Germany looking to sell costly, rarely used drone to Canada

[Dale Denton]

Germany looking to sell costly, rarely used drone to Canada
https://apnews.com/661a25f7ec9144d9b9fcc7f1980e002d?utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter

BERLIN (AP) — Germany is looking to sell a secondhand surveillance drone that has cost the country more than 700 million euros ($823 million) to Canada — without many core components it needs to fly.

A defense ministry reply to lawmakers from the opposition Left Party states that Germany has decided to “begin concrete negotiations with Canada for the sale of the Euro Hawk aircraft, two ground stations and possibly certain spare parts.”

The government response, dated Sept. 19 and obtained by The Associated Press, adds that Germany isn’t currently in talks with any other country or organization about the sale of the drone.

Maybe for NASP/Transport Canada flights to the North? Wouldn't need every part replaced, although I have no idea what i'm talking about with UAVs.

Thoughts? Bad or terrible decision if Canada bought it?

 

[dimsum]

Germany looking to sell costly, rarely used drone to Canada
https://apnews.com/661a25f7ec9144d9b9fcc7f1980e002d?utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter

Maybe for NASP/Transport Canada flights to the North? Wouldn't need every part replaced, although I have no idea what i'm talking about with UAVs.

Thoughts? Bad or terrible decision if Canada bought it?

If it doesn't have all of those things required, it'd be a terrible idea.  Also, it'd need to be certified to fly in domestic airspace. 

 

[Sub_Guy]

it'd be a terrible idea. 

So what you are saying is, we can expect to hear that our new UAV Sqn will be based out of Goose Bay within the next few months?

 

[blacktriangle]

Goose Bay? Yep, that should help air crew recruiting/retention !!!

 

[Old Sweat]

Will someone explain, using little words for this old soldier, a few points:

a. how many vehicles does this involve;

b. is the launch and recovery capability deployable:

c. what is the airborne endurance; and

d, how vulnerable is it?

 

[dimsum]

Will someone explain, using little words for this old soldier, a few points:

a. how many vehicles does this involve;

b. is the launch and recovery capability deployable:

c. what is the airborne endurance; and

d, how vulnerable is it?

Not a lot of details, but it looks like one airframe and 2 Ground Control Stations (imagine half of a shipping container).  The launch/recovery would be deployable but the main GCS would probably be somewhere else. 

Euro Hawk, assuming it's the same as Global Hawk, has over 24 hours (probably more) flying at or above airliner altitudes.  At those altitudes, you'd need a good SAM to take it down.

As for Goose Bay, I'm assuming Dolphin Hunter was joking about the 2006-ish campaign promise by the Conservatives to re-invigorate GB by putting in a Battalion and a UAV Sqn there.  Logistically/financially/socially it would make no sense since the main operating base and mission crews can literally be anywhere (ahem Ottawa), and the launch/recovery units can go with the planes.

 

[PuckChaser]

We're buying old and broken fighters, why not a broken drone missing pieces too? Would fit in with the Upholder purchase.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I assume a drone capability is already present within the CAF that we can build on, which means that (if we buy it) this would fit seamlessly into our current corporate strategy, logistics support program and doctrine, right?

 

[blacktriangle]

I assume a drone capability is already present within the CAF that we can build on, which means that (if we buy it) this would fit seamlessly into our current corporate strategy, logistics support program and doctrine, right?

We already have plenty of drones. Just get off at Mackenzie King Station in Ottawa.

 

[dimsum]

I assume a drone capability is already present within the CAF that we can build on, which means that (if we buy it) this would fit seamlessly into our current corporate strategy, logistics support program and doctrine, right?

:rofl:

*snort*

 

[dapaterson]

I assume a drone capability is already present within the CAF that we can build on, which means that (if we buy it) this would fit seamlessly into our current corporate strategy, logistics support program and doctrine, right?

Exactly!  The RCA already operates UAVs; clearly, they should subsume the RCAF's fledgling drone capability.  I mean, they already have NCMs flying, so they're ahead of the RCAF on that front...

Image source: https://defence.frontline.online/article/2007/6/1084-CF-Unmanned-Projects

 

[daftandbarmy]

We already have plenty of drones. Just get off at Mackenzie King Station in Ottawa.

