Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC; french: Recherche et développement pour la défense Canada, ''RDDC'') is a
special operating agency A special operating agency is a designation given to a government organization within a department or agency of the Government of Canada that has some management flexibility, independence, and separate accountability. They function, without legisla ...
of the
Department of National Defence (DND), whose purpose is to provide the
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), other government departments, and public safety and national security communities with
knowledge
Knowledge can be defined as Descriptive knowledge, awareness of facts or as Procedural knowledge, practical skills, and may also refer to Knowledge by acquaintance, familiarity with objects or situations. Knowledge of facts, also called pro ...
and
technology
Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and Reproducibility, reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in me ...
.
DRDC has approximately 1,400 employees across eight research centres within Canada.
History
After the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, national research and development in Canada was organized under the
National Research Council National Research Council may refer to:
* National Research Council (Canada), sponsoring research and development
* National Research Council (Italy), scientific and technological research, Rome
* National Research Council (United States), part of ...
(NRC). The NRC was founded in 1925 based on a wartime British recommendation to establish military laboratories in Canada, but by that time the main priorities were developing domestic university and industrial research and civilian projects.
[Turner, p.15] Greater interest in military applied research arrived in 1935
[Turner, p.16] when Major-General
Andrew McNaughton became President of the NRC.;
[Turner, p.17] in the period before the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
the NRC undertook research in radar, aviation medicine, artillery, aircraft, gas masks, and metallic magnesium production.
[Turner, p.18] Chalmers Jack Mackenzie
Chalmers Jack Mackenzie, (July 10, 1888 – February 26, 1984) was a Canadian civil engineer, chancellor of Carleton University, president of the National Research Council, first president of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, first president ...
became acting President at the onset of the Second World War when McNaughton assumed an operational command within the
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...
,
formally succeeding McNaughton in 1944.
[Turner, p.30]
Following the
fall of France
The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France during the Second World ...
in June 1940, the NRC assumed control of all Canadian scientific research and became responsible for applying it toward military applications.
[Turner, p.20] Laboratories and facilities were established by the NRC and the
Canadian Armed Forces;
[Turner, p.26] biological and chemical warfare laboratories cooperated closely with Allied counterparts.
[Turner, p.29]
![SnowballSuffield500t](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/SnowballSuffield500t.jpg)
In 1944, Chalmers Mackenzie and the armed forces began considering the issue of post-war military research, and concluded that a separate military research organization was required.
[Turner, p.35] The result was the creation of the ''Defence Research Board'' (DRB) within the
Department of National Defence (DND) in April 1947, which took over coordinating defence research from the NRC
[Turner, p.37] and advising DND on scientific matter.
[Turner, p.69] The overall organization of defence research continued to mimic the NRC.
[Turner, p.37] The DRB was – as envisioned by proposals in 1945 – an interim solution; creating an organization within DND required minimal political action compared to creating a new government department that would subsume both the NRC and defence research.
[Turner, p.36] Omond Solandt
Omond McKillop Solandt, (September 25, 1909 – May 12, 1993) was a Canadian scientist who was the first Chairman of the Canadian Defence Research Board.
Early life
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he graduated in medicine from the University of T ...
was the first Chairman of the DRB.
[Turner, p.41] The DRB received seven existing NRC facilities.
[Turner, p.41]
The DRB was the last part of DND to adapt to the
unification of the Canadian Armed Forces
The unification of the Canadian Armed Forces took place on 1 February 1968, when the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces.
History
A white paper was tabled in the Parliam ...
of 1968. DRB began transitioning to the new structure in 1974, and dissolved in 1977. Six of the seven DRB research establishments were transferred to the newly created ''Defence Research and Development Branch'' (DRDB) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CF).
[Turner, p.298]
In the 1990s, budget cuts and the complexity of greater reliance on cheaper contracting drove a review of the organization of defence research. In 2000, the DRDB was replaced by ''Defence Research and Development Canada'' (DRDC) which was – like the DRB before – a DND agency.
[Turner, p.2317]
Research centres
Atlantic Research Centre
Located in
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
, the Atlantic Research Centre conducts research and development activities related to the maritime defence and security domains, but also to the air and land environments. The Centre traces its formation to 1944 when it was established as the Defence Research Establishment Atlantic (DREA) by the
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack s ...
