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The usual disclaimers.....
Navy plans to deploy unmanned aircraft on frigates
By MURRAY BREWSTER
The navy's decision to jump on the UAV bandwagon could prove to be good news for Quebec-based Bombardier, which has developed a rotary-wing drone, the CL-327, known as the Guardian. (CP handout photo/ Bombardier)
MONTREAL (CP) - The Canadian navy could soon be looking for a few good drones.
National Defence plans to conduct a study next year on how the country's frigates can safely launch and recover unmanned aerial vehicles - UAVs - at sea, and is asking for private companies with expertise to step forward. "Currently, sensors are installed on the ships' masts to position them as high as possible to aid early detection of threats," said a background document accompanying the tender.
"If sensor height is a key factor to early detection, then it would be logical to locate the sensors on aerial platforms."
The army and air force have been using drones, which are controlled by technicians on the ground, for the last five years.
An entire flight of unmanned aircraft -French-made Sperwers - has been doing yeoman's service in Afghanistan since 2003 scouting the vast desert wastelands and rugged mountain passes for threats to troops on the ground. The army also employs the Skylark, a mini-UAV that resembles a model aircraft.
The tender represents the navy's first foray into the rapidly developing high-tech field, where video, infrared images and a variety of other surveillance of targets can be beamed from the air back to commanders in real time.
"UAVs give us the capacity to protect our forces," said Phil Twardawa, the acting chief scientist at the Defence Research and Development Canada lab in Valcartier, Que.
"It's a fantastic capability."
Roughly $75,000 has been set aside for the study, which will involve laboratory computer simulations and field testing. Work is expected to begin next spring.
The country's 12 patrol frigates are equipped to carry helicopters and would require modification, depending upon the unmanned aerial vehicle chosen by the navy.
The study comes just weeks after the Conservative government announced it would proceed with a $3.1-billion life-extending refit on the warships.
Navy sources say there is also consideration being given to fitting UAVs on to the planned Arctic patrol ships, which are not due to enter service until 2013 - or after.
Twardawa said the navy is determined to utilize the technology. The research lab's role will be to help weed through the various models to determine what's best suited to operate from the pitching deck of a warship in the often harsh conditions found on all three of Canada's oceans.
"We could just pick one now, but we would have a high percentage of loss," he said in an interview.
"As you approach a ship at sea there are all sorts of variable conditions, including wind and sea state. We don't want it hitting any antennas or the superstructure and causing damage."
The research lab will also do extensive testing on the kinds of sensors and equipment that will go into a naval drone.
The air force has been pushing ahead with a number of pilotless plane projects, but was recently dealt a setback.
The federal cabinet shelved a plan to purchase 12 American-built Predator drones, meant for use in Afghanistan and for surveillance during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Concern over the recommended sole-sourcing of the contract was the reason, defence industry sources said.
Over the long term, air force planners are looking at spending $94 million on armed drones that can stay airborne for hours and fire precision munitions.
The navy's decision to jump on the UAV bandwagon could prove to be good news for Quebec-based Bombardier, which has developed a rotary-wing drone, the CL-327, known as the Guardian. Its compact design allows for it to take off and land vertically, which is important for shipboard operations.
The US Navy has tested the system, but at last report had not committed to buying any.
In the 1970s and 1980s Canada was a leader in the development of UAVs. Canadair, which later became Bombardier, in partnership with French and German companies laid the groundwork for much of the technical advancement seen today.
It developed a railed-launched, rocket-driven drone, the C-289, which was sold to Germany, France and Italy. But defence cuts in the early 1990s saw Canada take a pass on its own technology.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/08/16/4423289-cp.html
Navy plans to deploy unmanned aircraft on frigates
By MURRAY BREWSTER
The navy's decision to jump on the UAV bandwagon could prove to be good news for Quebec-based Bombardier, which has developed a rotary-wing drone, the CL-327, known as the Guardian. (CP handout photo/ Bombardier)
MONTREAL (CP) - The Canadian navy could soon be looking for a few good drones.
National Defence plans to conduct a study next year on how the country's frigates can safely launch and recover unmanned aerial vehicles - UAVs - at sea, and is asking for private companies with expertise to step forward. "Currently, sensors are installed on the ships' masts to position them as high as possible to aid early detection of threats," said a background document accompanying the tender.
"If sensor height is a key factor to early detection, then it would be logical to locate the sensors on aerial platforms."
The army and air force have been using drones, which are controlled by technicians on the ground, for the last five years.
An entire flight of unmanned aircraft -French-made Sperwers - has been doing yeoman's service in Afghanistan since 2003 scouting the vast desert wastelands and rugged mountain passes for threats to troops on the ground. The army also employs the Skylark, a mini-UAV that resembles a model aircraft.
The tender represents the navy's first foray into the rapidly developing high-tech field, where video, infrared images and a variety of other surveillance of targets can be beamed from the air back to commanders in real time.
"UAVs give us the capacity to protect our forces," said Phil Twardawa, the acting chief scientist at the Defence Research and Development Canada lab in Valcartier, Que.
"It's a fantastic capability."
Roughly $75,000 has been set aside for the study, which will involve laboratory computer simulations and field testing. Work is expected to begin next spring.
The country's 12 patrol frigates are equipped to carry helicopters and would require modification, depending upon the unmanned aerial vehicle chosen by the navy.
The study comes just weeks after the Conservative government announced it would proceed with a $3.1-billion life-extending refit on the warships.
Navy sources say there is also consideration being given to fitting UAVs on to the planned Arctic patrol ships, which are not due to enter service until 2013 - or after.
Twardawa said the navy is determined to utilize the technology. The research lab's role will be to help weed through the various models to determine what's best suited to operate from the pitching deck of a warship in the often harsh conditions found on all three of Canada's oceans.
"We could just pick one now, but we would have a high percentage of loss," he said in an interview.
"As you approach a ship at sea there are all sorts of variable conditions, including wind and sea state. We don't want it hitting any antennas or the superstructure and causing damage."
The research lab will also do extensive testing on the kinds of sensors and equipment that will go into a naval drone.
The air force has been pushing ahead with a number of pilotless plane projects, but was recently dealt a setback.
The federal cabinet shelved a plan to purchase 12 American-built Predator drones, meant for use in Afghanistan and for surveillance during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Concern over the recommended sole-sourcing of the contract was the reason, defence industry sources said.
Over the long term, air force planners are looking at spending $94 million on armed drones that can stay airborne for hours and fire precision munitions.
The navy's decision to jump on the UAV bandwagon could prove to be good news for Quebec-based Bombardier, which has developed a rotary-wing drone, the CL-327, known as the Guardian. Its compact design allows for it to take off and land vertically, which is important for shipboard operations.
The US Navy has tested the system, but at last report had not committed to buying any.
In the 1970s and 1980s Canada was a leader in the development of UAVs. Canadair, which later became Bombardier, in partnership with French and German companies laid the groundwork for much of the technical advancement seen today.
It developed a railed-launched, rocket-driven drone, the C-289, which was sold to Germany, France and Italy. But defence cuts in the early 1990s saw Canada take a pass on its own technology.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/08/16/4423289-cp.html
