Arcanus Aerial Systems Announces Multi-Domain Expansion into Oro Station’s Defence Campus
Canadian-sovereign unmanned systems company plans full campus expansion and three-phase build-out across air, land and sea as it advances toward defence prime scale.
TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2026 /CNW/ — Arcanus Aerial Systems Inc. (“Arcanus”), a Canadian-sovereign, defence technology company delivering unmanned and autonomous systems across the air, land and maritime domains, is pleased to announce the execution of a Letter of Intent to establish operations within the Oro Station Defence Campus, a newly launched 146-acre development within Oro Station’s 600-acre innovation park in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, adjacent to Lake Simcoe Regional Airport.
This milestone positions Arcanus as a foundational tenant within one of Canada’s essential defence and advanced manufacturing initiatives – designed to integrate secure manufacturing, aerospace operations, applied research, and real-world testing within a single, unified environment – and provides the industrial platform for Arcanus’ planned full expansion at the campus as the Company scales toward its objective of becoming Canada’s next multi-domain defence prime.
A Defining Step in Canadian Sovereign Capability
Oro Station addresses longstanding gaps in infrastructure, scalability, and secure domestic production at a moment when Canada is materially expanding its defence commitments to NATO, NORAD modernization, and Arctic sovereignty.
With over 146 acres dedicated to the secure Defence Campus, more than 950,000 square feet of planned industrial space and direct adjacency to Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, the facility enables Arcanus to design, manufacture, test, and deploy next-generation unmanned systems in a fully integrated, compliance-ready environment. It sits directly beside Oro Station’s 200-acre Automotive Campus and 4-kilometre test circuit – pairing automotive-grade engineering talent and testing infrastructure with defence manufacturing in a combination found nowhere else in Canada.
Arcanus’ presence at Oro will support:
- Canadian sovereign UAV manufacturing, final assembly and systems integration
- Land systems production, including unmanned ground vehicles and counter-UAS integration
- Development of autonomous maritime systems in support of Arcanus’ naval strategy
- Flight testing and validation via direct airport adjacency
- Scalable production aligned with Canadian, NATO and allied demand
A Full Expansion: Three Phases to Defence Prime Scale
Arcanus intends to pursue a full expansion at Oro Station through a structured three-phase build-out, mirroring the Company’s multi-domain roadmap:
- Phase One – Air. Sovereign UAV production, final integration and flight-test operations for the Company’s Alpha and Foxtrot platform families, supporting execution of signed purchase orders and conditional contracts across allied markets.
- Phase Two – Land. Expanded secure manufacturing for land systems, including unmanned ground vehicles, counter-UAS architecture and integrated defence electronics, developed alongside Arcanus’ Canadian manufacturing partners.
- Phase Three – Sea and Full Campus Integration. A planned autonomous maritime systems capability and a fully integrated multi-domain centre of excellence – uniting air, land and sea programs, applied research, and allied training within a single Canadian campus.
The Oro campus provides the physical and strategic infrastructure required to execute on these mandates – combining manufacturing, testing, and aerospace logistics in a single location adjacent to Lake Simcoe Regional Airport.
Rahim Rajwani, Chief Executive Officer of Arcanus Aerial Systems, said: “Canada has committed to rebuilding its defence industrial base, and Oro Station is precisely the kind of sovereign infrastructure that commitment requires. For Arcanus, this campus is more than a facility – it is the physical foundation of our ambition to grow from Canada’s leading unmanned systems integrator into a multi-domain defence prime, designing, building, and testing systems for air, land and sea on Canadian soil.
“Our planned three-phase build-out at Oro takes us from UAV production and flight test, to land systems manufacturing, to a fully integrated multi-domain campus. It enables us to execute on our purchase orders and growing pipeline, accelerate production, and deliver sovereign unmanned systems to Canada and its allies at scale. We are proud to stand as a foundational partner in what will become one of the most important defence and advanced mobility hubs in North America.”
Geoffrey Campbell, Managing Partner, Oro Station, said: “Arcanus is the exact kind of tenant envisioned for Oro Station’s Defence Campus. By co-locating a dedicated 146-acre defence campus with our 200-acre automotive engineering ecosystem and 4-kilometre test circuit, we’ve created an environment where companies like Arcanus can draw automotive-grade engineering talent, manufacturing capacity, and real-world testing straight into defence production. That combination is what will let Canadian SMEs scale into the defence primes of tomorrow.”
About Arcanus Aerial Systems
Arcanus Aerial Systems Inc. is a Canadian-sovereign, ITAR-free defence technology company delivering unmanned and autonomous systems across the air, land and maritime domains. Through an integrated network of licensed platforms and Canadian manufacturing partnerships, Arcanus provides unmanned aerial systems (UAS), counter-UAS, ISR, and integrated defence solutions to Canada, NATO, and allied markets.
The Company’s field-proven platforms are designed for defence, public safety, and dual-use applications, with a focus on sovereign Canadian manufacturing, ITAR-free export capability, and scalable multi-domain autonomy – positioning Arcanus on a path toward becoming Canada’s next defence prime.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to future operations, production, facilities, contracts, and strategic initiatives, including the proposed expansion and phased build-out at Oro Station. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Conditional purchase orders, letters of intent, and memoranda of understanding referenced or implied herein remain subject to their respective conditions and should not be construed as binding backlog.
About Oro Station
Oro Station is a 600-acre innovation campus under development in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, adjacent to Lake Simcoe Regional Airport and within an hour of Toronto. The campus brings automotive engineering and defence industrial tenants together within an integrated ecosystem. Its approximately 200-acre automotive campus includes industrial and innovation space, a 4-kilometre FIA Grade 3 motor circuit, and a range of dynamic testing environments, and has been designated a Regional Technology Development Site under Ontario’s Vehicle Innovation Network, with investment and participation from the Province of Ontario, Honda Canada, Georgian College, Lakehead University, Simcoe County, the City of Barrie, and the City of Orillia. Directly alongside it, Oro Station is developing a dedicated 146-acre Defence Campus, designed to support Canadian defence manufacturers with secure, compliance-ready facilities, and real-world testing environments, strengthening Canada’s defence industrial capacity and export readiness.
For more information about Oro Station please visit orostation.ca
SOURCE Arcanus Aerial Systems Inc.
