Key facts
- Hundreds of British soldiers will train at CFB Suffield in Canada.
- The training will focus on drone and electronic warfare.
- CFB Suffield will be used as a center of excellence for UAS and electronic warfare testing.
- The training is scheduled for June and July.
- This initiative is part of the U.K. military's modernization plan.
The British military is set to return to CFB Suffield in southern Alberta, Canada, for extensive drone and electronic warfare training this spring and summer. This initiative marks a significant shift from the large-scale tank training previously conducted at the base, which ceased in 2019. The U.K. Ministry of Defence plans to establish CFB Suffield as a "centre of excellence for trials and experimentation in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), counter-UAS, swarming UAS, and electronic warfare testing." This focus on advanced drone technology and electronic warfare is a direct response to evolving battlefield tactics, particularly those observed in conflicts like the one in Ukraine. The training, scheduled for June and July, will involve an undisclosed number of troops and defense contractors. Local officials in Medicine Hat anticipate that this renewed military activity will provide an economic boost to the region, diversifying its economy and potentially restoring business lost when the tank training departed. The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) has been a presence at the base since 1971, utilizing its vast 2,900-square-kilometer live-fire range. While a smaller British presence has been maintained since 2020, this new focus on cutting-edge drone technology signifies a strategic adaptation for the U.K. military.