Bypassing the Middleman: Sentinel R&D's Direct Sales to Ukraine
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The Hamilton-based startup is shifting toward direct sales to Ukraine, signaling a move to accelerate hardware delivery outside traditional procurement channels.
As BetaKit first reported, Hamilton-based defence tech startup Sentinel R&D is now selling drones directly to Ukraine. Speaking at the Nrth conference in Toronto, CEO and co-founder Kath Intson confirmed the shift, though she did not specify if the clients are Ukrainian firms, the military, or the government.
This direct sales effort is separate from a joint venture with Ukraine’s Airlogix, in which the Canadian Commercial Corporation purchases Sentinel R&D components to donate to Ukraine for the war against Russia.
Intson told BetaKit that Western nations are "seriously outgunned" by AI-powered, precision, and uncrewed drones. She noted that while Canada has methods for detecting adversary technology within its territory, it lacks the capabilities to deal with it, requiring a commitment to the "bleeding edge" of military technology.
To address these gaps, the Canadian government launched the Defence Drone Initiative and signed a deal with Ukraine for a digital procurement platform for drones and counter-drone systems, resulting in $50 million in total contracts for six Canadian companies.
Russia previously accused Canada of being a "warmonger" following the Airlogix joint venture. Additionally, while Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy seeks to diversify arms sales toward Europe to reduce reliance on the US, the country faces hurdles, including requirements that certain components be manufactured within Europe.