KeyOptions has wrapped up its participation at the Canadian Department of National Defence’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox 2025 (Urban), held from 24 to 28 November 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. This event, the first IDEaS CUAS sandbox to focus exclusively on detect-only technologies in a realistic urban environment near Parliament Hill, gathered Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), City of Ottawa officials, Transport Canada representatives, and international defence partners to rigorously evaluate detection solutions against evolving micro and mini UAS threats.
Amid the intense RF congestion from urban Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth signals—compounded by towering buildings, reflective surfaces, and dense infrastructure—KeyOptions’ layered detection system, SkyControl, shone brightly, providing operators with precise, real-time insights in one of the most demanding test settings imaginable.
The Department of National Defence (DND) Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program seeks potential solutions to the challenges faced by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). IDEaS mobilises innovators to improve Canada’s defence and security capabilities. The focus is to improve access to the creative potential of Canadian innovators to build an innovation ecosystem.
IDEaS supports innovators at all stages of development, from early R&D to prototype development, testing and commercialisation. The program incentivises collaboration and fosters networks of innovators to tackle complex problems. It also provides practical feedback and the opportunity for innovators to demonstrate their solutions to national defence experts.
What Stood Out?
- Integrated Multi-Layer Detection passive RF sensors and state-of-the-art electro-optics fused seamlessly, cueing visual confirmation on Red Team drones in mere seconds, even at ranges exceeding 3 km within the cluttered Ottawa skyline.
- Instant Common Operational Picture Detections were fused and rendered on KeyOptions’ intuitive tactical Command-and-Control (C2) platform, delivering a crystal-clear, low-latency air domain view that cut through the urban noise with zero false positives.
- Seamless Feed to Spectralint C2 Processed data streamed directly into the Spectralint C2 ecosystem—facilitating enriched analytics, behavioural pattern recognition, and forensic tools for sustained threat assessment, all without operator intervention.
- Swift Setup and User-Friendly Design A compact team had the full system deployed and operational in under 30 minutes.
- Robust Interoperability Demonstrated compatibility with NATO protocols and integration, ensuring plug-and-play readiness in joint operations.
Jevan Halley, Chief Operating Officer, KeyOptions said: “Being on the ground in Ottawa for the 2025 IDEaS CUAS Sandbox was a pivotal moment for KeyOptions. Amid the chaos of urban RF clutter and the relentless Red Team challenges near Parliament Hill, our layered detection ecosystem didn’t just perform—it excelled, delivering seamless integration and real-time insights. This trial underscored the true maturity of our SkyControl platform, proving it’s not just ready for the complexities of modern city threats, but poised to redefine urban airspace security for our Canadian and international partners.”
Urban drone threats are escalating, with adversaries engineering UAS to exploit cityscapes: low-emission autonomy, high-speed manoeuvres, and swarm tactics that overwhelm legacy systems. By excelling in this detect-only urban trial—without the luxury of defeat mechanisms—KeyOptions proved its ecosystem’s maturity for safeguarding critical sites like government precincts, transport hubs, smart cities and forward urban outposts, all while prioritising public safety.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Kym Bergmann at kym.bergmann@venturamedia.net
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at simon.hadfield@venturamedia.net
