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John Ivison: Ottawa lets a key Arctic defence-tech company slip into foreign hands

The sale of storied undersea drone maker International Submarine Engineering apparently went through without a national security review

Last week, the Israeli defence giant Elbit Systems announced that it had completed the purchase of International Submarine Engineering, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) company based in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

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The sale of the underwater-drone maker was greeted with dismay by those familiar with ISE’s storied 50-year history. The company was founded by Jim McFarlane, a former lieutenant commander in the Royal Canadian Navy who had been involved in the design and construction of the Oberon-class of diesel electric submarines.

John Ivison: Ottawa lets a key Arctic defence-tech company slip into foreign hands Back to video

In 1982, the Canadian Hydrographic Service identified the need to perform hydrographic surveys in Canada’s Arctic, and ISE was awarded the contract to design and build an underwater vehicle. The result was the Autonomous Remote-Controlled Submersible (ARCS), Canada’s first AUV, which proved to be a world leader in technology that allowed the vessel to navigate a pre-programmed course, while avoiding obstacles.

Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday........

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