The Royal Canadian Air Force has selected GA-ASI’s MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) for its long-range surveillance and monitoring missions.
Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, and Kody Blois, MP for Kings-Hants, today announced a major investment in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Government of Canada will invest $2.49 billion ( about USD 1.867 billion) to acquire a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). The procurement will be conducted through a direct commercial sales contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc, with some specific components to be procured through a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) with the U.S. government.
Unlike small drones, these RPAS will be designed and certified to the stringent airworthiness standards applicable to manned aircraft.
This acquisition includes:
- eleven remotely piloted aircraft;
- six ground control stations;
- a new ground control centre;
- two new aircraft hangars;
- initial weapons;
- sustainment services;
- a training solution that includes training devices, mission crew and technician courseware;
- supporting information management and technology; and
- associated work and equipment.
First delivery is scheduled for 2028 and full operational capacity is expected to be reached by 2033.
Missions
Domestically, the RPAS capability will provide surveillance of Canada’s vast territory and long coastline. It will also support civil relief operations, such as wildfire and flood response.
In deployed operations, the MQ-9B will provide military commanders with an overview of operational situations with near real-time information. The system will be capable of detecting, recognizing, identifying, tracking and engaging targets in complex environments.
It will also enable Canada to optimally fulfill its North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) and NATO missions, while enhancing interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. In addition to enhancing these capabilities, the system will reduce risk to personnel involved in ground combat operations as well as aircrews.
See also: Royal Air Force receives its first RG Mk 1 Protector Remotely Piloted Air System
Offset
As part of this project, the Canadian government reports that General Atomics will provide significant business activities and targeted investments to Canadian industry to support the growth of the aerospace and defense sector, including the remotely piloted systems and autonomous technologies industry.
The economic benefits that General Atomics is committed to bring to Canada as part of the procurement contract have the potential to contribute nearly 700 jobs annually to Canadian industry and value chain partners, and contribute CAD 97 million annually to Canada’s gross domestic product over a nine-year period.
The MQ-9Bs will be stationed at the 14 Wing in Greenwood (NS) and the 19 Wing in Comox (BC). They will also be operated from a forward operating location when supporting missions in northern Canada. The ground control center, which will house the aircraft cockpits, will be located in Ottawa. New infrastructure will be built in Ottawa to house the ground control center and will also be required to support RPAS operations at 14 Wing Greenwood, and 19 Wing Comox. Infrastructure costs are included in the overall project budget.
