ScanEagle surpasses 17,000 combat flight hours

The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft recently logged its 17,000 combat flight hour with the Canadian Forces.

The UAS, built by Washington-based Insitu, a independent subsidiary of Boeing, has completed more than 1,700 sorties for the CF since it was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. The aircraft is operated in theatre by ING Engineering, the company’s Canadian partner.

Insitu made the announcement during CANSEC 2010 as it showcases its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

With the ScanEagle recently completed a maritime flight demonstration aboard HMCS Glace Bay, Insitu was also touting its experience operating in a range of environments, from anti-piracy and counter-terrorism to Arctic research and emergency response exercises.

According to Insitu, “ScanEagle’s capability of operating in cold-weather environments makes this versatile UAS an ideal solution for various Canadian defence, security and environmental needs, including remote cold-weather missions.”