Auroras for Afstan?

Indications are increasing.

1) "On guard for thee and me".

The frigid plains of Alberta might seem like a strange place to find an aircraft designed to hunt submarines.

But a new skill honed by 407 Squadron in a pair of Alberta-based exercises may be more than a simple change from the sea. In fact, the unit’s participation in two November exercises — Wolf Safari and Maple Guardian — may mark a sea change in Aurora operations.

Wolf Safari, held at 4 Wing Cold Lake from Nov. 5–10, was the largest exercise yet of the Air Expeditionary concept. A pair of Auroras, one from Comox and one from 14 Wing Greenwood’s Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit, joined CF-18s and KC-130 air refuellers to test the air force’s ability to deploy high-readiness forces to “bare-bones” airfields anywhere in the world...

...As soldiers on the ground sharpened their war-fighting skills, high above them the Aurora demonstrated its growing prowess at an entirely new role — direct support to troops in combat.

“It makes perfect sense to be as inter-operational with the army as we have traditionally been with the navy,” says detachment commander Maj. Mark Mombourquette. “ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) is what we do well. We’re just changing the environment we’re doing it in.”

The focus on this new “overland” role began more than a year ago with the introduction of the Aurora’s powerful new Canadian-built Electro-Optical Infra-Red imaging system.

Replacing the aircraft’s original infrared set-up, the high-resolution Wescam EO/IR MX-20 camera combines a vastly improved IR capability with a stunning daylight zoom mode. Together, they give the Aurora an unprecedented ability to monitor targets from great distances...

“In direct support, you see the benefits of your efforts in real time. In a way, it’s now easier to see the link between what we’re doing and the threat than at any time since the end of the Cold War. I find the overland role quite motivating.”

While the results were promising, Mombourquette cautions that much remains to be learned about the direct support role. When it comes to communications, for instance, both the army and the air force still speak a slightly different language.

Many procedures remain different, requiring what Mombourquette refers to as “further cross-pollination.” And though it has been technically mastered, tactical mastery of the MX-20 on the battlefield has only just begun [via MediaRight.ca].

2) "Military wants "large as possible’ slice of flying time".

Military planners want as much flying time as they can get from the Aurora long-range patrol aircraft if they are to be used to conduct surveillance flights over Afghanistan.

Documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show Canada’s Auroras, most of which are based at 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia, are wanted for use in the war-torn country.

The "preferred approach" would be for Canadian Expeditionary Force Command to get "as large as possible" a slice of the Aurora fleet’s yearly flying rate, say documents the military prepared in October.

"This is a critical part of defining any (concept of operations)," say the documents, obtained by the NDP.

The Auroras have been fitted with upgraded equipment that will allow the airplanes to conduct increased and more detailed surveillance over land.

Using the aircraft for overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance is a new role for Auroras, say the documents, which note the planes may need an army liaison officer to be part of the on-board crew.

The availability of Auroras that are configured to fly over land is limited, the documents say.

"Configuring more aircraft will take time and money."..

Update: Maybe not.