June 25, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

Canadian special forces will receive three new surveillance aircraft - aircraft expected 2022

The three Beechcraft King Air planes, to be based at CFB Trenton in Ontario, will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cell phone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada.

The agreement for the aircraft was finalized on April 26 with the U.S. government. Three aircraft and equipment will be delivered in the spring of 2022, the Canadian Forces noted.

The federal government is also setting up a competitive process to select a company to maintain the aircraft and related systems for a potential period of 20 years. A Request for Proposals is expected sometime this summer.

The agreement signed with the U.S. government is for $188 million (CAN).

The value of the project is estimated at $247 million. The funding includes the acquisition of the aircraft and prime mission equipment from the U.S. and an initial portion of the associated in-service support of the aircraft.

The main contractor is Beechcraft in Wichita, Kan.

Canadian companies had wanted to provide the aircraft and on-board equipment, and several have formed alliances with U.S. firms who supply the Pentagon with the same or similar aircraft.

But the Canadian military decided it needed the planes more quickly than they believed Canadian companies could deliver, and that U.S. security regulations governing the on-board sensor equipment might cause delays. As a result, it determined the U.S. government was the only supplier capable of providing the planes.

DND has declined to provide an estimate of what that long-term support would cost taxpayers.

RCAF pilots will fly the aircraft but members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command will operate the specialized equipment in the planes.

The planes will be outfitted with electro-optical sensors that would allow the aircraft to track the movement of individuals and vehicles on the ground. Canadian special forces had access to similar aircraft in Afghanistan to track and target insurgents.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-special-forces-will-receive-three-new-surveillance-aircraft-aircraft-expected-2022

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February 16, 2018 | Local, Naval

MDA to provide unmanned aircraft systems to Royal Canadian Navy
MDA, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.), announced it has signed a contract valued at approximately $8 million with Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) to provide maritime miniature unmanned aircraft systems (MMUAS). The contract also includes services to support training, resource and equipment development activities and development and validation of naval tactics and new capability development. The MMUAS will play a critical role by extending the reach of the communication and sensor capability over contentious or hostile areas during maritime security operations. MDA's solution is based on the Puma AE (All Environment) unmanned aircraft built by Aerovironment. The Puma AE system will provide the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The Puma has the ability to carry additional payloads as required for specific missions. The MMUAS is the first UAS project that will see the RCN operate and maintain its own capability and provide a sustainable shipborne, near real-time, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) ISR capability with an expected introduction to the fleet in the summer of 2018 onboard Kingston-class ships. Capable of both ground and water landings, Puma AE's innovative fuselage offers an operational flexibility never before available to the RCN. The Puma AE is operated from the same control station as the Raven UAS which has been provided by MDA to the Canadian Army since 2013. MDA's Canadian-based UAS services group has been providing UAS systems and services to Canada's DND since 2009. Mike Greenley, group president for MDA, said: “We are very proud to once again, expand our unmanned aircraft systems and services to support Canada's Department of National Defence needs. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/mda-provide-unmanned-aircraft-systems-royal-canadian-navy/
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March 27, 2023 | Local, Other Defence

Defence Minister Anita Anand announces extension of Operation IMPACT
March 27, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, announced that the Government of Canada has extended Operation IMPACT until March 31, 2025. Operation IMPACT is the Canadian Armed Forces’ mission in the Middle East. Through this mission, the Canadian Armed Forces are deployed to build the military capabilities of regional partners and set the conditions for stability and security in the region. Canada’s military efforts are diverse and include contributions to the Global Coalition against Daesh; contributions to NATO Mission Iraq; and contributions to building the military capabilities of Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. This extension will allow the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to continue to play an important role in supporting regional partners in the advancement of peace and security. Operation IMPACT will continue with the same mandate with CAF contributions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the military line of effort under the Global Coalition Against Daesh, and NATO Mission Iraq. The CAF will also continue to provide training and capacity-building assistance on a bilateral basis with the Jordanian and Lebanese Armed Forces and will continue to provide episodic airlift support to the Coalition from its Operational Support Hub in Kuwait. The presence of CAF personnel in the Middle East, and the capacity-building assistance programmes, support our regional partners’ security forces, enhancing stability and security in the Middle East. Quotes “Our personnel deployed on Operation IMPACT are helping to advance stability and security in the Middle East. When I visited them in December, I saw directly how their presence makes a difference to our partners and Allies. The Canadian Armed Forces contribute to the prosperity of the region and enhance security as well. With today’s extension, Canada is again demonstrating its commitment to our regional partners and NATO Allies.” The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence Quick facts Since its launch in 2014, Operation IMPACT has provided training to 4,500 Iraqi Security Force members, over 3,400 members of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and 400 members of the Jordanian Armed Forces. In support of the Coalition, Canada conducts train, advise and assist operations with the Iraqi Security Forces and deploys personnel to enhance in-theatre tactical transport, including casualty evacuations, if required. Joint Task Force IMPACT headquarters and the Operational Support Hub continue to operate in Kuwait. Operation IMPACT includes episodic CC-130J Hercules Tactical Airlift support to move personnel and cargo in the joint area of operations. Associated links The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS • Operation IMPACT https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/03/defence-minister-anita-anand-announces-extension-of-operation-impact.html

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Canadian special forces will receive three new surveillance aircraft - aircraft expected 2022

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Eye in the sky: Diamond Aircraft's DA62 MPP special mission platform - Skies Mag Diamond Aircraft’s special mission flagship, the DA62 MPP, is proving that a light fixed-wing aircraft is ideal for surveillance missions, thanks to the aircraft’s cost-effectiveness and increased capability.

Eye in the sky: Diamond Aircraft's DA62 MPP special mission platform - Skies Mag
Diamond Aircraft’s special mission flagship, the DA62 MPP, is proving that a light fixed-wing aircraft is ideal for surveillance missions, thanks to the aircraft’s cost-effectiveness and increased capability.