General Atomics and CAE are teaming to offer the Canadian Air Force the Predator B UAS. The aircraft has a maximum gross takeoff weight of 10,500 lb (4,763 kg), is powered by a Honeywell turboprop engine, has a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet (15,240 m'), and can stay aloft for up to 30 hours. Photo: GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) has a teaming agreement with CAE to offer the Predator B UAS to Canada. GA-ASI and CAE will jointly compete for this program, with GA-ASI serving as the prime contractor supporting a U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS) procurement. CAE will act as the leading Canadian partner for the team, responsible for assembling a pan-Canadian team of companies to develop and support any Canadian-specific requirements and content for Canada’s national ISTAR capabilities. CAE will also be the Tier-I Canadian subcontractor for GA-ASI, with overall responsibility for In-Service Support (ISS) solution, including operator and mission training systems; integration with Canada’s existing Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) infrastructure; systems engineering support; and lifecycle and integrated logistics support services. This Medium/High Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) is ccurrently operational as MQ-9 Reaper with the U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force and as MQ-9 with the Italian Air Force. Canadians forces in Afghanistan are currently supported by IAI Heron I MALE UAS, operated by the MDA Company. Under the program presently referred to as the JUSTAS program, the Canadian Government will establish a requirement to field and support interoperable, network-enabled UASs to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and all-weather precision-strike capabilities in support of its operations worldwide.