Our Role
The Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit is the CP140/A Operational Flight Test agent for the Canadian Forces.

Our Mission
To make operational airworthiness recommendations regarding the operational suitability of CP140/A weapons system including its roles, procedures, tactics, avionics and airframe performance.

Our Mission Achievement
Through the analysis of test data gathered in as realistic an operational test environment as possible.

Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit (MPEU) is the flight test agent responsible for conducting Operational Evaluations for the CP-140/A Aurora and Arcturus fleets. The unit is composed of highly trained, hand-picked military and civilian specialists from the Department of National Defence.

Their expertise covers a varied and complex scope of disciplines including project management, test and evaluation, tactical development, operational suitability assessments, human factors engineering, data collection and analysis as well as Aircraft avionics and airframe performance studies; all of which are conducted in as operationally realistic environment as possible.

MPEU was first formed in 1959 and for 42 years, has remained the backbone of avionics and software integration for Canada's long-range maritime patrol Aircraft fleets.

MP&EU consists of 21 aircrew specialists, including one Royal Air Force and one United States Navy exchange officer, one Aerospace Engineering Officer, two Requirements Officers, four technical trades personnel, an administrative clerk, a civilian computer programmer analyst, and a graphic artist. Unit resources include a computerized data analysis and processing facility, a unique project support laboratory and a variety of specialized electronic test equipment.

The Unit is assigned Aircraft from Wing resources, which are then modified for test purposes by Unit technicians and/or industry, as required.

Projects range from operational evaluations of new equipment to assistance to Canadian Industry and Defence Research Establishments in their attempts to improve the operational capabilities of the Canadian Forces.

The vital need to ensure that initial designs are developed into operationally effective systems has led to projects that include developmental, as well as purely technical evaluations. MP&EU is also required to prepare reference material and to identity and conduct initial training on new or modified equipment prior to its introduction.

Additionally, MP&EU is responsible to the Maritime Patrol Aviation community for developing and testing new tactics required to keep pace with advances in technology. In order to conduct effective operational evaluations, MP&EU personnel maintain proficiency in all aspects of maritime air operations and are often tasked to conduct operational missions, thereby assisting 14 Wing Greenwood in meeting operational commitments.

The Unit's future challenge will be to plan and organize the immensely complex Aurora Incremental Mondernization Project from a test and evaluation point of view. This project, directed by Project Management Officer Aurora will replace obsolete avionics on the Aurora by acquiring and installing new systems.