You, Sir, win the Internet for today  :nod:

 

[dimsum]

Exactly!  The RCA already operates UAVs; clearly, they should subsume the RCAF's fledgling drone capability.  I mean, they already have NCMs flying, so they're ahead of the RCAF on that front...

They do, but the hand-thrown ones and Euro Hawk (wingspan of a 737) aren't in the same sport, let alone the same league.  The RCA's operators don't have to coordinate with ATC (not just local but wide-area terminal and centre), talk to other airplanes and fly under Instrument Flight Rules, which is an specific licence for civilian pilots.  They operate only in military airspace and have protected airspace specifically for that reason, while the RCAF ones would be flying amongst civilian traffic and dealing with ATC.

This is one of the reasons why the term "drone" is misleading; most people think of the quadcopters or hand-thrown ones, when there are different tiers based on size and endurance.  I guess it's analogous to everything painted green and mobile being called a "tank"  :nod:

ETA:  Below is a picture of a U-2 spy plane (left) and a Global Hawk UAV (right, with the white wings) for perspective.  The other boxy things in the centre and the top right are pickup trucks (prob Ford F-150 or so).

And to show the height of the Euro Hawk with person for scale:

 

[dapaterson]

Clearly, I forgot to add a  ;D smiley.

 

[daftandbarmy]

They do, but the hand-thrown ones and Euro Hawk (wingspan of a 737) aren't in the same sport, let alone the same league.  The RCA's operators don't have to coordinate with ATC (not just local but wide-area terminal and centre), talk to other airplanes and fly under Instrument Flight Rules, which is an specific licence for civilian pilots.  They operate only in military airspace and have protected airspace specifically for that reason, while the RCAF ones would be flying amongst civilian traffic and dealing with ATC.

This is one of the reasons why the term "drone" is misleading; most people think of the quadcopters or hand-thrown ones, when there are different tiers based on size and endurance.  I guess it's analogous to everything painted green and mobile being called a "tank"  :nod:

I think he was being tongue in cheek, but it's hard to tell sometimes with tornado survivors

 

[dimsum]

I argue (in real life) about this often enough that what I said and the pics I posted are practically "actions on".  :nod:

 

[Cloud Cover]

We're buying old and broken fighters, why not a broken drone missing pieces too? Would fit in with the Upholder purchase.

One person's junk is another person's gold? Glass half full?  We'll buy this for sure, along with the Aus F18.
Even the USMC is playing junkyard dog these days!  https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/modern-day-marine/2018/09/24/from-boneyard-to-brand-new-outside-contractor-gives-new-life-to-h-53-helos/

 

[CBH99]

The US is the all-time king of buying unneeded or unwanted military gear, just to keep politically important districts employed.


The US Navy only wanted 1 LCS this year, Congress authorized 3. 

Remember a few years ago, a big order of Abrams tanks purchased for the US Army that the US Army said they didn't need, nor want due to maintenance and storage issues. 

Yearly orders of Ah-64 Apache, Chinooks, Black Hawks/Sea Hawks, C-130J, Strykers, etc etc.... some of which the services openly state they "do not require".  They then try to sell off their older models, and help use that to pay for the constantly inflow of fairly new equipment.


The fact that the USMC had to salvage 2 old helicopters from a Boneyard after sitting in the elements for years is simple translation = guessing the factory that builds Sea Stallions isn't in a very important political district.  They should relocate their factory next to the LCS shipyards, the senators & congressmen from that district seem to have some say...???

 

[FJAG]

This is not junk that we want. This project--a Euro version of the Global Hawk--went badly off the rails for Germany. Conceived in 2001 by a Social Democrat and Greens coalition government it came to it's end when the aircraft basically failed to obtain certification to fly in Europe's airspace and other issues. It's an old (2013) airframe although hardly used.

https://www.dw.com/en/the-euro-hawk-scandal-a-chronicle/a-16856113

:cheers:

 

[daftandbarmy]

This is not junk that we want. This project--a Euro version of the Global Hawk--went badly off the rails for Germany. Conceived in 2001 by a Social Democrat and Greens coalition government it came to it's end when the aircraft basically failed to obtain certification to fly in Europe's airspace and other issues. It's an old (2013) airframe although hardly used.

https://www.dw.com/en/the-euro-hawk-scandal-a-chronicle/a-16856113

:cheers:

If it's European it will be demanding 8 weeks of paid vacation annually, as well as an automatic save from the USA in the event of a real war