Attention News Editors:

Canadian Forces purchases mini UAV system

    OTTAWA, May 4 /CNW/ - As part of its continuing exploration into the
potential utility of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Canadian Forces
(CF) recently purchased the Silver Fox mini UAV system produced by Advanced
Ceramics Research of Tuscon, Arizona. Thales Systems Canada is the prime
contractor in the acquisition of this system, which is for a two-year period
of combined concept development and experimentation. This contract was awarded
to Thales on April 5th.

    Acquired after a competitive evaluation, the decision to purchase this
modular, 'plug-and-play' mini UAV is notable in that the Canadian Forces' UAV
experimentation to date has been through the leasing of different platforms
produced by various manufacturers. The decision to purchase this system - at a
cost of $649,000 for the system, including training and service support -- was
made for the flexibility that this approach would provide. This system is
expected to be delivered to the CF by mid-July 2004.

    The Canadian Forces, through the Canadian Forces Experimentation Centre
(CFEC) at Shirley's Bay, Ontario, has been investigating the use of UAVs to
address a recognized capability deficiency in the areas of Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and Command and Control. In support of
this goal CFEC, through a series of synthetic and live experiments conducted
since 2001 and by using leased UAV systems, has been obtaining data and
knowledge to determine how UAVs can be used to resolve this deficiency.

    Another difference is that the Silver Fox mini UAV system - which is
unrelated to the current operational use of the Sperwer UAV system on
Operation Athena in Kabul, Afghanistan -- will be a collaborative, CF-wide
experimentation that will permit Canada's navy, air force and army, as well as
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), to enhance their understanding
about the potential use of mini UAVs in the modern battlespace.

    The flexibility obtained as a result of purchasing the already-available
Silver Fox mini UAV system means that the CF will be able to trial a variety
of payloads and communications suites, to experiment with this platform in
various operating environments e.g. off a Canadian naval vessel, and to
contribute toward doctrine development on the operational employment of UAVs.

    While the Silver Fox mini UAV system - which will include the UAV
platforms themselves plus associated payloads, ground control stations, remote
video terminal, spares support for two years, ground support equipment,
documentation, training and shipping containers - will be based out of the
DRDC facility at Suffield, Alberta, it will be operated across Canada by
various CF organizations on a shared basis. As an example, the Silver Fox mini
UAV system will be employed during one of the phases of the upcoming
comprehensive Atlantic Littoral ISR Experiment, slated to take place in the
Baffin Island and across Atlantic Canada beginning later this August.

    NR-04.036

For further information: Major James Simiana, Public Affairs Officer, at 
(613) 995-6483. Information: (613) 996-2353/54, After hours: (613) 792-2973
World Wide Web: http://www.forces