A Heron pilotless spy drone, operated by the Canadian army, sits in a hangar at Kandahar Airfield on July 5, 2010. The Royal Canadian Air Power is hoping to tug the set off on the acquisition of latest drones throughout the subsequent 5 - 6 years after spending almost 20 years weighing completely different choices. Invoice Graveland / THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA --
The federal authorities has formally launched a contest for the acquisition of armed drones after almost 20 years of delays and dialogue round whether or not Canada can buy the controversial weapons.
A proper request for proposals was launched Friday to the 2 firms shortlisted to bid on the $5-billion contract, which may see the Canadian Armed Forces launch a fleet of unmanned aerial autos within the subsequent few years.
A proper contract just isn't anticipated for one more 12 months or two, whereas the primary drone is not scheduled for supply till not less than 2025, with the final to reach within the early 2030s.
The request doesn't say what number of autos the federal government plans to purchase, and as an alternative leaves it as much as the 2 firms to say how their bids will fulfill the army's wants whereas benefiting the Canadian financial system.
It does reveal the plane might be based mostly at 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia and 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia, whereas the primary management centre might be within the Ottawa space. Yellowknife can also be recognized as a ahead working location.
The drone pressure will embody round 240 air pressure members, with 55 in Greenwood, 25 in Comox and 160 in Ottawa.
Whereas supply remains to be years away, the very fact the army has reached even this level represents a significant step ahead after virtually 20 years of labor to determine and purchase a fleet of UAVs to conduct surveillance over Canadian territory and help missions overseas.
Other than buying a small variety of momentary, unarmed drones for the battle in Afghanistan -- all of which have since been retired -- the army has by no means been in a position to make a lot progress on a everlasting fleet.
That was regardless of drones taking up an more and more necessary position in militaries around the globe. A report within the Royal Canadian Air Power Journal in late 2015 mentioned 76 overseas militaries have been utilizing drones and one other 50 have been growing them.
One main purpose: no federal authorities had approved including drones as a everlasting fixture throughout the army in the identical vein as fighter-jet or helicopter squadrons till the Liberal authorities included them in its 2017 defence coverage.
The federal government and army say the unmanned plane might be used for surveillance and intelligence gathering in addition to delivering pinpoint strikes from the air on enemy forces in locations the place the usage of pressure has been permitted.
Some have beforehand criticized the choice to purchase armed drones given issues about their potential use in Canada and quite a few experiences of airstrikes by different nations, notably the US and Russia, inflicting unintended injury and civilian casualties.
The federal government has additionally mentioned little in regards to the situations wherein pressure is perhaps used, together with whether or not drones might be deployed for assassinations. Officers have instructed they'd be utilized in the identical means as typical weapons similar to fighter jets and artillery.
"Whereas the (drones) might be a medium-altitude long-endurance system with a precision strike functionality, it'll solely be armed when needed for the assigned activity," the Defence Division mentioned Friday.
"Always, employment of precision strike functionality will adhere to the Regulation of Armed Battle, in addition to every other relevant home or worldwide legal guidelines. Use of pressure might be utilized following guidelines of engagement relevant to the CAF."
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Feb. 11, 2022.
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