A University of Calgary-led project, supported by industry leadership from North Vector Dynamics, recently received C$1 million through the Department of National Defense’s Innovation for Defense Excellence and Security program (IDEaS) to develop and validate simulation and design methods for hypersonic vehicles.
The project was selected under the IDEaS Innovation Networks challenge, “Speed Meets Strategy: Building Canada’s Hypersonic Innovation Network”. It will be led by Dr. Artem Korobenko, Professor and Associate Head (Research) in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, in collaboration with co-Principal Investigator Dr. Schuyler Hinman and industry partners that include NVD, Martec Limited, NordSpace, and Randing Research Corporation. NVD’s technical contribution will be led by Dr. Craig Johansen, the company’s Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, whose Advanced Systems work extends NVD’s defense technology foundation into hypersonic propulsion, flight environments, vehicle integration, and interception.
This partnership reflects NVD’s foundational connection to the University of Calgary. The company’s roots are in the Schulich School of Engineering, including co-founders Dr. Craig Johansen, Dr. Paul Ziade, and Dr. Colin Hill. Many of NVD’s engineers and technicians have also studied, trained, researched, or worked through the University’s ecosystem.
The IDEaS challenge focuses on leveraging ongoing research and industrial investment in hypersonic technologies to enhance Canadian defense and security capabilities. It identifies three domains where innovation is required: modelling and simulation, ground and flight testing, and vehicle design and integration. Its outcomes align with immediate priorities in Canada’s NORAD Modernization Plan by developing expertise and advancing the Department of National Defense and Canadian Armed Forces’ understanding of hypersonic technologies.
Hypersonic systems are changing the operating environment due to their speed, manoeuvrability, thermal loads, and flight profiles compress detection, decision, and interception timelines. Understanding, modelling, and countering these systems requires advanced multidisciplinary expertise.
As a core industry partner, NVD brings applied engineering perspective and a pathway for translating research outputs into Canadian-controlled intellectual property, partnerable Industrial and Technological Benefits investments, and supply-chain capacity.
“NVD is building Canada’s first full-spectrum sovereign missile capability, from counter-UAS solutions to hypersonics,” said Dr. Johansen. “This project connects UCalgary’s research strength with NVD’s applied defense engineering capability and will help build Canadian-controlled intellectual property and industrial capacity in technologies that matter to Canada’s future air and missile defense.”
“Hypersonic systems create new demands for Canadian research, talent, and industrial capacity,” said Dr. Korobenko. “As these technologies reshape the future defense environment, Canada needs domestic expertise that can support sovereign capability, strengthen national resilience, and contribute to the scientific foundation required for future air and missile defense.”
The award reinforces Calgary and Alberta’s role in Canada’s defense innovation ecosystem and strengthens the bridge between Canadian research, Canadian industry, and Canadian-controlled defense intellectual property.
