Active displays could be seen on the water and in the sky over the last few days at the NATO Innovation Continuum in Halifax. “It’s important for NATO, but it’s also more important for all the allies of the NATO nations,” says Brigadier Sandris Gaugers, assistant chief of staff for NATO Allied Command. The event brings together NATO leaders, academics and industry. It’s a prime opportunity for companies to discover compatibility with other products to advance their technology like the one that caused a stir around Halifax harbour on Wednesday during a demonstration flight. Finnish company Kelluu built an autonomous, hydrogen-fuelled airship for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Kelluu has the largest such air fleet in the world. The company has been getting a lot of attention for the craft’s abilities in Arctic conditions, which is an area of growing interest for Canada. “The system does not freeze, does not ice, allowing it to fly in very cold temperatures. We’ve tested it recently in Iceland at minus 36,” says Kirellos Miseih, Kelluu’s NATO integration lead. Canadian based Open Ocean Robotics also showed off their surface level surveillance vessel. “We can remotely pilot the boats as well as set them up on autonomous missions,” CCO Sam Macdonald says. “What we’re doing here today is combining that technology with technologies from both large and small companies to ensure that we have the Interoperability that is required for true Canadian defence sovereignty.” The event was hosted by COVE on the Dartmouth waterfront. CEO Melanie Nadeu says the city is a major player in international defence. “Halifax, I can tell you, is now really the defence capital not just in Canada, but we are probably one of the strongest also globally in terms of what surrounding the ecosystem.” The NATO Innovation Continuum in Dartmouth is the last of four global events. This leg wraps up on Friday. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
