Canada tests unmanned vehicles in Arctic environment

OTTAWA, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The use of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles in Artic conditions has been studied by scientists and technicians of Canada's Department of National Defense.

The department said this week that 34 tests in all were conducted last month by the Canadian Armed Forces Joint Arctic Experiment Scientific Team at Canadian Forces Station Alert.

Experiments covered issues such as the deployment of assets in an Arctic environment; technology performance; and how unmanned systems can extend the CAF's ability to operate in this remote area.

"Experimental missions like CAFJAE are important in our quest to find new ways to meet the demands required to successfully carry out military operations in Canada's Arctic," said Dr. Marc Fortin, the assistant deputy minister for science and technology at the Department of National Defense.

"This experimental mission in Alert clearly demonstrates the potential opportunities and challenges that come with operating this technology. It greatly benefits not only the Canadian Armed Forces, but also our government partners in the North."

Added Dr. Simon Monckton, lead scientist of CAFJAE 2014:

"Unmanned systems offer many potential benefits to the Canadian Armed Forces, but we must carefully study the strengths and weaknesses of these technologies before moving forward.

"Our CAFJAE experience in Alert has shown that this technology could support some difficult tasks the CAF might need to complete in the Arctic."

Additional details of the experiments were not disclosed.