Prime Minister Trudeau is ‘extremely concerned’ about reports that Canadian parts were used in Iranian drones

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is “extremely concerned” about reports that Canadian parts have been found in Iranian drones used by Russia in its war with Ukraine.

Trudeau expressed his concerns to reporters in Ingersoll, Ontario, on Monday after The Globe and Mail reported the findings by the nonprofit StateWatch. Its “Trap Aggressor” investigation last month detailed that an antenna manufactured by Ottawa-based Tallysman Wireless was mounted on his Shahed-136 attack drone in Iran.

Drones were recently used in Ukraine as Russia stepped up its attacks on Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure.

“Even though Canada produces extraordinary innovations, we are very concerned about these reports,” Trudeau said.

“We have strict export licenses for classified technology that are strictly enforced. We know exactly how you get the items you shouldn’t put in. Someone like the Iranian government actually got there.”

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The Shahed-136 is manufactured by Shahed Aviation Industries. Shahed Aviation Industries is he one of two Iranian drone manufacturers. Ottawa was sanctioned last month for supplying deadly drones to Russia. After denying reports that it was supplying Moscow with supplies, Iran first admitted on November 5 that it had sent drones to Moscow before the February 24 war began.

Denied continuing to supply drones to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Iran of lying and said Kyiv’s military is destroying at least 10 drones every day.

Aside from the Iranian-made engine, the Shahed-136 consists entirely of foreign-made parts, Statewatch said in a report. It cites Ukrainian intelligence as successfully identifying parts for more than 30 European and American companies, most of which come from the United States.

Drones like the Shahed are packed with explosives and can be pre-programmed with target GPS coordinates. They became known as Suicide Drones or Kamikaze Drones because they can swoop down on their targets and explode on impact like missiles.

Shahed are relatively inexpensive, costing around US$20,000 each. That’s a fraction of the cost of a full-sized missile.

Drones “provide a critical capability” to exploit vulnerabilities in defense, and their use could prelude a new phase of conflict. Paul Luschenko previously told Global News.

Gyles Panther, president of Tallysman, told The Globe that the company is “not complicit in this usage” and is “100% committed” to helping Ukraine.

Ottawa is working to understand how the parts were built into the drones and hopes to “prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.”

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