CAF Personnel complete Operation NEVUS 2016 to support Canadian sovereignty

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) completed a month-long operation in Alert, Nunavut, in support of Canadian sovereignty. Operation NEVUS 2016 consisted of essential preventive and corrective maintenance on the High Arctic Data Communications System (HADCS).

Approximately 100 CAF personnel and civilian members from the Department of National Defence took part in the exercise, which ran from June 1 to June 28.

“Operation NEVUS 2016 has been a success due, in large part, to the initiative and energy demonstrated by this highly professional team. Each member of the operation worked tirelessly to ensure that his or her assigned tasks were completed to the highest standards and with due regard for the environment in which they operated. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work with such a highly capable team, and I am proud of the work they have accomplished during this year’s operation,” said Maj. Meagan McGrath, Commanding Officer, Task Force NEVUS 2016.

CAF elements part of the exercise were CAF Information Operations Group technicians, Geomatics Technicians from CAF Mapping and Charting Establishment and several aircrew and aircrafts from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Aircrafts that participated in the exercise include one CC-130J Hercules and one CC-177 Globemaster from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario; three CH-146 Griffons from 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Valcartier, Quebec; a CH-147 Chinook from 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Petawawa, Ontario; and one CC-138 Twin Otter from Yellowknife-based 440 Transport Squadron.

During the course of the operation, technicians travelled between CFS Alert and Fort Eureka to maintain and report communication components and sites while the Mapping and Charting Team conducted surveys of Fort Eureka, Alert and HADCS sites.