. DREA was one of the originating organizations that came together in 1947 to form the Defense Research Board which later became DRDC.
The Centre provides expertise in the following areas:
* antisubmarine warfare
* mine and torpedo defence
* shipboard command and control
* naval platform technology
* emerging materials
* signature management
* maritime information and knowledge management
* virtual platforms and virtual combat systems
The Atlantic centre also operates two materials laboratories in the
CFB Halifax
Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax is Canada's east coast naval base and home port to the Royal Canadian Navy Atlantic fleet, known as Canadian Fleet Atlantic (CANFLTLANT), that forms part of the formation Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT).
It ...
and
Esquimalt
The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de ...
Dockyards, which provide scientific consulting and troubleshooting services to the Canadian Armed Forces (primarily the Royal Canadian Navy) on chemical, metallurgical and engineering problems that affect the operational capability of military vehicles and equipment.
Valcartier Research Centre
Founded in 1945 as the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE), it became Defence Research Establishment Valcartier (DREV) in the early 1970s, and finally
DRDC Valcartier
DRDC Valcartier is a major Canadian military research station at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, Quebec, one of nine centres making up Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC).
Originally formed at the end of World War II in 1945 as the Can ...
(French: RDDC Valcartier) on 1 April 2000. VRC research and development activities to support the operational needs of the Canadian Armed Forces in defence and security.
The Centre provides expertise in the following areas:
* Vehicle and Personnel Protection Systems
* Weapon Systems
* Command, Control and Intelligence systems
* Cyber Security
* Spectral and Geospatial Exploitation
* Tactical Surveillance and Reconnaissance
* Electro-Optic Warfare
Located just outside
CFB Valcartier
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier (CFB Valcartier), now re-designated 2 Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier (2 CDSB Valcartier), is a Canadian Forces base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, north northwest of Quebe ...
, it is the largest of the research centres.
Ottawa Research Centre
Originally known as the Defence Research Establishment Ottawa (DREO), DRDC Ottawa is located near
Shirleys Bay
Shirleys Bay is a bay of the Ottawa River, about sixteen kilometres (10 miles) from downtown Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Shirleys Bay also includes a significant wetland and nature preserve that is part of an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area t ...
in the west end of Ottawa. The Ottawa Research Centre develops technologies in support of the following domains:
* Space Systems and Technology
* Cyber Operations
* Communication and Signals Warfare
* ISR Applications
* Radar Sensing Exploitation
* Radar Electronic Warfare
* Radiological Nuclear Defence
* Navigation Warfare
DRDC, Toronto Research Centre
The
Toronto Research Centre conducts research and development activities to enhance the effectiveness and ensure the health and safety of military personnel in operational environments. The Centre also houses the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, which supports the operational needs of the Canadian Armed Forces through research, tests and evaluations as well as training in undersea and aerospace environments. The Research Centre provides expertise in the following areas:
* aerospace and undersea life support systems
* human protection and performance in stressful environments
* individual behaviour and performance
* military medicine
* research related to human factors and ergonomics, including simulation and modelling in complex military systems
* social and cultural factors influencing behaviour
* team performance and collaborative behaviour
Research examples
*
Decompression Tables
There are several categories of decompression equipment used to help divers decompress, which is the process required to allow divers to return to the surface safely after spending time underwater at higher ambient pressures.
Decompression o ...
(DCIEM Sport Diving Tables) that are now used worldwide and have been adopted by foreign navies, commercial diving companies and civilian organizations to reduce the risk of decompression illness, once commonly called "the bends."
* Canadian Underwater Mine-Countermeasures Apparatus (
CUMA
CUMA (Canadian Underwater Mine-countermeasure Apparatus) (commercially called SIVA+) is a make of rebreather underwater breathing set designed and made in Canada for the Canadian Armed Forces by Fullerton Sherwood Engineering Ltd to replace the Ro ...
) is a new diver
mine-countermeasures (MCM) diving set with a depth capability of 80 metres, as well as being anti-acoustic and anti-magnetic.
* The STInG (Sustained Tolerance to INcreased G) system, which provides G protection for pilots, superior to any current operational system.
*
Virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), educ ...
simulator for
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...
deck landing to simulate the dangerous task of landing a helicopter on the moving deck of a ship.
