Heron UAV delivered to Canadian forces in Afghanistan

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) this week delivered the first Heron UAV system to the Canadian Air Force. IAI and MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) as prime contractor, were awarded, in August 2008, a contract to deliver IAI’s Heron UAV through MDA to Canadian forces deployed in Afghanistan (the NOCTUA project). Shephard reports that according to publications the contract is valued at $85 million. The UAV lease for Canada will be completed by the end of 2010, with an option to extend for an additional year.

The Canadian Air Force and Army have been persuaded on Heron’s suitability after watching several demonstrations. Note that 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.

MDA is focused on information solutions for market sectors which offer strong repeat business potential, the financial services sector, and the surveillance and intelligence sector.

MALAT systems are in operational service with thirty-nine customers on four continents and have accumulated more than 450,000 flight hours.