OTTAWA -- The military will be forced to borrow unmanned German spy planes to provide cover for the 1,800 Canadian ground troops heading to Afghanistan later this month, The Ottawa Sun reported yesterday.
The Canadian Forces expect to award a lucrative contract for four unmanned aerial vehicles - known in military circles as drones - and two ground control stations by month's end, The Sun said.
Col. Bob Gunn, the Forces' director of land requirements, said the military doesn't expect to take delivery until October at the earliest. He said that's how long it will take for the successful bidder to build the mid-range drones, so Canada has asked the German military to leave their drones in Kabul until at least October.
Gunn said the military hopes to receive the four UAVs in time for the October annual meeting of Afghan elders to be held in Canada's area of responsibility in Kabul. The drones will use the latest technology to conduct video surveillance of the streets in the Canadian zone of Kabul.
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