* Clothe the Soldier project provided human engineering support to the Army's acquisition of over 24 new items of state-of-the-art soldier protective clothing and personal equipment
* Load Carriage Robot – an instrumented articulated
manikin
A mannequin (also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off different fabrics and textiles. Pre ...
that mimics the movement of the human torso
* A Cold Exposure Survival Model (CESM) used in
Search and Rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
(SAR) Operations
* A Heat Stress Calculator for
Firefighters
A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...
used throughout Ontario.
* The New Wind Chill Equivalent Temperature Chart, used throughout North America.
Suffield Research Centre
Located in Alberta, the DRDC Suffield Research Centre was originally made up of various Defence Operational Research directorates (DLOR for Land, DMOR for Maritime, DAOR for Air, DStratA for Strategic, etc.). The Suffield Research Centre is a Canadian centre of excellence for chemical and biological defence and has research programs in blast, casualty management, and autonomous systems. The centre’ work feeds into the combined national effort to keep Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) safe from the devastating consequences chemical (C), biological (B), radiological (R), nuclear (N), and explosive (E) threats could have on human health, the environment, and major infrastructure.
DRDC operations in Suffield include two unique national assets: Experimental Proving Ground (EPG) and the Counter Terrorism and Technology Centre (CTTC). The EPG is Canada’s only proving ground of its kind for military research and development. Its immense land space (470 km2), air space, and 105 realty assets (specialized laboratories, trial sites and facilities) make it a research and development resource to advance DRDC/DND’s program. It is also accessible to defence industry partners upon request. CTTC offers realistic training (over 2,200 CAF and First Responders per year) helping them respond safely and effectively to incidents involving
CBRNE
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN defence) are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present. CBRN defence consist ...
threats.
The centre provides expertise in the following areas:
* C/B detection & forensics;
* C/B protection technologies and systems;
* Blast threat mitigation and assessment;
* Advanced energetics;
* Medical countermeasures;
* Modelling and analysis of threats;
* Equipment evaluation and testing;
* Casualty management/blast injury research;
* Autonomous systems operations (ground and air); and,
* CBRNE Defence Training
Centre for Operational Research and Analysis (CORA)
The Centre for Operational Research and Analysis (CORA) provides scientific rigour to decision support and option analysis to the
Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces, and Canadian security partners. The centre delivers options, recommendations, and potential outcomes to key decision makers by providing timely quantitative and qualitative analysis reports and objective expert advice.
Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis (DGMPRA)
Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis (DGMPRA) responds to the research needs of both the Assistant Deputy Minister (Science and Technology) and the
Chief of Military Personnel
The Chief of Military Personnel (CMP) is the senior Canadian Armed Forces officer responsible for the military's human resource programs. As a " Level One" organization, the CMP reports directly to the Chief of the Defence Staff.
Responsibilitie ...
within the
Department of National Defence. The Centre conducts strategic and operational research in the areas of:
* personnel generation
* personnel and family support
* operational and organizational dynamics
The Centre also has research capabilities in the following areas:
* modeling and analysis
* forecasting
* surveys, focus groups, and interviews
* strategic analysis
* concept development
* secondary data analysis
* data mining
* benchmarking
* geographic information systems
* selection test development
* job analysis
Centre for Security Science
The DRDC Centre for Security Science operates in partnership with
Public Safety Canada
Public Safety Canada (PSC; french: Sécurité publique Canada, SPC; PSP), legally incorporated as the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (PSEPC), is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for (most) matters of ...
. It conducts research and development activities in the field of public safety and security science and technology as well as related testing and assessment activities. The Centre identifies trends in security technology and related threats, and maintains a network of national and international science and technology experts and partners involved in public safety and security.
The Centre also leads the Canadian Safety and Security Program and the Emergency Responder Testing and Evaluation Establishment.
Defence Research Establishment Pacific (DREP)
Defence Research Establishment Pacific (DREP) was closed in 1994. It was located in Naden,
Esquimalt
The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de ...
, a suburb of
Victoria, BC
Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...
, and was originally called the Pacific Naval Laboratory (PNL). DREP was engaged in a variety of research areas. One group did materials research. Materials subgroups included one for Non Destructive Testing of materials including ultrasound, x-ray, and eddy current methods; a composite mechanics subgroup working on interlaminar fracture (delamination) of composite laminated structural materials and bolted joint mechanics research for composite; and a metals fracture subgroup.
