BY JAMES CARELESS
On December 19, 2023, the federal government purchased a fleet of 11 MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for $2.49 billion. The order included the RPAS plus six Certified Ground Control Stations (CGCS) and support equipment from GA-ASI in coalition with its Team SkyGuardian Canada partners CAE, MDA Ltd., and L3Harris Technologies.
The first MQ-9B is scheduled to be delivered in 2028, with full operational capability being achieved between 2030 and 2033. They will be based with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 14 Wing in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, 19 Wing in Comox, British Columbia, and a forward operating location for northern Canadian missions controlled by a CGCS in Ottawa.
“Our team was ecstatic to be awarded the contract,” said Michel Lalumiere, who is GA-ASI’s International Strategic Development Director for Canada. “We approached this decision with confidence, but as you know, when the news came down, it was a moment of celebration for all of us.”
MEETING THE NEEDS
According to Lalumiere, the selection of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian for Canada’s RPAS fleet successfully satisfies this country’s specific needs for uncrewed aircraft.
“Canada was looking for a very mature and capable set of capabilities, such as medium altitude, long range, and long endurance,” he explained. “The reason is simple: Canada is the second biggest country in the world with the longest coastline on three oceans. But it’s not only size, it’s about the harsh environment that Canada has, and the need for their RPAS to operate in all weather conditions. All of this is what the Canadian government was seeking, and what we at GA-ASI are able to provide through the MQ-9B SkyGuardian.”
MULTI-MISSION READY
Historically, Canada has taken a multi-mission approach to using its military aircraft wherever possible. This is why the RCAF’s helicopter fleets can do everything from battlefield deployments and Medevacs to search-and-rescue and supply missions.
“In fact, from a crew perspective, Canada is a world leader in having a force that is truly multi-mission and multi-role.” said Lalumiere. “This fits nicely with the MQ-9B SkyGuardian’s capabilities. Not only is this RPAS multi-mission ready, but the RCAF’s own personnel are similarly agile. Working together, they can deliver on the range of missions that Canada requires from its new RPAS fleet.”
$250M CONTRACT TO CAE
The Tier One partners who make up Team SkyGuardian Canada — GA-ASI, CAE, MDA Ltd., and L3Harris Technologies — have banded together to create a cohesive working unit. It’s a team that works well together: “We’ve partnered with CAE for a number of years on other programs and are quite comfortable working with MDA and L3Harris WESCAM due to their reputations for excellence and professionalism,” Lalumiere said.
In order to build the operational infrastructure for Canada’s RPAS fleet, GA-ASI has awarded a nine year, $250 million contract to CAE, with additional option years over the total period of performance. Under the deal, CAE will deliver RPAS aircrew and maintenance technician training, along with relevant training devices and courseware. As well, CAE will supply experienced maintenance technicians in support of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, to augment the RCAF’s own maintenance staff both in Canada and abroad. In addition, the GA-ASI/CAE contract designates CAE as the provider of broader In-Service Support (ISS) capabilities for the fleet, such as aircraft maintenance, IT and cybersecurity at the RPAS operating sites, and publications management.
“CAE is dedicated to advancing innovative solutions to support Canada’s defence and the ongoing modernization of the Royal Canadian Air Force,” said Marc Parent, CAE’s President and CEO. “Our long-standing collaboration with GA-ASI delivers best in-class training technologies, systems, and services to Canada’s Armed Forces with critical devices and support to enable intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) operations.”
ALIGNED WITH THE RCAF’S FUTURE
The Department of National Defence’s Defence Policy Update (DPU) — ‘Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence’ — is very clear about Canada’s Number One defence priority going forward. “We must place particular focus on defending the Arctic and North and its approaches against new and accelerating threats through credible deterrence,” the DPU said.
Much of this enhanced responsibility will fall on the RCAF’s capable shoulders. When the MQ-9B SkyGuardian comes online, these duties will be executed by a ‘mixed fleet’ of crewed and uncrewed aircraft — with the opportunity to leverage the strong points of both.
This is something that GA-ASI can help with. “What we’ve been describing to the Canadian government, even before this contract award, is how to approach the set of missions for Canada in a mixed fleet construct,” Lalumiere said. “By using uncrewed aircraft whenever possible, you can do what crewed aircraft can do at a fraction of the cost. For instance, since the MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a single engine aircraft, it costs much less than a crewed multi-engine aircraft to operate. Add the fact that it can stay aloft much longer than a crewed aircraft, with no need for human amenities or support systems — and no risk of losing pilots when on mission — and one can see why a mixed fleet is such a good option for Canada.”
As for the future? GA-ASI foresees many other countries adopting its uncrewed aircraft for military missions. “There are many ways to do this,” said Lalumiere. “Canada has chosen an ownership position with respect to its fleet of MQ-9B SkyGuardians. But it is also possible for other countries to simply lease uncrewed aircraft from us, and also lease the operation of these aircraft on their behalf.”
Meanwhile, GA-ASI has been selected to build ‘production representative flight test articles’ of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) for the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). The CCA will be a low-cost uncrewed combat aircraft designed to ‘team’ with the next generation of manned combat aircraft.
All told, these are exciting times at GA-ASI. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is just a small part of the innovation this company is capable of.
James Careless is CDR’s Ottawa Bureau Chief
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