February 18, 2026: FIXAIT took second place, tied with Prandtl Dynamics of Toronto, at the Department of National Defence's IDEaS Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox in Ottawa, earning the $375,000 "Diamond in the Rough" prize. Nineteen companies were selected to demonstrate; DARIT Technologies of Sherbrooke took first place and $1,000,000.
What Was Demonstrated
Over five days in November, FIXAIT ran live in front of CAF end-users, defence scientists, the RCMP, and allied partners, detecting, classifying, and tracking micro and mini drones in a complex urban environment and publishing detections, bearings, and metadata directly into ATAK. The evaluators' written observations from that week now appear, verbatim, on our products page.
Minister's Recognition
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, stated: "Canada's defence and security depend on staying ahead in a rapidly changing world. This counter uncrewed aerial systems sandbox exemplifies how innovation drives resilience and operational readiness. Congratulations to DARIT Technologies, Prandtl Dynamics and OBJEXIS for showcasing solutions that will enable the Canadian Armed Forces and Canada's defence and security partners to better protect Canadians against emerging threats."
Why the Urban Setting Mattered
By moving the Sandbox from its traditional range in Suffield, Alberta, to downtown Ottawa, the IDEaS program tested every system against the environment that actually defeats visual detection: glass, clutter, occlusion, and unpredictable sightlines. That is the environment FIXAIT placed in.
The result stands on its own: a written evaluation by the Department of National Defence, earned in the open against eighteen other companies. Within months of the Sandbox, FIXAIT was operating on the front line in Ukraine.
For more information about the CUAS Sandbox winners and participating innovators, visit the official DND announcement.
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