A mysterious aircraft spotted over Ottawa during the Freedom Convoy protests has been confirmed as Canadian special forces surveillance..On January 28 and 29 and February 3, 10 and 11, a US-registered King Air spy plane was seen above Ottawa, according to researcher Steffan Watkins who tracks movements of vessels and planes, reported the Ottawa Citizen..Watkins said the aircraft was spotted on occasions where large-scale protests were happening in January and February during the Freedom Convoy occupation in Ottawa..On February 10, Watkins tracked the plane flying in a circular pattern over Ottawa..National Defence spokesperson Dan Le Bouthillier said the plane was being used for a Canadian special forces training mission on February 10, but denied it had anything to do with the protests..National Defence didn't indicate who was flying the aircraft on the other dates Watkins tracked it above Ottawa, but sources in the military told the Citizen Canadian special forces were involved..Canada's special forces are set to receive their own King Air aircraft this summer, complete with cutting-edge surveillance gear and powerful cameras and have been conducting training with US-provided aircraft. Bouthillier said the training missions were scheduled in advance of the protests in Ottawa and to cancel would have wasted money..Watkins pointed to the dates, location over Ottawa and flight patterns to suggest the training sessions were actually likely surveillance missions..“I believe their precise circular tracks over Ottawa suggest a form of electronic surveillance, not simply digital electro-optical imagery or video,” Watkins said in a report on the flights in the Globe and Mail..Three planes were purchased from the US government by the Canadian military for $188 million to boost its aerial surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The entire project is expected to cost taxpayers an estimated $247 million..Surveillance capabilities of the small passenger planes are said to include the ability to intercept cellphone calls, radio transmissions and other communications. High-powered cameras will have the ability to track individuals and vehicles on the ground..The aircraft will be kept at CFB Trenton, Ont., and maintenance contracts for the aircraft have been awarded to two Ontario-based companies. The surveillance equipment will require maintenance from US technicians as it contains sensitive American-based systems and technology..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.melrisdon@westernstandard.news.Twitter: @MelRisdon
A mysterious aircraft spotted over Ottawa during the Freedom Convoy protests has been confirmed as Canadian special forces surveillance..On January 28 and 29 and February 3, 10 and 11, a US-registered King Air spy plane was seen above Ottawa, according to researcher Steffan Watkins who tracks movements of vessels and planes, reported the Ottawa Citizen..Watkins said the aircraft was spotted on occasions where large-scale protests were happening in January and February during the Freedom Convoy occupation in Ottawa..On February 10, Watkins tracked the plane flying in a circular pattern over Ottawa..National Defence spokesperson Dan Le Bouthillier said the plane was being used for a Canadian special forces training mission on February 10, but denied it had anything to do with the protests..National Defence didn't indicate who was flying the aircraft on the other dates Watkins tracked it above Ottawa, but sources in the military told the Citizen Canadian special forces were involved..Canada's special forces are set to receive their own King Air aircraft this summer, complete with cutting-edge surveillance gear and powerful cameras and have been conducting training with US-provided aircraft. Bouthillier said the training missions were scheduled in advance of the protests in Ottawa and to cancel would have wasted money..Watkins pointed to the dates, location over Ottawa and flight patterns to suggest the training sessions were actually likely surveillance missions..“I believe their precise circular tracks over Ottawa suggest a form of electronic surveillance, not simply digital electro-optical imagery or video,” Watkins said in a report on the flights in the Globe and Mail..Three planes were purchased from the US government by the Canadian military for $188 million to boost its aerial surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The entire project is expected to cost taxpayers an estimated $247 million..Surveillance capabilities of the small passenger planes are said to include the ability to intercept cellphone calls, radio transmissions and other communications. High-powered cameras will have the ability to track individuals and vehicles on the ground..The aircraft will be kept at CFB Trenton, Ont., and maintenance contracts for the aircraft have been awarded to two Ontario-based companies. The surveillance equipment will require maintenance from US technicians as it contains sensitive American-based systems and technology..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.melrisdon@westernstandard.news.Twitter: @MelRisdon
