Defence Research and Development Canada Defence Research and Development Canada , also DRDC ( Recherche & développement pour la défense Canada , or RDDC in French ) , is an agency of the Department of National Defence ( DND ) , whose purpose is to provide the Canadian Armed Forces ( CAF ) , other government departments , and public safety and national security communities with the knowledge and technology needed to defend and protect Canada ’ s interests at home and abroad . DRDC has approximately 1 , 400 employees across eight research centres within Canada . Research Centres . DRDC , Atlantic Research Centre . Located in Dartmouth , Nova Scotia , the Research Centre conducts research and development activities related to the maritime defence and security domains , but also to the air and land environments . The Centre provides expertise in the following areas : The Atlantic centre also operates two materials laboratories in the CFB Halifax and Esquimalt Dockyards , which provide scientific consulting and troubleshooting services to the Canadian Armed Forces ( primarily the Royal Canadian Navy ) on chemical , metallurgical and engineering problems that affect the operational capability of military vehicles and equipment . History . DRDC , Atlantic Research Centre traces its formation to 1944 when it was established as the Defence Research Establishment Atlantic ( DREA ) by the Royal Canadian Navy . DREA was one of the originating organizations that came together in 1947 to form the Defense Research Board which later became DRDC . DRDC , Valcartier Research Centre . Conducts research and development activities to support the operational needs of the Canadian Armed Forces in defence and security . The Centre provides expertise in the following areas : Located just outside CFB Valcartier , it is the largest of the research centres . History . Founded in 1945 as the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment ( CARDE ) , it became Defence Research Establishment Valcartier ( DREV ) in the early 1970s , and finally DRDC Valcartier ( RDDC Valcartier in French ) on April 1 , 2000 . DRDC , Ottawa Research Centre . DRDC , Ottawa Research Centre develops technologies in support of the following domains : It was originally known as the Defence Research Establishment Ottawa ( DREO ) . DRDC Ottawa is located near Shirleys Bay in the west end of Ottawa . DRDC , Toronto Research Centre . The Toronto Research Centre conducts research and development activities to enhance the effectiveness and ensure the health and safety of military personnel in operational environments . The Research Centre provides expertise in the following areas : The Centre also houses the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment , which supports the operational needs of the Canadian Armed Forces through research , tests and evaluations as well as training in undersea and aerospace environments . DRDC , Suffield Research Centre . The Suffield Research Centre is a Canadian centre of excellence for chemical and biological defence and has research programs in blast , casualty management , and autonomous systems . The centre ’ work feeds into the combined national effort to keep Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces ( CAF ) safe from the devastating consequences chemical ( C ) , biological ( B ) , radiological ( R ) , nuclear ( N ) , and explosive ( E ) threats could have on human health , the environment , and major infrastructure . The centre provides expertise in the following areas : DRDC operations in Suffield include two unique national assets : Experimental Proving Ground ( EPG ) and the Counter Terrorism and Technology Centre ( CTTC ) . The EPG is Canada ’ s only proving ground of its kind for military research and development . Its immense land space ( 470 km2 ) , air space , and 105 realty assets ( specialized laboratories , trial sites and facilities ) make it a research and development resource to advance DRDC / DND ’ s program . It is also accessible to defence industry partners upon request . CTTC offers realistic training ( over 2 , 200 CAF and First Responders per year ) helping them respond safely and effectively to incidents involving CBRNE threats . DRDC , Centre for Operational Research and Analysis ( CORA ) . The Centre for Operational Research and Analysis provides scientific rigour to decision support and option analysis to the Department of National Defence , the Canadian Armed Forces , and Canadian security partners . The centre delivers options , recommendations , and potential outcomes to key decision makers by providing timely quantitative and qualitative analysis reports and objective expert advice . History . Located in Ottawa , it was originally made up of various Defence Operational Research directorates ( DLOR for Land , DMOR for MAritime , DAOR for Air , DStratA for Strategic , etc . ) . DRDC , Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis ( DGMPRA ) . DGMPRA responds to the research needs of both the Assistant Deputy Minister ( Science and Technology ) and the Chief of Military Personnel within the Department of National Defence . The Centre conducts strategic and operational research in the areas of : The Centre also has research capabilities in the following areas : DRDC , Centre for Security Science . Defence Research and Development Canada ’ s Centre for Security Science operates in partnership with Public Safety Canada . It conducts research and development activities in the field of public safety and security science and technology as well as related testing and assessment activities . The Centre identifies trends in security technology and related threats , and maintains a network of national and international science and technology experts and partners involved in public safety and security . The Centre also leads the Canadian Safety and Security Program and the Emergency Responder Testing and Evaluation Establishment . DRDC ' s History . During the Second World War the National Research Council of Canada ( NRC ) conducted wartime research for the Department of National Defence and its military arms , the Royal Canadian Navy , the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army . When NRC reverted to its peacetime activities following the war , DND sought to continue defence research and created the Defence Research Board ( DRB ) in April 1947 to coordinate the department ' s research and development activities . The unification of the three services into the Canadian Forces ( CF ) in 1968 saw DRB evolve , becoming the Research and Development Branch of the CF by 1974 . The Research and Development Branch was reorganized on April 1 , 2000 when it became an agency within DND called Defence Research and Development Canada ( DRDC ) . Defence Research Establishment Pacific ( DREP ) . This Research Centre was Closed in 1994 . It was located in Naden , Esquimalt , a suburb of Victoria , BC , and was originally called the Pacific Naval Laboratory ( PNL ) . DREP was engaged in a variety of research areas . One group did materials research . Materials subgroups included one for Non Destructive Testing of materials including ultrasound , x - ray , and eddy current methods ; a composite mechanics subgroup working on interlaminar fracture ( delamination ) of composite laminated structural materials and bolted joint mechanics research for composite ; and a metals fracture subgroup . Other groups worked on submarine detection , adhesives chemistry , and engine health monitoring . Civilian achievements . Over the years , researchers at DRDC , sometimes in partnership with the NRC and others , have been responsible for numerous innovations and inventions of practical application in the civilian world . These include the G - suit , motorized wheelchair , the Alouette 1 satellite , Black Brant rocket , improvements to the carbon dioxide laser , flight data recorder , the Ballard fuel cell membrane , and the Bombsniffer ( using gas chromatomography and ion mobility spectrometry ) .