www.vanguardcanada.com JUNE/JULY 2024 13
R C A F M O D E R N I Z AT I O N
commonly referred to as the digital age,
is here.
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As identified in the RCAF Strat-
egy, disruptive technologies such as Arti-
ficial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning
(ML), Cloud Computing, Sensor Fusion
and Quantum Technology are dramati-
cally changing the character of war.
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The
digital age allows for the collection, analy-
sis and use of information globally and at
the speed of light which, in turn, allows
the RCAF to deliver an economy of ef-
fort and precision in how it detects, deters
and, if necessary, defends against potential
adversaries at home and abroad. Working
in close partnership with the CAF and
key allies, data integration and the infor-
mation dominance it delivers is how the
RCAF will achieve decision superiority in
the future which, in turn, will give it the
operational advantage it seeks.
The remoteness and vastness of the Arc-
tic and Canada's Northern Approaches,
emerging weapons such as hypersonic
missiles, the Anti-Access / Area Denial
(A2AD) systems fielded by potential ad-
versaries and the proliferation of remotely
piloted or autonomously operated systems
create an operating environment that is
vast, highly dynamic, and lethal. Tradi-
tional Command and Control methods
and techniques are not fit for task in this
modern battlespace; it does little to have
the most capable fighter aircraft in the world
in the right place at the wrong time.
As a result, a major component of RCAF
modernization is its ability to network dis-
parate and dispersed all domain sensors and
platforms at distance while leveraging AI,
CAF Digital Transformation
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This is a digital rendering of an MQ-9B
SkyGuardian RPAS in RCAF colours. (Photo:
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.)
