Vanguard Magazine

Oct/Nov 2013

Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR

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u unManneD sYsTeMs Major-general Fraser holman is a former rcaF fighter pilot who flew both the cF-18 hornet and cF-104 starfighter over a 35-year career. he is a member of the strategic studies Working group (ssWg) of the canadian international council. WhERE dO UAVS fiT IN CANADA'S FUTURE? unmanned (uninhabited if you are gender-sensitive) aerial vehicles (uaVs) clearly have a burgeoning future in canada and around the world. But what types and in what roles are questions that are yet to be decided. This article explores the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the various options. 28 OcTOBer/nOVeMBer 2013 www.vanguardcanada.com A quick word about terminology at the outset. Drones and UAVs are the most common words for this class of vehicles, but they may also be known as robots, remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs), remotely operated aircraft (ROAs), or in the case of platforms for aerial combat, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). It should also be noted that the vehicle itself is only a small part of a rather complex system that delivers the capability. Thus some authors will refer to unmanned aerial systems (UAS). I will stick with the term UAV. Why the move to this new technology? Actually, the idea has been around for almost as long as airplanes have been flying. But recent advances in miniaturization, digitization, satellite navigation and software have made UAVs more effective and appealing. To some they avoid exposing pilots to hazardous conditions and duties; to others they can accomplish repetitive tasks reliably and without fatigue or loss of concentration; to yet others they appear to offer vastly improved performance over the piloted aircraft. Many see UAVs as specially suited for roles that are dull, dirty or dangerous. As far as military models go, UAVs tend to be smaller in size than their manned analog with a reduced signature for visual, radar,

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