CASR

Canadian
American
Strategic
Review

Canadian Forces Afghanistan  –  CH-146 Griffon  –  21 December 2008 CH-146 Griffons Heading to Kandahar – DND/CF News Release The Department of National Defence has issued a brief statement announcing that  the first  two (at least) CF  CH-146 Griffon  utility  helicopters meant for Afghanistan will soon  be on the way to Kandahar.  Griffons, from 438  THS ( Tactical Helicopter Squadron) St-Hubert, Quebec began arriving at  Montréal-Mirabel Airport on 13 Dec 2008. Upon arrival, Air Force  Aviation Systems Technicians began stripping main  rotor blades. Removing the Griffon's four  main  rotor blades is standard procedure for  transporting these utility helicopters by air   –   even  aboard  transports as large as the CF's CC-177 Globemaster III. The two 'featherless' Griffons  looked a little lost  inside the cargo hold of the CC-177. Despite the speculation about how these helicopters might be adapted for their mission, the Griffons at Mirabel looked quite standard. They were fitted with the usual counter- measure sensors and the WR Davis exhaust suppressors are obvious in some photos. Little was revealed in the press release. It remains to be seen exactly how the Griffons will be used in Afghanistan and how well they perform alongside CH-147D Chinooks and leased Mil Mi-8T transport helicopters. Text of  the DND News Release  is below. 16 December 2008,  Mirabel Airport,  Quebec,  Canada Griffon Helicopters from  438 Tactical Helicopter Squad- ron  located  at  St-Hubert  ( Quebec ),  are loaded into a CC-177  Globemaster [ III  transport ] aircraft at  Mirabel Airport, where they will be shipped to Afghanistan. The CH-146 Griffon is a Utility Transport Tactical Helicopter (UTTH) used  primarily  for search and  rescue missions, tactical  transport,  and   humanitarian   relief  operations. The CH-146 Griffon features GPS satellite navigation and Doppler radar systems. [A Griffon can also be] equipped with a hoist [winch] that enables it to extract people and cargo from almost any terrain. The CH-146 Griffon will provide Tactical support  for OPERATION ATHENA which is Canada's participation in the International Security Assistance Force... in Afghanistan. Photo[s]: Sergeant Paz Quillé, Canadian Forces Combat Camera.