Canadian Forces Joint Arctic Experiment 2012

Canadian Forces Joint Arctic Experiment 2012 (CFJAE12) was an approved joint capability development experiment conducted in and around Gascoyne Inlet, Nunavut from Aug 4-23, 2012. It examines autonomous systems (UXV) like fixed and rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), unmanned surface vehicles (USV), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) as sensor platforms performing future operations in remote areas like the Canadian Arctic. The bulk of CFJAE12 was implemented by teams from DRDC - specifically Suffield, Ottawa, and Atlantic. The maritime components of CFJAE12 experiments were based off of CFAV QUEST (Atlantic) and the shore / aerial components (Suffield, Ottawa) were based at the DRDC Gascoyne Inlet Camp. The UXVs were drawn from the three Laboratories to perform eight main experiments. CFJAE12 demonstrated UXV capabilities for confirming anchorages and approaches for high value ships; detection, localization and situational awareness for search and rescue; providing safe passage for RCN ships in uncharted waters; anti-submarine warfare; autonomous bathy surveys in shallow water, and as assists with forced ship boardings. The UXV ability to work within the harsh and remote Arctic environment and the force multiplication they confer, given their relatively small footprint, was valued. With their inherent persistence and reach the UXVs were able to perform their duties while keeping the ship at a safe stand-off or provide the stealth necessary. Heriot-Watt University was a contributor to the DRDC Atlantic maritime capability. Their role was to assist DRDC in achieving milestones towards long baseline localization with UUVs.