Kelluu Launches in Canada, Introducing Continuous Airship Surveillance to the Arctic Region

by Invest Ottawa
July 28, 2026

Kelluu, a Finnish company known for its autonomous airship fleet, is expanding into Canada with a new location in Ottawa's Area X.O, a hub for defence innovation. This expansion aims to enhance collaboration between Canada and Finland in Arctic security and operational readiness. Jens Michael Schaal from Invest Ottawa expressed excitement about Kelluu joining Canada’s defence ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of innovation in addressing Arctic challenges.

Kelluu's technology is particularly suited for Canada's vast, challenging landscapes, aiming to improve autonomy in Arctic conditions. Niko Kuikka, Kelluu's Head of Engineering, highlighted the support from Invest Ottawa as instrumental to their Canadian operations. The strategic move strengthens ties between two Arctic nations, facilitating the sharing of technology and defence strategies amid evolving security threats, particularly as Canada’s role in Arctic governance becomes increasingly prominent.

Janne Hietala, Kelluu's CEO, mentioned that Canada’s supportive ecosystem provides an ideal environment for the company’s growth, leveraging shared knowledge of Arctic operations. The Canadian government is heavily investing in defence, committing to increase its spending to five percent of GDP by 2035, with significant funding targeted for Arctic infrastructure.

Kelluu’s airship technology has already proven its capabilities during various NATO exercises, showcasing interoperability with allied systems, situational awareness in GNSS-jammed areas, and operational effectiveness in harsh Arctic climates. Kelluu has also been recognized in the NATO DIANA program, being one of only 15 firms selected from 2,600 applicants, and the sole Finnish company supported by the NATO Innovation Fund.

Kelluu aims to provide persistent aerial autonomy as a service across defence and critical sectors, reinforcing Canada and Finland's commitment to leveraging advanced technology for security in extreme conditions.

Original Article on Invest Ottawa

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Invest Ottawa, is Ottawa’s leading economic development agency for fostering the advancement of the region's globally competitive knowledge-based institutions and industries. Invest Ottawa delivers its economic development services through a unique partnership with the City of Ottawa, where the City and Invest Ottawa, through its members set the strategy and manage the programs that move Ottawa’s economy forward. Invest Ottawa is a non-profit, partnership organization that operates on an annual budget that comes from a variety of sources including: municipal, federal and provincial government; membership fees; professional development programs; and private sector contributions.