Afstan: New UAVs (at last) and armed Griffons

Two pieces of good news.

1) UAVs (and I really don't care about the blinking process):

FARNBOROUGH, England - The federal government has quietly chosen the winner of a $100-million contract to supply critical unmanned drones to Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

However, the choice of the winner -- MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. and Israeli Air Industries Ltd. -- is sparking controversy in Canadian aerospace circles because the tendering guidelines were changed midway through the bidding.

While competitors were initially asked to demonstrate proof of past experience, that requirement was later dropped, industry sources said.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the tender was conducted in a "competitive and transparent way" and a winner would be announced shortly.

"The bidding process itself is meant to attract as many bidders as we can," said Mr. MacKay, while attending the Farnborough Air Show. "Obviously, this is a very important capability. The transportation of people and goods to various forward operating bases is a critical capability that we want to secure as quickly as possible."

Unmanned aerial vehicles are desperately needed to replace the Canadian Forces' aging Sperwar drones.

The UAVs are used in theatre to spy on insurgents. A key use is the tracking of improvised explosive devices -- the biggest killer of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Miki Bar, special adviser to the CEO of Israeli Air Industries, said he was delighted with Canada's choice of his company's Heron UAV over the Hermes 450 drone put forward by L-3 Communications MAS (Canada) Inc. and Elbit Systems Ltd. of Israel.

Mr. Bar said Canada simply chose the better bid, which would provide around six UAVs. He wouldn't entertain speculation that the change in criteria benefited the Heron, which is used by Israel, India and Turkey...

2) Griffons (but still some time till they get to Afstan):

The Griffons are one step closer to their deployment to Afghanistan as well as in support of 2010 Olympic security.

This came in from the government the other day (I [David Pugliese] edited it for space):

“Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence announced the government has awarded a contract to L-3 Wescam Inc., Burlington, Ontario, for an electro-optical and infrared sensor system to be installed on the CH-146 Griffon helicopter. This procurement has a value, including options, of $25.9 million.

The equipment procured through this project will enable the Griffon helicopter with the capability to provide escort and surveillance support to land operations.

Known as the Interoperable Griffon Reconnaissance Escort Surveillance System (INGRESS), the project involves the procurement of a common electro-optical/infrared sensor system that can be installed on the CH-146 Griffon along with equipment that will allow for the operation of the sensor for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Escort tasks. A formal Request for Proposal (RFP) for INGRESS was issued on MERX, the government's electronic tendering service, on April 16, 2008. The RFP closed on May 23, 2008. The evaluation of bids was concluded on June 2, 2008.”

So…..I’m told the INGRESS project will acquire 19 electro-optical/infra-red sensor systems to be installed on the helicopters. The project will also see the procurement of a door-mounted gun system, most likely a mini-gun.

“This will give the Griffon a sensor capability for domestic operations and a sensor and weapons capability for force protection, for ground mobility and tactical air mobility,” Canadian Air Force spokesman Major Jim Hutcheson said a few months ago.

Sixty-four Griffons would be modified to carry the equipment.

The first delivery of the systems would be in November. The final delivery would be by the summer of next year. Bell Helicopter in Mirabel would be installing the systems on board the Griffons.

The sensors would be configured to allow for easy installation and removal and the modification of existing Griffon avionics would not be required.

The program would produce two types of upgraded Griffons, according to Hutcheson. There would be the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance configuration and an escort configuration Griffon. Both would use a common EO/IR sensor.

The ISR configuration will be able to detect, recognize and identify objects as small in size as a human being and transmit video imagery via a data link. A laser system will also be available for ranging and marking.

The escort configuration would consist of cockpit-mounted sensor controls, imagery and a multi-functional digital moving map display but would not include a data link. Up to four sensor packages for the ISR configuration will be procured and up to 15 packages for the escort configuration will be required.

The project is also calling for a door-mounted crew-served weapon for the escort configuration.

The Air Force is considering sending some of the modified Griffons to Afghanistan to accompany the Chinook helicopters it hopes to acquire at some point.

“The modified Griffon, the INGRESS, would be eligible to go to Afghanistan sometime after 2009 when the Chinooks would go [emphasis added],” Hutcheson said.

Is there any more recent information about the status of our US Foreign Military Sales Chinooks than in this June 1 post?

Update: More from Defense Industry Daily (via GAP).

Upperdate: It should be noted that the UAV lease--not a purchase--has not yet been signed (July 17) nor has the government made a decision on deploying Griffons to Afstan.