MONTREAL, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV: FLT | OTCQX: TAKOF | FSE: ABB) (“Volatus” or the “Company”), a Canadian-controlled aerospace and defence platform delivering dual-use uncrewed systems, aerial intelligence, and mission-critical operational services, today welcomed the Government of Canada’s release of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy (“DIS”), describing it as a structural shift toward sovereign industrial capability, accelerated procurement, and long-term defence investment.
The DIS commits $6.6 billion under a broader $81.8 billion reinvestment in the Canadian Armed Forces and establishes a Defence Investment Agency (“DIA”) to implement a new BUILD–PARTNER–BUY procurement framework1. The Government has formally identified sovereign capability domains including Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems, Aerospace Platforms, Digital Systems, Sensors, Space, and Training and Simulation, areas aligned with Volatus’ integrated operating model.
Positioning for Sovereign Capability Execution
A central objective of the DIS is to provide long-term demand visibility to Canadian industry and increase the share of defence acquisitions awarded to Canadian firms to 70 percent, while accelerating commercialization of Canadian-developed technologies and strengthening export capacity.
Volatus believes implementation of the Strategy will increasingly differentiate companies with established regulatory approvals, deployed infrastructure, secure operating environments, demonstrated execution track record, and the financial capacity to scale responsibly.
Over the past several years, the Company has:
- Built regulated aerospace operations infrastructure across Canada and internationally
- Developed remote command and control capabilities supporting mission-critical environments
- Established a Québec-based industrial expansion platform in Mirabel designed for secure manufacturing and systems integration
- Executed programs supporting Government of Canada departments and NATO-aligned stakeholders
- Invested capital into governance, compliance, and scalable operational frameworks appropriate for regulated aerospace markets
Volatus’ infrastructure, governance framework, and capital deployment strategy were developed in advance of this policy formalization.
The Company is operating today and structured to scale alongside program visibility.
Alignment with the BUILD–PARTNER–BUY Framework
The DIS prioritizes building sovereign capabilities in Canada where strategic autonomy is required, partnering with trusted allies, and procuring under defined sovereign control conditions.
Volatus’ operating model reflects this structure.
BUILD
The Company has secured a standalone Québec-based facility to support defence-related manufacturing and secure operations. As previously disclosed, Volatus plans to invest in excess of $10 million over the near term to expand production capacity and enhance systems integration capabilities. This phased approach aligns capital deployment with demand visibility while preserving financial discipline.
PARTNER
Volatus maintains active partnerships across Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe, supporting collaborative development and export pathways consistent with Canada’s evolving defence relationships.
BUY
Where appropriate, the Company integrates allied technologies within a Canadian-controlled operating framework, reinforcing sovereign execution while leveraging global innovation.
Operational Accreditation and Northern Priorities
The DIS emphasizes accelerating accreditation of personnel and facilities and strengthening Canada’s Arctic and Northern defence posture.
Volatus operates under established aviation regulatory frameworks and maintains safety management systems consistent with commercial aerospace standards. The Company has developed secure operational environments capable of supporting defence-adjacent activities consistent with evolving accreditation requirements.
Volatus’ remote operations capabilities and deployable uncrewed platforms position the Company to support surveillance, monitoring, and infrastructure-related missions in remote and northern environments, subject to procurement processes and regulatory approvals.
“Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy establishes a clear framework for strengthening sovereign capability and accelerating industrial execution,” said Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Volatus Aerospace Inc. “Policy direction increasingly favors operational readiness and disciplined scaling. Volatus has invested in infrastructure, regulatory compliance, secure environments, and deployable systems in advance of this shift. We believe companies with accredited facilities, demonstrated execution, and the capital structure to scale responsibly will define the next phase of industrial growth.”
Investor Briefing
Volatus will host an investor briefing Volatus will host a structured investor briefing next week to provide a detailed overview of the Strategy and discuss its implications for the uncrewed and autonomous systems sector.
Registration details will be announced under separate release.
About Volatus Aerospace
Volatus Aerospace is a global provider of integrated dual-use aerial solutions for commercial and defence applications, leveraging both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). The Company serves industries including oil and gas, utilities, healthcare, and public safety. Volatus’ mission is to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and resilience through real-world, scalable aerial technologies.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities, events, developments and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", “seeks”, “strategy” or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans, business outlook and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include but are not limited to: the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; and meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For additional Information, please contact:
Rob Walker, Chief Commercial Officer
+1-833-865-2887
investorrelations@volatusaerospace.com
COMPANY WEBSITE
https://volatusaerospace.com
SOURCE: Volatus Aerospace Inc.
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1 Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy - Canada.ca
