drones were procured before the restrictions were imposed in 2023, emphasizing their cost-effectiveness compared to traditional aircraft for investigative operations and access to challenging locations.
Experts underscore the need for caution in using Chinese drones, as the RCMP cannot verify the origins of numerous parts, software, and data storage systems. They recommend centralized purchasing and security vulnerability assessments for all security-related drone acquisitions by federal agencies, giving priority to Canadian manufacturers and supply chains.