Air force will have to wait even longer to get armed drones, defence department says
CBC
Canada's air force will have to wait a few extra years to get the armed drones it has been promised for more than a decade — because, among other things, the pilotless aircraft require special modifications to fly in the Far North.
The federal government had planned to acquire by 2025 a fleet of MQ-9 Reaper drones, built by U.S. defence contractor General Atomics.
But the Department of National Defence (DND) acknowledged recently that the acquisition date has been pushed to 2028 — more than 11 years after drones were identified in the Liberal government's defence policy as an important priority for modernizing the country's air force to meet modern threats.
That delivery date is also more than two decades after the previous Conservative government weighed the idea of acquiring an earlier version of the Reaper, the MQ-1, known as the Predator.
The U.S., the U.K., Italy, France and Spain have all acquired the MQ-9 Reaper, but DND says it has its own important considerations.
"The Canadian RPAS [Remotely Piloted Aircraft System] configuration will require significant development work in order to address RCAF requirements which differ from our Allies' requirements," DND spokesperson Andrew McKelvey told CBC News in a written statement.
"For example, the need to operate at high Northern latitudes, including in the Arctic, requires the use of satellites and aircraft antennas and communication components not previously integrated on the MQ-9."
The manufacturer insists the aircraft has proved itself in the High Arctic.
In an online promotional pitch, General Atomics said the MQ-9B "operates well in cold weather conditions" and the airframe has a state-of-the-art anti-ice/de-icing system. In September 2021, the company conducted a demonstration flight to the 78th parallel in Canada's Far North.
Despite that achievement, DND remains cautious about the drone's ability to withstand the harsh environment.
"Additional testing and qualification work will be required to ensure the RPAS can be operated and maintained in Canadian climatic conditions," McKelvey said.
Beyond the concern about the MQ-9's ability to perform Arctic surveillance and strike missions, McKelvey said the department also intends to incorporate Canadian technology in the aircraft.
"There is also some developmental effort required to integrate the Canadian-made WESCAM MX-20 EO/IR sensor onto the platform," he said, adding that drone operators also need to be trained and the aircraft certified for operations in Canadian airspace.
Over the past two decades, DND has not had a stellar record when it comes to taking development programs and turning them into useable military equipment delivered on time. The CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter and the C-295 Kingfisher are just two examples.