Beretta Defense Technologies Canada delivers advanced weaponry to the Canadian Army and develops new technologies for the global market, including M4 A.I. Drone Guardian shotgun, a counter-UAS weapon system that is currently being employed on the battlefield by the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
BY JOETEY ATTARIWALA
Beretta Defense Technologies Canada (BDT Canada) is a branch of the Beretta Holding Group, which is recognized globally for its precision engineering to provide high-performance solutions tailored to military, law enforcement and security agencies worldwide. BDT Canada leverages a strategic alliance of nine Beretta holding companies focused on supplying innovative products and services, including firearms, optics, tactical gear and related technologies designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern military and law enforcement operations.
BDT Canada’s head office is in Oshawa, Ontario. The company is focused on delivering advanced weaponry and tactical systems to end users in Canada — principally law enforcement and the Canadian Army — and ensuring that they are operationally ready with products that are renowned for their durability, reliability, and adaptability in diverse environments.
Most are familiar with the original four companies of the alliance — Beretta, Benelli, Sako, and Steiner; and added more recently are: RWS, SwissP Defence, Norma, MFS, and Centanex.
“Many aren’t aware that what makes us unique within the defence and law enforcement sector is our parent company, and by that I mean that we are directly owned by Beretta,” said David Macdonald, Manager – Defence and Law Enforcement, BDT Canada. “While we don’t currently do manufacturing here in Canada, we are the direct representatives of the factory, which means we don’t have to go through middle men in order to get an answer from the factory. We have the ability to be very nimble because we don’t have to go through a lot of the administrative hang ups that most distributors and companies in the world have to deal with.”
“We are now a total of nine companies from around the world, so our reach is truly global,” Macdonald told CDR. “With the newer companies we’ve added several ammunition manufacturers, as well as a company that produces less-lethal flash bangs and other munitions of that type. With those nine companies, we can now offer a complete solution to the end user, whether they be military or law enforcement, so now you’re not just buying just a firearm from us — we can also offer the optics and all the accessories an operator might require.”
As part of its portfolio of capabilities, BDT Canada also offers robust training packages for end users. “We hire a lot of ex-military and ex-police officers as training cadres throughout the world, and that enables us to provide training and operational experience to the end user,” said Macdonald. “We also do all the product support and warranty support within Canada, and that includes teaching armour courses. If any work needs to be done on the guns or optics beyond what can be done by the end user, we have the ability to perform that work here at our head office in Oshawa.”
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Beretta Defense Technologies (BDT) Canada has recently achieved some key contract awards with the Government of Canada. In 2022 the government announced a procurement milestone representing the final major piece of Canada’s Sniper Systems project. Following a competitive process, a $2.6 million contract was awarded to Stoeger Canada (now BDT Canada) to deliver 229 C21 sniper rifle weapon systems and associated accessories such as suppressors and cleaning/maintenance kits. The C21 sniper rifle is otherwise known as the Sako TRG M10, and it replaces the C14 and C3A1 sniper rifles and provides Canadian Army snipers with a next generation weapon with a proven effective range of 1,200 metres.
Building on the sniper rifle contract, BDT Canada was awarded the sniper scope contract in 2023, and then later that same year was awarded a multi-year sniper ammunition support contract which is sourced from alliance partner, SwissP. “We supply all Canadian Army snipers, so that was a very big win, and a very proud one for us that continues to this day as we’re still supporting that program and lifecycle management with spare parts as well as technical expertise and advice,” said Macdonald. “Anyone that operates in that domain knows that Canada has a reputation for producing some of the best snipers in the world, so we are extremely proud that they are able to deploy in the field with our weapon system.”
In addition, BDT Canada (principally from alliance partner Sako), and in partnership with Colt Canada, was awarded the contract for the C19 Ranger Rifle for the Canadian Rangers. This contract was awarded in 2016, and all rifles were delivered in early 2020. The total number of C19 Ranger Rifles in service is approximately 7,000 and is issued to the Canadian Rangers replacing the outdated Lee Enfield No.4 Mk 1 rifles. The C19 rifle for the Canadian Rangers is a variant of the Tikka T3x Arctic Rifle configuration. Other variants of the rifle have since been produced to support DND SAR Technicians operating in the Arctic, and for other personnel in the DND who are not Rangers but require the use of rifles.
Building on the momentum of recent contract awards, BDT Canada is experiencing steady growth. “We currently have a dedicated staff in Canada of about 30 individuals that support sales, warehousing, logistics support, ordering for import and export, and we have experts in business and marketing,” said Macdonald. “Our presence in the country has grown, certainly over the last decade, to the point where we need to increase staff.”
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
In addition, BDT Canada is continually working with key partners to develop new technologies and evolve capabilities. The company has worked with DND in research and development on future weapon and optics technologies, as well as other sensors and soldier systems technologies. “In the past, we’ve done things with the Army in terms of developing counter IED systems, less lethal and breaching shotgun type systems, as well as lasers,” said Macdonald.
Innovation comes from all 9 companies in the BDT alliance. Benelli has recently developed a counter-UAS weapon system to address the proliferation of drones as seen in the war in Ukraine. In this case, Benelli has leveraged its famous M4 semi automatic shotgun that was standard issue to US Marines, and evolved that weapon for use against drones. Officially launched in North America at the NSSF SHOT Show in January, the Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian’s primary purpose is to serve as a “last resort” weapon against small quadcopter FPV drones on the battlefield, or to quickly neutralize spy drones. It can be deployed by a squad or firing team, and functions as a personal defence weapon for individual operators in real combat situations.
According to Benelli, the M4 A.I. Drone Guardian shotgun enhances the ability to hit targets at greater distances compared to standard shotguns, providing deeper penetration and destructive capacity. A.I. stands for “Advanced Impact” a patented system of larger and longer cone inside the barrel able to improve the capability to hit targets at longer distances compared to standard shotguns and with a deeper penetration. It is effective for engaging targets from 0 to 50 meters (optimal range) and can reach up to 100 meters or more (borderline shots).
According to BDT Canada, there are currently 10,000 of these counter-UAS shotguns in use on the battlefield with the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
“I think everyone was caught by surprise to see how fast drone technology advanced on the battlefield. NATO and Allied Forces are trying to tackle this problem, and we are working directly with DND to help build up their anti-drone capability,” said Macdonald.
In the ever-evolving defence landscape, Beretta Defense Technologies Canada maintains a forward-looking approach, continuously innovating and enhancing their product offerings. Their focus on research and development ensures that the products remain at the forefront of military technology, integrating the latest advancements in materials, design, and performance. This commitment allows BDT to meet the increasing demands of modern warfare, including the need for precision, adaptability, and enhanced tactical capabilities.
Joetey Attariwala is CDR’s Senior Staff Writer
