Wednesday, December 24, 2008

IAI's Heron UAV Hunkers Over To Canadian Forces In Afghanistan

IAI's Heron UAV Hunkers Over To Canadian Forces In Afghanistan
http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=581522061


Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered the first Heron UAV
system to the Canadian Air Force.

IAI and MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) as prime
contractor were recently awarded a contract to deliver IAI's Heron
UAV through MDA to Canadian forces deployed in Afghanistan (NOCTUA
project).

According to publications,the contract is valued at 95 million Canadians
Dollars (US$81 million). The UAV lease for Canada will be completed by
the end of 2010, with an option to extend for an additional year.

The platform and equipment are built completely at IAI's facilities in
Israel, while management, training, and in-theater maintenance for the
Canadian operators is the responsibility of the Canadian prime
contractor MDA. The Canadian Air Force and Army have been exposed to
IAI's abilities in UAV's for some time.

Several demonstrations have been made, illustrating the various
solutions available to meet Canadian operational demands. Shortly before
the delivery, IAI's Malat Division hosted the Canadian Defense
Attache in Israel, Col. Geordie Elms, for a tour of the facilities.
During his visit at Malat, Col. Elms was shown the most updated line of
products Malat Division has to offer, including the Heron UAV.

This is not the first time MDA and IAI have cooperated on a UAV project.
Under the "Ardea" project, the Heron was tested for use in civilian
missions and was successfully demonstrated in Alberta, Canada. The
successful cooperation with MDA on the "Ardea" project led to
the joint price proposal to the Canadian Air Force for the NOCTUA
project.

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