Global Security Newswire

Canada is testing a new miniature spy plane that carries a high-tech “sniffer” to detect chemical vapors before they reach ground troops, the National Post reported today (see GSN, April 30).

Canadian Forces have purchased three of the Silver Fox Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles.

“It’s a nice piece of kit — especially at only $200,000 apiece,” said Lt. Col. Steve Newton, the Canadian military’s UAV experimentation leader. He added that the craft would be tested using a variety of camera and sensor combinations, including video cameras, night-vision infrared and the sniffers.

The U.S. version of the Silver Fox is equipped with a miniature sensor that can detect a variety of toxic particles in the air (Chris Wattie, National Post, May 6).