Other groups worked on submarine detection, adhesives chemistry, and engine health monitoring.
Civilian achievements
Over the years, researchers at DRDC, sometimes in partnership with the
NRC and others, have been responsible for numerous innovations and inventions of practical application in the civilian world. These include the
G-suit
A g-suit, or anti-''g'' suit, is a flight suit worn by aviators and astronauts who are subject to high levels of acceleration force ( g). It is designed to prevent a black-out and g-LOC (g-induced loss of consciousness) caused by the blood pool ...
,
motorized wheelchair
A motorized wheelchair, powerchair, electric wheelchair or electric-powered wheelchair (EPW) is a wheelchair that is propelled by means of an electric motor (usually using differential steering) rather than manual power. Motorized wheelchairs a ...
, the
Alouette 1
''Alouette 1'' is a deactivated Canadian satellite that studied the ionosphere. Launched in 1962, it was Canada's first satellite, and the first satellite constructed by a country other than the Soviet Union or the United States. Canada was th ...
satellite,
Black Brant rocket
The Black Brant is a family of Canadian-designed sounding rockets originally built by Bristol Aerospace, since absorbed by Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over 800 Black Brants of various versions have been launched since they were firs ...
, improvements to the
carbon dioxide laser
The carbon-dioxide laser (CO2 laser) was one of the earliest gas lasers to be developed. It was invented by Kumar Patel of Bell Labs in 1964 and is still one of the most useful types of laser. Carbon-dioxide lasers are the highest-power continuou ...
,
flight data recorder
A flight recorder is an electronic recording device placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of aviation accidents and incidents. The device may often be referred to as a "black box", an outdated name which has b ...
, the
Ballard fuel cell membrane, and the
Bombsniffer (using gas chromatomography and ion mobility spectrometry).
See also
*
Canadian government scientific research organizations
Expenditures by federal and provincial organizations on scientific research and development accounted for about 10% of all such spending in Canada in 2006. These organizations are active in natural and social science research, engineering research, ...
*
Canadian university scientific research organizations Expenditures by Canadian universities on scientific research and development accounted for about 40% of all spending on scientific research and development in Canada in 2006.
Research in the natural and social sciences in Canada, with a few importa ...
*
Canadian industrial research and development organizations
Expenditures by Canadian corporations on research and development accounted for about 50% of all spending on scientific research and development in Canada in 2007.
In the corporate sector research and development tends to focus on the creation or ...
*
Canada and weapons of mass destruction
Canada has not officially maintained and possessed weapons of mass destruction since 1984 and, as of 1998, has signed treaties repudiating possession of them. Canada ratified the Geneva Protocol in 1930 and the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in ...
*
Royal Military College of Canada
'')
, established = 1876
, type = Military academy
, chancellor = Anita Anand ('' la, ex officio, label=none'' as Defence Minister)
, principal = Harry Kowal
, head_label ...
*
Canadian Forces College
The Canadian Forces College (CFC) is a military school for senior and general officers of the Canadian Armed Forces. The college provides graduate-level military education courses to enable officers to develop their leadership quality within th ...
*
The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) – An international defence science and technology collaboration between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
*Defence Research and Development Canada participates in the
WorldWideScience
WorldWideScience.org is a global science search engine (Academic databases and search engines) designed to accelerate scientific discovery and progress by accelerating the sharing of scientific knowledge. Through a multilateral partnership, World ...
global science gateway.
*
Defence Research Agency
The Defence Research Agency (DRA) was an executive agency of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) from April 1991 until April 1995. At the time, the DRA was Britain's largest science and technology organisation. In April 1995, the DRA was combined wi ...
*
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) was a part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) between 1995 and 2 July 2001. At the time it was the United Kingdom's largest science and technology organisation. It was regarded by its official hi ...
*
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is "to maximise the impact of science and technology for the ...
References
;Bibliography
*
External links
Archival papers of Omond Solandt first Chairman of the DRB, are held at th
University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services
www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca
{{authority control
Department of National Defence (Canada)
Government agencies established in 1947
Military research installations of Canada
Scientific organizations based in Canada
Organizations based in Ottawa
1947 establishments in Ontario
Special operating agencies of Canada