Ottawa – October 27, 2026 -- An autonomous Bell 412EP helicopter, an autonomous Cessna 150 airplane and multiple virtual drones completed a mock search and rescue mission near Ottawa in May 2026 under the command of one person, Ribbit announced. The company says it is the first time a helicopter, an airplane and virtual aircraft have reached a shared goal through mission and platform autonomy directed by a single human.
Airplane searches, helicopter evacuates in single-commander mission
Ribbit's Cessna 150 flew search patterns for a missing person and updated its flight plans from a common operating picture. After the person was located, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) helicopter performed a casualty evacuation. The airplane stayed overhead to provide situational awareness, while virtual drones added complexity to the search team.
Safety pilots were on board both the airplane and the helicopter. All flights were executed autonomously under one mission commander controlling every asset.
NRC Drone Innovation Hub anchors fixed-wing and rotary-wing pairing
The test was run through the NRC's new Drone Innovation Hub, where Ribbit is developing what it calls a strategic Canadian capability in fixed-wing autonomy. Ribbit's fixed-wing work was combined with NRC's rotary-wing autonomy capabilities. Derek Gowanlock, Program Director for Aurora Shield at the NRC, said the collaboration shows autonomous aircraft working together toward a shared mission.
Three-year contract track targets dual-use missions
The milestone follows more than three years of collaboration between Ribbit and the NRC. Ribbit has been contracted to test its autonomous technology for dual-use missions across joint operations, tactical aviation and public safety.
Ribbit CEO Carl Pigeon said he looks forward to continuing work with the NRC and Canada's Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF). President and COO Jeremy Wang tied the result to the Defence Industrial Strategy, whose "first pillar" is to build.