Military personnel from 11 nations are meeting at the Valcartier base until Friday, as part of the iSNEx 24 exercise. The objective: to facilitate cooperation between geospatial intelligence specialists from different countries.
The exercise has been underway since April 22, but it was Tuesday morning that members of the media were able to attend. Among the 11 nations represented, we include Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.
In total, 70 soldiers participate, including those who are being trained and those who work in support of the activity.
An exercise like this is essential for Canadian troops, who generally operate with other nations in a coalition during its expeditions, explains Major Martin St-Amant. He commands the Geomatics Support Squadron, which is organizing the exercise.
Our surveying capabilities, which are relatively small, must operate with other nations, so an exercise like this allows us to ensure that we are able to work together, with the same objective, to have techniques that are similar and can be exchanged.
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The iSNEx exercise is being held for the second time in Canada. It took place at the Goose Bay military base, Labrador, in 2017.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Colin Côté-Paulette
Specialized military personnel use both traditional surveying techniques and more modern techniques, such as using a drone to carry out topographical surveys.
They also use vehicles equipped with lidars, a telemetry device that scans the terrain using lasers while driving, which makes it possible to obtain additional topographic information.
This information is crucial for troops deployed overseas. The conduct of war is often a question of who does what where.
explains Major St-Amant.
It can help both in planning, therefore the development of maps, and in navigation for units on the ground.
he continues.
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Among the 11 nations present, there are soldiers from the Spanish Air Force.
Photo: Photo taken from the Facebook page of the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire)
This is the first time that the iSNEx exercise has been organized at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier and the second time that it has been held in Canada. In 2017, it took place on the Goose Bay military base, Labrador.
iSNEx was organized in Austria last year. It is due to take place in eastern Europe next year.
Based on an interview conducted by Colin Côté-Paulette.
