QinetiQ to deliver UAS to Canadian Armed Forces

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QinetiQ has announced that it has been awarded a C$51m contract to deliver UAS to the Canadian Armed Forces.

The UAS, which have vertical takeoff capability, will provide the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command with Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) services for both domestic and international operations.

Based on the UMS SKELDAR V-200 UAS, the system will be equipped with a variety of sensors including an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Electro-optic infrared (EO/IR) camera.

“We are delighted with this contract win to deliver critical over-the-horizon situation awareness to the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. This generates tactical advantages for commanders while minimizing the risk to manned helicopters and personnel,” says Robert Aube, managing director of QinetiQ.

“As a result of the contract, we will be pleased to see a large number of jobs created in the Southern Alberta region where UAS repair and overhaul services will be carried out.”

To deliver the ISTAR services, QinetiQ will work with Canadian-UAV, Leonardo, UMS SKELDAR and Wescam.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be able to work with the Canadian Armed Forces and QinetiQ, especially on such a novel project,” says Sean Greenwood, president and CEO of Canadian UAVs.

“This is the foundational contract the Canadian UAV industry has been waiting for to become world-class in autonomous vehicle service delivery and technology development.”

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