Canada to use drones to patrol Arctic

MATTHEW FISHER
Postmedia News

Canada is deploying unmanned surveillance aircraft to the High Arctic for the first time, as part of the largest military exercise ever in the Far North.

Catapult-launched Boeing ScanEagle unarmed drones similar to those used by the Canadian Forces for surveillance in Afghanistan are to assist in a major air disaster scenario in an extremely remote area near Resolute, which is about 3,000 kilometres north of Ottawa. They will also assist in a major maritime disaster exercise being overseen by the Canadian Coast Guard in waters between Canada and Greenland.

“It’s precedent setting. There will be small UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] in the High Arctic,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in an interview. “They are a harbinger of things to come.

“This will be eyes-on. We can link satellite capability to UAVs to help find people and crash sites. UAVs proved invaluable in Afghanistan and have a great value in applications in the North.”

Operation Nanook, which is to last more than three weeks, begins Friday when three Canadian naval vessels led by the frigate, HMCS St. John’s, set out from Newfoundland for Baffin Bay where they will rendezvous with a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker.

About 1,100 sailors, soldiers and air personnel, including Special Forces and aboriginal forces known as Canadian Rangers, will join about 200 sailors from the coast guard. who have long experience in Arctic waters, for the exercise. The drones will provide data to two companies of infantry from Alberta and Quebec who will be assisting with the air and maritime searchand-rescue operations. Other Canadian military participants include CF-18 Hornet fighter jets and manned surveillance and transport aircraft and helicopters.

“To be robust and ready. That is what the Arctic experience is all about,” MacKay said. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is “very engaged on this file” and as “part of his strong commitment to the Arctic” will visit the North during Operation Nanook, the defence minister said.

Three Danish navy ships and an icebreaker from the U.S. Coast Guard have accepted invitations from Canada to take part in the exercise.

While there may be territorial disputes between Canada and its Arctic neighbours, MacKay and Lt.-Gen. Walter Semianiw, who runs Canada Command, which has military responsibility for all land and waters claimed by Ottawa, said it was in every polar country’s interest to cooperate and collaborate on issues such as search and rescue and the environment.