Canadian War Museum receives a 21st-century artifact!

Posted on: 04/06/2010

Canadian War Museum receives a 21st-century artifact!

Ottawa, Ontario, June 4, 2010 — The Canadian War Museum (CWM) yesterday evening accepted the donation of a Vindicator II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from Meggitt Training Systems Canada.

“This is a fantastic acquisition for the War Museum,” said Mark O’Neill, CWM’s Director General. “I understand that most Vindicators are destroyed in normal operation, so for us to be able to receive one is quite an honour. It will allow us to display and demonstrate Canadian ingenuity and know-how in the development of 21st-century military technology.”

The Vindicator II was designed in Canada for Canadian use and export as a training system for low-level anti-aircraft defence. It is also used as an introductory trainer for the larger CU-161 Sperwer UAV, currently in use by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. The artifact is an important example of Canadian engineering, and it reflects the history, development and evolution of the Canadian defence industry.

“We’re very pleased that the War Museum has accepted this UAV into its collection,” said Spencer Fraser, President and General Manager of Meggitt Training Systems Canada. “We’re proud to have developed this technology, and that an example will remain for the Museum’s visitors and for researchers in the future.”

The Vindicator II UAV will be displayed in the Museum’s LeBreton Gallery.

About the Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Its mission is to promote public understanding of Canada’s military history in its personal, national and international dimensions.

About Meggitt Training Systems Canada
Meggitt Training Systems Canada is a subsidiary of Meggitt PLC. Meggitt operates facilities in North America and Internationally. Meggitt Training Systems Canada develops and manufactures virtual and live-fire training systems for military and law enforcement agencies.

BACKGROUNDER

Vindicator II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Developed by Meggitt Training Systems, the Vindicator II was designed in Canada. It was the first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) employed by the Canadian Forces. To date, more than 500 of these Vindicators have been in service.

The Vindicator II (also known as the CU-162) is a compact UAV that is used as a target drone for anti-aircraft fire. It is also used in operator training for larger UAVs such as the CU-161 Sperwer, which itself has played an important role in Afghanistan. As a target drone, the Vindicator is used in Canada both for naval and land-based low-level anti-aircraft training.

Equipped with a third-generation auto-pilot, the Vindicator is launched pneumatically from a portable rail. Its wing span is about eight feet (2.52 metres), and it weighs approximately 170 pounds (77.3 kg). Although the Vindicator is considered an expendable asset, it is based on a modular design that allows the delta wing to be replaced easily if the fuselage can be salvaged after a crash landing. Because the Vindicator is expendable, it is not eas