A Calgary aerospace startup has secured a $4.2-million federal contract to advance hypersonic propulsion systems, a project experts say underscores Canada’s need to catch up in a rapidly evolving area of defence technology.

North Vector Dynamics, co-founded by aerospace engineers and academics with ties to the University of Calgary, will partner with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to design and test propulsion concepts for vehicles capable of travelling at speeds greater than Mach 5.

“For a startup, this is huge,” said Paul Ziadé, co-founder and chief executive officer of North Vector Dynamics. “It gives us clarity on the next few years, means job creation, and allows us to create intellectual property here in Canada rather than relying on technology from the United State

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