News

Canadian UVS centre confirms launcher buy

April 29, 2009

Peter La Franchi

The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) has confirmed the acquisition of a Robonic MC2555LLR catapult launching system as part of ongoing plans to support the commercial expansion of the country’s unmanned air systems industrial base.

The C$1 million (US$820,000) order for the launcher was placed in 2008 and delivered earlier this year says CCUVS.

Robonic OY managing director Juha Moisio says the launcher was delivered in a generic configuration with specific adapters being prepared for different air vehicles as required.

CCUVS says Meggitt Training Systems Canada (MTSC) will be the first commercial user of the launcher.

“It will be used to support the Canadian Navy during exercise “Trident Fury” at the beginning of May 2009. CCUVS is working closely with MTSC who is the prime for providing the targets and control systems that the navy will use for ship defence training. CCUVS is one of many key players in this exercise through the provision of launching services for MTSC.”

CCUVS says the launcher acquisition was funded by the Alberta-based Western Economic Diversification Canada (WED). “The launcher availability program developed by CCUVS is just one of many areas CCUVS has been able to fulfill its mandate by facilitating the sustained profitable growth of the Canadian unmanned systems sector”.