Q Branch - Canadair CL-227 Sentinel & CL-289

The CL-227 Sentinel is a highly regarded part of the NATO inventory, and is regularly used on military exercises in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, day or night. Bombardier's Canadair Defence Systems Division produced an early version called the Peanut as far back as 1978.

The CL-227 is a remotely controlled helicopter with a turbine engine driving a pair of co-axial counter-rotating rotors. A successful naval develoment was completed to demonstration stage in 1992.

The Sentinel is roughly 6 feet tall, standing on four castered legs. Support vehicles include a flatbed pickup transporter with winch and launch platform, and a control / communication van, each with utility trailers. The Sentinel has also been deployed on USS Doyle for Arctic trials, operating from the helicopter deck.

The CL-289 was developed in 1993. It is a pre-programmed drone carrying a reconnaissance camera and infra-red scanner which can transmit data in near real-time to the ground. It is rocket boosted from a truck-mounted launcher and recovered by parachute. A version has been produced for the French and German Armies.