tigersqn
WWII Forum Staff
Article below talks about the Coyote. Probably the foremost ground recon platform
in the world. Even the Yanks salivate when they see what these things can do.
Reinforcing what has always been the true strength of the Canadian Army: patrolling
and reconnaissance.
September 16, 2003: The Canadian Coyote electronic
reconnaissance vehicle has gone to Afghanistan and has
proved enormously useful by doing long range surveillance
of Taliban and al Qaeda suspects. The Coyote is an 8x8 LAV
(wheeled armored vehicle) mounting a 25mm Bushmaster
cannon and a nine meter (30 foot) telescoping mast that
contains a Doppler radar, laser rangefinder, thermal imaging
sensor and video camera. The mast mounted sensors can
see clearly out to 15 kilometers and identify targets (day or
night) for artillery or air attack. The radar can spot targets
out to 24 kilometers, but can only distinguish vehicle types
(wheeled, tracked) beginning at about 12 kilometers. The
main enemy in Afghanistan is al Qaeda and Taliban fighters
who obtain shelter from local warlords, tribal leaders or
gang leaders. Any of these big shots will be hanging out in a
walled compound, usually out in an isolated area (so no one
can easily sneak up on the place). The Coyote sets up on a
distant hill and uses it's long range sensors to track who,
and what, enters and leaves the compound for days, or
weeks. This usually provides confirmation of which bad guys
are in there, or, at times, when they are driving out to do
some mischief. If the former, troops raid the place and
arrest the suspects. If the latter, airpower is called in and
people on the ground give the gunmen a chance to
surrender, or die. The Coyote was originally conceived as an
inexpensive replacement for air reconnaissance. But the
ability of a Coyote vehicle to stay in one place and carefully
track movements over a wide area for days, or weeks,
have proven very useful for intelligence work.
in the world. Even the Yanks salivate when they see what these things can do.
Reinforcing what has always been the true strength of the Canadian Army: patrolling
and reconnaissance.
September 16, 2003: The Canadian Coyote electronic
reconnaissance vehicle has gone to Afghanistan and has
proved enormously useful by doing long range surveillance
of Taliban and al Qaeda suspects. The Coyote is an 8x8 LAV
(wheeled armored vehicle) mounting a 25mm Bushmaster
cannon and a nine meter (30 foot) telescoping mast that
contains a Doppler radar, laser rangefinder, thermal imaging
sensor and video camera. The mast mounted sensors can
see clearly out to 15 kilometers and identify targets (day or
night) for artillery or air attack. The radar can spot targets
out to 24 kilometers, but can only distinguish vehicle types
(wheeled, tracked) beginning at about 12 kilometers. The
main enemy in Afghanistan is al Qaeda and Taliban fighters
who obtain shelter from local warlords, tribal leaders or
gang leaders. Any of these big shots will be hanging out in a
walled compound, usually out in an isolated area (so no one
can easily sneak up on the place). The Coyote sets up on a
distant hill and uses it's long range sensors to track who,
and what, enters and leaves the compound for days, or
weeks. This usually provides confirmation of which bad guys
are in there, or, at times, when they are driving out to do
some mischief. If the former, troops raid the place and
arrest the suspects. If the latter, airpower is called in and
people on the ground give the gunmen a chance to
surrender, or die. The Coyote was originally conceived as an
inexpensive replacement for air reconnaissance. But the
ability of a Coyote vehicle to stay in one place and carefully
track movements over a wide area for days, or weeks,
have proven very useful for intelligence work.
