CASR

Canadian
American
Strategic
Review

Defence Policy  –  Conservative Party  –  December 2005 Stephen Harper announces the new defence policy put forward by the Conservative Party of Canada – Pt 4 Dianne DeMille & Stephen Priestley  –  this article has been expanded from 'briefing  notes'  prepared  by  CASR  for  the  CBC  on  22  December  2005 UAVs :  a  Display  of  MALEness? The Conservative’s  plan describes southern-based surveillance UAVs (uninhabited aerial vehicles) flying patrols over the Arctic. Dubbed MALE (Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance), the drones would be remotely-controlled by operators at CFB Comox and Goose Bay. Canadian experiments have been run with MALE UAVs [3]  but, according to the Canadian Forces, “[t]his is new territory for the CF, which has little knowledge of, and no expertise in, the operations and ownership of UAVs.” But a CF project has been set up – JUSTAS, or the Joint UAV Surveillance Target Acquisition System. So what, if anything, new does the Tory UAV concept add to existing CF plans ? Goose Bay as a location  is more revealing than the actual UAV proposal. Vancouver Island North may be a secure riding for the Tories but Happy Valley- Goose Bay was the site of a hard-fought byelection in the summer of 2005 with much input  by the Tory defence critic. Despite this, a Liberal won the riding. Small wonder then that Goose Bay keeps catching the Conservatives’ attention.[5] But what of the UAV surveillance proposal itself? Like listening posts, UAVs hint at a Canadian presence in the Arctic but have no sovereignty enforcement ‘teeth’. UAVs are seen as cheap and easy solutions to patrol. In reality, they are probably neither. But, the important point is that patrols by UAVs will be largely ineffective. Consider a hypothetical scenario – an ice-resistant  frigate  pressing  Danish claims in the Nares Strait is overflown by a patrolling  Canadian surveillance “asset”. This aircraft is identified as a CU-163 UAV. Assuming himself to be in Danish waters, the Orlogskaptajn orders his ship’s Stinger M/93 surface-to-air missiles fired and the CF UAV is destroyed. Run the scenario again, this time substituting a manned CF Challenger equipped with search radar and thermal imager (exactly like Danish Challengers operated in Greenland!).  Does that Danish captain fire his anti-aircraft missile at the CF surveillance aircraft to prove his point? Or do the Danes simply wave to the CF crew as they fly over and record this incident ? The Conservatives have seized upon a idea already well underway. Unfortunately, UAV surveillance is not a particularly effective idea. UAVs will do little to enhance Canadian sovereignty but this proposal may gain political points in Happy Valley- Goose Bay. And gaining political points is the main object of the exercise, after all. [5] Vancouver Island North seems fairly secure. The Conservative incumbant  MP, John Duncan was first elected as a Reformer in 1993. Will this announcement have any effect in the riding?  Outside of Courtenay-Comox ,  it will  likely go unnoticed. [ Not so safe...the NDP’s Catherine Bell defeated incumbant John Duncan by 616.] Dianne  DeMille  is  the  editor  of  the  Canadian  American  Strategic  Review. Stephen Priestley is the creator of  DND 101 - A Visual Guide to CF Equipment .