Drones are becoming common place in armed military and reconnaissance roles. Armed drones are now a must for any military (Canada has ear marked $1 billion for drone purchases).
MQ-9 Reaper by General Atomics (above) is being considered by Canada for our attack drone.
Heron TP (Eitan) by IAI Israel is being considered by Canada for long endurance reconnaissance roles in coastal and arctic patrols.
Skeldar V-200 by Saab Sweden, UAS helicopter customized by: QinetiQ, Canadian-UAV, Leonardo and WESCAM | L3Harris, for specialized over the horizon situational awareness has been chosen for our navy.
Hermes 900 Starliner has been purchased (one package consisting of one drone and two control base stations for $36 million) by Transport Canada for Arctic surveillance, coastal patrol and pipeline inspections. This is not Canada’s first medium distant drone purchase, we used a similar class of drone in Afganastan. Canada is slowly moving forward in acquiring more civilian and military drones.
MQ-9 Reaper by General Atomics USA excepted around the world as one of the most effective attack drones on the battlefield today. The Reaper has 950 horsepower, endurance of 42 hours or 14 hours fully loaded with maximum munitions.
Haron TP by IAI Israel for reconnaissance roles in coastal and arctic patrols that make it ideal for Canada are: all-weather capability, de-icing systems,[automatic takeoff and landing systems, autonomously return to base and land, endurance of 52 hours. Land and take-off from Resolute Bay with just a refuelling crew. Canada will be able to change sensor modules and update software.
Skeldar V-200 by Saab Sweden Canadian navy variant CU-176 Gargoyle can take-off vertically and uses modular payloads.
Transport Canada has just purchased for $36 million one Hermes 900 StarLiner which is the civilian model of Elbit military drone. Transport Canada is to take delivery of the drone and 2 command stations in 2022. This drone’s range is 1,400 nautical miles and has been fully tested in arctic conditions. It is capable of returning and landing/takeoff at the base or other locations using autopilot. A refuelling crew is all it needs.
Hermes 900 Starliner will be used for detecting oil spills, checking on ice, marine habitat conditions and illegal fishing. Will add to surveillance in our arctic and I am sure this is only the stepping stone for Canada to acquire more drones from Elbit, in both civilian and military versions .
image sources
- MQ-9_Reaper_wikimedia: Paul Ridgeway U.S. Air Force--Public Domain
- MQ-9_Reaper_Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt, Public domain: Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt, Public domain
- IAI_HeronTP_wikimedia: ssgt Reynaldo Ramon USAF, Public Domain
- Skeldar-V-200_wikimedia: A55mberget, CC BY-SA 4.0 | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
- Hermes_900_wiki: Tal Inbar, Attribution | Wikimedia Commons