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Noctua Project  (Leased UAV)  –  Industry News Release  –  August 2008 MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates and  Project Noctua UAVs For Lease  —   IAI Malat's CU-170 Heron  MALE UAV  and  DND's Project Noctua Project Noctua requires leased, contractor-maintained  UAV systems for use by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.  While most makers of  UAVs have been less than thrilled by the terms of this project –  both in its timescale and  its modest budget  – there is one manufacturer with a declared interest in  Project Noctua and experience. MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., Richmond BC,  joined forces with  IAI Malat of  Israel  to offer the piston-engined Heron 1 (or Eagle)  UAV  to DND. This is the same CU-160 Eagle 1 loaned to DND for its PLIX trial in 2003  (emphasizing a maritime role). Noctua roles are  to  be primarily tactical. By May of 2008, potential  bidders were withdrawing from DND's Noctua project over unrealistic deadlines, limited budget, or shifting requirements. After this  false start, in August 2008, MDA was announced as winner of the restarted Project Noctua bidding. Update: Three leased CU-170 Herons are now operating from KAF in January of  2009. McDonald, Dettwiler and Associates  Heron UAV / Project Noctua  Press Release For immediate release: August 7, 2008 Strategic win strengthens MDA's position in the UAV surveillance market Richmond, B.C.  –  MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., a provider of essential information solutions,  announced  today  that  the  Canadian Department of  National Defence (DND) has awarded a contract to MDA for a long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle  (UAV)  surveillance solution to support  the  Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. The surveillance solution will  be operational  in Afghanistan before February 2009 for a period of  two years, with an option  for  an additional  third year.  The contract  also includes training for the DND air vehicle and  payload operators. The initial contract is valued at $95 million with the third year option valued at an additional $35 million. David Hargreaves, a  vice president  within  MDA's Information Systems  group, said: "This contract is a major milestone in MDA's strategy to become a significant contrib- utor  in the  growing  Canadian and  worldwide  UAV surveillance market. Our leading- edge solution is compatible and interoperable with stringent NATO standards. MDA's UAV surveillance solutions are highly complementary to our existing space-based and other surveillance and intelligence capabilities."