MDA awarded Afghanistan spy plane contract

Richmond-based MacDonald Detwiler and Associates was awarded a contract Thursday to provide unmanned surveillance aircraft for Canadian troops fighting in Afghanistan.

The contract, $95 million for two years with an option to extend it for a third year for an additional $35 million, was one of a number of contracts announced Thursday as part of Ottawa's commitment to strengthen Canadian forces.

The spy aircraft are designed to fly 10,000 metres above the areas where Canadian soldiers are operating, well out of the range of ground fire, and provide military intelligence to field commanders on the ground.

Read more