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CF Leased UAV — McDonald Dettwiler / IAI Malat CU-170
Heron |
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Update: TF Erebus operating the 3 leased CU-170s, stopped flying on 07 July 2011 having flown
837 missions out of KAF since Jan 2009. One CU-170 was lost at CFB Suffield in July 2010 while training. In March
2009, another Heron was involved in a ground incident at KAF.
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Contracted UAVs for Afghanistan – from CU-160 Eagle at Tofino to CU-170 Herons at
KAF
The Canadian Forces' connections with the Israeli IAI Malat
Heron series dates back to the summer of 2003 when DND leased a single CU-160 Eagle[1] for its Tofino-based Pacific Littoral
ISR Experiment or PLIX. These tests were considered successful (for both the aerial vehicle and the onboard sensor
suite) [2] but the PLIX consisted of only four flights from Tofino totalling less than 20 hours flying time. With
the charter over, this CU-160 and the IAI technicians who'd operated it returned to Israel. |
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The Israeli Heron popped up again when DND wanted to buy MALE UAVs. When that program [3] went badly, it was
replaced by Project Noctua which was won by
Richmond, BC-based MDA (MacDonald Dettwiler) teamed with IAI Malat. The Heron UAV was demonstrated
during Ex Maple Guardian. The UAV at Wainwright carried a Tamam MOSP E/O turret and real-time video
relaying was emphasized. There are minor differences between that MDA-marked UAV and a CU-170.
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As shown at Kandahar, the CU-170 Heron is without visible sensors. As these UAVs are
contractor-operated, presumably MDA / IAI technicians installed E/O turrets after arrival. Nor is any
radar installation apparent. We do know who operates these mystery sensors – a Canadian Forces payload
operator (or PO), part of the five-member CF team who handle all operational aspects of the KAF
CU-170s. [Update CU-170 photographs have now been published showing a
single E/O turret mounted and marked with CF serials and roundels.]
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| Specifications: |
Leased IAI Malat CU-170
Heron UAV |
Performance: |
Service ceiling: 27,000 feet
(8,230 m) |
| Endurance: |
45 hours, relay range: beyond-line-of-sight |
Powerplant:
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1 x 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914 4-stroke 4-cyl
driving a 2 m diameter, 2-blade propeller |
| Dimensions: |
Length overall: 8.50 m, wing span: 16.60 m |
| Weights: |
MTOW: 1,150 kg, max. payload: 250 kg
[4] |
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Besides the PO, the Heron UAV Detachment consists of an AVO (air vehicle operator), three intelligence
personnel, and support staff. Contractor employees actually fly the CU-170 during take off and landing to
minimize DND's liability in the event of any accidents during those riskier flight phases. [5] MDA has a renewable
$95M contract to lease, maintain and help to operate the three CU-170 Herons from
Kandahar. [6]
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[1] The EADS/IAI Malat Eagle 1 was to be a 'Europeanized' Heron 1 but the CF CU-160 Eagle seems
to have carried soley Israeli sensors.
[2] The sensors were all supplied by wholly-owned IAI subsidiaries. These included the Elta EL/M-2022
multi-mode maritime surveillance radar (in its prominent belly radome) and the Tamam MOSP (Multi-mission
Optronic Stabilized Payload) electro-optical turret in the nose.
[3] The Joint Airborne ISR Capability was a spin-off from the large JUSTAS project. When JAIC failed to gain cabinet support,
Noctua, a scaled-down UAV lease project. In both cases, the US Predator was favoured by DND
but its maker chose not to bid on Project Noctua.
[4] There are not yet any details of what the payload would be. One possibility is twin tandem E/O turrets as tested
on Herons in the past.
[5] There is a rumour that an air vehicle has already suffered an accident at KAF while under the control of MDA/IAI
contract employees.
[6] News reports suggest that "some...will be kept...in Canada for training", probably confusing the Herons
with the old CU-161 Sperwer.
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