Defence

A Canadian Forces Sagem Sperwer unmanned air vehicle crash landed on sand in Kabul, Afghanistan on 21 November after its parachute failed to deploy, putting a temporary halt to flight tests of the surveillance system. The UAV, which was destroyed in the crash, was one of four purchased from Oerlikon Contraves in a $30 million deal signed in August. Earlier, another Sagem UAV had a wing destroyed after it was blown off course and hit a tree. The Sperwer is in service with five countries.