Canada to buy Reaper drones

[Greyman]

Canadian military buying armed drones - Armed Forces purchasing 11 MQ-9 Reaper drones for $2.49B, delivery expected in 2028

"This agreement to acquire the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System will expand Canada's ability to modernize its military force, contribute to joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations with its allies, and create good jobs in the aerospace and defence sector." - Defence Minister Bill Blair

Canadian military buying armed drones for $2.49B | CBC News

After more than two decades of debate, Canada’s air force finally has a green light to acquire armed drones.

www.cbc.ca

 

[GTX]

 

[Admiral Beez]

With 7,200 km range these will be good for arctic surveillance and polar sovereignty patrols.

Reaper drone tested in the Arctic

For the first time, the MQ-9B Reaper drone from General Atomics has reached northern latitudes of the Arctic during a test flight and was underway for 25 hours.

polarjournal.ch

Drones are the best way to patrol the snowy, subzero wastelands. Just ask the Empire.


View: https://youtu.be/5HvvNvIr1go?feature=shared&t=34

 

[Sisu]

Justin sure does like to spend other people's money...

 

[SaparotRob]

Who doesn't?

 

[GTX]

Justin sure does like to spend other people's money...

What the...??

 

[Crimea_River]

Headline now is $2.49B and 2028. In 2035, the headline will be first drone delivered amidst 632% cost increase.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Justin sure does like to spend other people's money...

I support expanding Canada's military expenditure and capability. Enough of flying forty year old CF-188s, CH-146s, and CP-140s and sailing thirty year old SSKs and FFHs.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Headline now is $2.49B and 2028. In 2035, the headline will be first drone delivered amidst 632% cost increase.

Our delay on the F-35 has actually been cost beneficial. The per unit cost now is less than when Canada decided on the aircraft a decade ago. And we're getting the latest block.

In 2010 Ottawa announced it would pay CDN$9 billion for 65 jets, equal to $138.5 million a unit. In 2021 when we finally inked the deal for 88 jets the unit cost was much less.

 

[ThomasP]

I do not know how the numbers will work out for Canada, but I have read that in general the Reaper (and other similar drone systems) overall costs are coming in at around 25% of the equivalent manned systems for Reaper capable mission(s). This is (unintentionally) somewhat misleading as the Reaper is limited in the types of missions it can perform in comparison to more expensive multipurpose manned systems.

Also, I believe that the intent is to increase satellite reconnaissance assets in conjunction with the Reapers, but this might also have been required for manned systems to one degree or another, so what the change in the cost would be I do not know.