Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/533940
C CaNseC www.vanguardcanada.com JUNE/JULY 2015 25 NeeD tO CONNeCt? DIsPLaYING NeW teCH tO POteNtIaL CustOMers BOrDer aWareNess IN tHe Great LaKes aND BeYOND also be used in extreme weather conditions, with a temperature range that extends from -30°C to +50°C. Aeryon recently introduced a 30 times high definition optical zoom imaging payload that allows both close inspection tasks as well as maximum standoff surveillance "without bringing the air- craft in the close proximity to the target," Proulx said. So while the company's aircraft have been of keen interest to the special forces community, he says there is now a noticeable move into the main branches of the service. Thanks to its flexibility, Proulx also foresees Aeryon's sUAS "undertaking mission roles that may be previously occupied by manned aircraft or by fixed-wing UAVs." r ecent humanitarian crisis have demonstrated once more the challenges associated with effective and interoperable communication management systems. In practical terms, how do you effectively and consistently com- municate in times of crisis when the wide range of agencies and services involved in the emergency response use different radio networks or different traditional communication systems? Base Camp Connect of Charny, Quebec offers an interoperable solution by allowing operators in the field to set up an entire tele- phone system and an Internet connection in five minutes, regard- less of the nature of the emergency. A mobile communication system originally intended for emer- gency services, it is based on several communication technolo- gies: mobile and landline networks, satellite connection, radio and VoIP. This versatility allows the system to automatically run under the most appropriate network available, in case of an overloaded cellular network or broken cell towers, for instance. At CANSEC, the company said they can also personalize the trunks and extensions of the system on a case-by-case basis. r adar technology has come a long way, but it has its limita- tion in border security. A Niagara company is changing that perception. "Radars have never been useful for border enforcement in crowded areas such as the Great Lakes because even perfect radar detection doesn't give enough information to create ac- tionable awareness for border control officials," says Carl Kras- nor, vice president of business development for Accipiter Radar. "You simply can't separate the good guys from the bad guys." By merging sophisticated information management technol- ogy with radar technology, Accipiter allows automated identifi- cation of suspicious behaviours so that security officials can ef- ficiently locate threatening behaviours. At CANSEC, Accipiter displayed a live aerial video of Toronto harbour. Radar systems are deployed at Billy Bishop Airport to monitor boat traffic in their marine exclusion zone. Accipiter's networks can contribute to security operations in every domain – maritime, land and air – and their integrated ra- dar information networks open up a new market for radar world- wide. In fact, the company expects exports to be the core of its business in the future. They have already had several commercial successes in Australia, Japan and South East Asia, and the Euro- pean market is among its next targets. Recent tragedies involving migrants in the Mediterranean Sea would suggest opportunities for enhanced surveillance-to-in- telligence solutions relying on Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance technologies. t he federal government regularly touts the significant po- tential of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strat- egy for Canadian companies. While it may at times seem challenging to link political speeches to concrete developments, Vancouver's OSI Maritime Systems is one clear cut example that the NSPS is more than just words – it can translate into real op- portunities. In mid May, OSI signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Can- ada to provide and support the installation of its Integrated Navi- gation and Tactical System (INTS) for the navy's Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). "It's a really exciting opportunity for the company," Jim Da- vison, vice-president for business development, explained during an interview at CANSEC. "We'll be introducing a world-leading bridge system onto that platform using cutting-edge technology which we're seeing pull through in international markets already." Davison acknowledged the business-to-business power of CAN- SEC to connect OSI potential customers. "There are international companies looking at how they will manage their offset obliga- tions under the NSPS and it creates opportunities for OSI," he said. Since the company is growing at a tremendous rate – OSI has over 21 naval customers globally and its first delivery for the AOPS is expected in late 2016 – the tradeshow is also a venue for identifying some future recruits as it seeks out more highly skilled engineers.