Larus Technologies wins $8.3M DND IDEaS award to field MAABI
Context and Chronology
The Department of National Defence has selected Larus Technologies for a Test Drive award worth $8.3M, funding near-term operational trials of a tactical decision-support tool named MAABI. The award comes through the federal IDEaS innovation stream and is targeted at accelerating domestic capability for mission planning and analysis. Larus moves from experimentation into instrumented field tests after operator-led exercises last autumn showed sufficient product readiness to justify this next phase. The company will tailor its software specifically to Canadian Armed Forces workflows while preparing for joint trials with allied units.
Technically, MAABI fuses machine learning with pattern analytics to produce ranked courses of action and automated simulation outputs that support theatre-level planning processes such as IPB and OPP. The tool ingests diverse inputs — sensor feeds, maps, geospatial layers and historic activity logs — to detect movement signatures and hypothesize adversary options. It then applies rapid wargaming to stress-test candidate plans and generates ISR collection priorities to refine situational awareness. Those functions are oriented to shorten the planner-analysis loop and surface prescriptive recommendations to commanders under time pressure.
Operationally, the award places MAABI on a path to be exercised in upcoming Canadian and allied training events, creating measurable exposure to multi-national procedures and data formats. The program also signals Ottawa's intent to cultivate domestic systems that reduce reliance on foreign off-the-shelf tools while linking start-ups to defence procurement pathways. Technological and integration risks remain: sensor quality, sovereignty of data pipelines, and human-machine trust will determine field utility. Dr. Rami Abielmona frames the effort as a productivity and precision upgrade for analysts; Larus will now focus on user adaptation, interoperability, and demonstrable mission effects.
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