[Satellite Today 01-28-09] MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) conducted its first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight in Afghanistan Jan. 1, the company announced Jan. 27.
    Flight operations are underway from Kandahar Airfield for the Canadian Department of National Defense. The service will support Canadian troops and NATO by providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information via satellite directly to commanders and front line soldiers in real time.
    MDA was awarded a contract in August from the Canadian Department of National Defense for a long endurance UAV surveillance solution to support the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.