To effectively defend our country in the future, Canada's core capabilities will need to be complemented by the emerging and disruptive technologies that are advancing at an incredible pace.Arlyn McAdorey/Reuters

Glenn Cowan is the founder and managing director of ONE9, a security-focused venture capital firm. Michael M. Smith is the chief operating officer at ONE9. Philippe Lagassé is an associate professor at Carleton University.

Canada is ready to invest in its armed forces and to build a strong defence industrial base. These are important objectives in an increasingly uncertain and unstable world.

But to truly succeed in these efforts, Canada should recognize how rapidly defence innovation is evolving, thanks in large part to the technologies and capabilities being developed by non-traditional founders and entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Carney’s recent defence spending announcement acknowledges the importance of these innovations, yet more must be done to effectively develop them in Canada.

There will always be a place for large-scale, expensive military platforms, such as warships and fighter aircraft, in Canada’s arsenal. To effectively defend our country in the future, however, these core capabilities will need to be complemented by the emerging and disruptive technologies that are advancing at an........

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