OTTAWA NEEDS APPROVAL FROM U.S. TO BUY ARMED DRONES.
Preferred model comes with tight restrictions
The Liberal government’s plan to buy armed drones could face major delays because obtaining such technology needs approval from the U.S ., according to documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.
The purchase of armed drones is considered “high” risk because of the needed U.S. government approvals for the export of dr one technology, according to the Department of National Defence briefing.
Another procurement document noted there needs to be “Early engagement of US Gov to seek approval for export of weaponized UAS ( unmanned aerial system).”
Both documents, produced in 2015, were obtained through the Access to Information law.
The Americans have cornered the market on armed dr one technology with their Predator family of unmanned aerial vehicles. But the U. S. has only reluctantly allowed that technology to be shared with some allies. It took Italy four years to receive U. S. approval to arm two of its American- built drones with missiles.
In early 2015, the U.S. State Department announced it could expand the sale of armed drones to select allies. At the time, the State Department noted that each export request would meet “a strong presumption of denial.” However, such exports would be allowed on “rare occasions,” the U.S. government added.
The Liberal government’s new defence policy calls for the purchase of a fleet of the armed drones. The Canadian military hopes to receive the unmanned aircraft by 2021 and have the fleet fully operational by 2023. The cost of such a purchase is more than $1 billion.
There are a limited number of armed drones on the market that fit Canada’s needs but in the past the Canadian military has expressed interest in buying U. S.- built Predators. During the Libyan war in 2011, senior Canadian defence leaders pitched the idea of spending up to $ 600 million for armed Predators to take part in that conflict.
Documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen showed that military leaders saw the Libyan war as a possible way to kick-start their drone program, dubbed the Joint Unmanned Surveillance Targeting and Acquisition System (JUSTAS). The war, however, was in its final stages when the proposal was made and the plan didn’t get approval from the Conservative gov- ernment.
Canada also has the option of buying armed drones from Israel. India recently completed such a deal.
During the Afghan war, the federal government approved the lease of Israelibuilt drones from MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates in Richmond, B.C. Those unarmed aircraft operated out of the Kandahar airfield.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently told journalists that armed drones are required by the military but the government needs to have discussions before they are used on the battlefield. “We know that’s going to be part of the defence mix moving forward for most countries, if not all countries,” Trudeau said of the unmanned aerial vehicles. “However, whenever we take the decisions to use them in new or different ways there will be fulsome discussions about that.”
But Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance has already decided on when the Canadian military would use such weapons once they receive them. He noted that any legitimate targets could be attacked by drones and that such robotic aircraft are no different than using fighter jets or artillery on the battlefield.
The Forces has tried for years to get its own fleet of drones. In the run- up to the 2006 election, Stephen Harper promised that under a Conservative government, Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador would become home to a new squadron operating long-range drones. Once in power in 2006, the Conservatives reiterated their pledge but never followed through.
In 2012 the Citizen reported the RCAF had determined it needed 369 people if it wanted to create a new squadron for unmanned aircraft.
THAT’S GOING TO BE PART OF THE DEFENCE MIX MOVING FORWARD.