DND Announces $4M Flatsat Prototype Challenge for Cybersecurity in Space
The Department of National Defence has launched a funding challenge to develop a flatsat platform for cybersecurity testing, with a total funding of $4 million. This initiative addresses the demand for secure hybrid space networks essential for modern defense operations relying on low Earth orbit satellites.

The Department of National Defence, in collaboration with Innovative Solutions Canada, has announced a challenge to create a laboratory-based flatsat platform aimed at cybersecurity experimentation. The funding initiative offers two contracts, each up to $2 million, with a total funding pool of $4 million over a maximum duration of 20 months.
Eligible applicants are Canadian small and medium-sized businesses with 499 or fewer employees, conducting R&D in Canada, and providing a majority of their workforce and executives domestically. Proposals are due by July 2, 2026, at 14:00 Eastern time. This challenge is critical as defense operations increasingly depend on low Earth orbit satellite constellations for data collection and domain awareness, necessitating robust cybersecurity measures.




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