Take one minute to write to the Canadian Minister of Defence. Tell her it is time to stop militarizing the sky.

The Canadian government is moving nearer to obtaining armed drones, worth $5 billion of Canadian taxpayer dollars. Now is the time to say stop the procurement.

Armed drones threaten people’s lives around the world. Rather than making the world safer, they are used in extrajudicial executions, surveillance of targeted populations and other violations of human rights.

Read more.

“After some delays along the way, the revitalized RPAS procurement process has resulted in two teams being qualified to bid on the project. One of these teams is ‘Team Artemis’, a partnership between MAS, a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Team Artemis is proposing the Artemis UAV for RPAS, which is a Canadianized version of IAI’s Heron TP drone. The other bidder is Team SkyGuardian, which is comprised of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), CAE, and MDA.”

Read more: CDR-Vol-26_Iss-3-TEAM-ARTEMIS-PROFILE.pdf (teamartemis.ca)

Response to our inquiry on status of the $5B drone contract

Dec. 20, 2021

This is further to your email of December 6, 2021, concerning Canada’s project for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System.

Through public notices spanning several years, Canada has made announcements, provided updates and held consultations with industry. The websites you referred to in your email provide the most up to date information regarding the estimated costs and the project timelines, including the estimated contract award date. The websites are updated on a regular basis to reflect any changes to the project.

In May 2019, following intensive consultation with the industry, Canada launched the procurement process with an invitation to qualify. Two suppliers qualified under the process: L3 Technologies MAS Inc. and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. This competitive procurement process is in accordance with all Government of Canada contracting regulations, procurement policies and international trade agreements. The bid with the best overall proposal will be recommended for contract award in accordance with the process that will be described in the request for proposal.

Canada committed to acquiring a remotely piloted aircraft system as part of its defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. These remotely piloted aircraft will be integrated into a network of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems to enable near real-time flow of information essential to the Royal Canadian Air Force operations.

I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

RPAS Team

Public Services and Procurement Canada

tpsgc.pasatp-aprpas.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Our email to the Canadian government:

December 6, 2021

Could you provide us with an update on the timing of when this contact may be awarded?

We understand the estimated cost of the contract will be $5B. Is that still accurate?

Are these the pages that provide information on the process?

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/amd-dp/air/snac-nfps/sdat-rpac-eng.htm

lhttps://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/procurement/remotely-piloted-aircraft-system.html

https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-RPS-002-27808

http://dgpaapp.forces.gc.ca/en/defence-capabilities-blueprint/project-details.asp?id=977

Are these now the only two contenders in the running for the contract?  L3 Technologies MAS Inc.
United States Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Our understanding is that no consultation has been undertaken with the general public about this contract, even though it involves remotely aircraft that can be armed, and that is being used for surveillance. What if any consultation have/will be undertaken?

Sincerely
Just Peace Advocates

More than 80 organizations have supported the call to not Canadian government to not buy unmanned armed drones as well as to end two way military trade with Israel.

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There were several scenarios that were are very concerning outlined in detail in 2016 Letter of Intent/LOI put out by the Canadian government including RCMP surveillance related to the G20 & supporting Canadian operations in Afghanistan. This points to why we should be very concerned.

You can read more:

Canada set to spend up to $5 billion on armed drones for ‘pinpoint strikes’  in rabble.ca, by Brent Patterson, July 30, 2021

Canada Is Buying A Fleet Of Armed Drones. We Should All Be Worried in Passage by Matt Korda, August 19, 2020

This campaign was initiated by Just Peace Advocates and the Canadian BDS Coalitionunder the #NoIsraeliArms4Canada and over 5,000 letters were sent earlier in this regard.

We are now pleased to launch the Militarizing the Sky: Opposing Canada’s Armed Drone Purchase with the No Armed Drones for Canada, a network of organizations & individuals who are coming together to say #NoArmedDrones for Canada.

The campaign was launched through September 14, 2022 webinar hosted by Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, with World BEYOND War Canada, and Just Peace Advocates.