Defence Research Establishment Suffield
Encyclopedia
The military research facility located 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Suffield, Alberta
, operated under the name of the Defence Research Establishment Suffield from 1967 to its renaming to DRDC Suffield
in 2000.
in July 1967, the Defence Research Establishment Suffield (DRES) continued to operate under the Defence Research Board. Four years later, on August 25, 1971, the Canadian Government ratified a ten-year agreement with the British Government that allowed the United Kingdom Forces to use the Military Training Area (MTA) on the Suffield Block
. The MTA occupies the northern three quarters of the military reserve and the remaining area was named the Experimental Proving Grounds (EPG).
On December 1, 1971, the Canadian Forces Base Suffield (CFB Suffield
) was officially created and allocated to Mobile Command. A number of personnel and support functions were transferred from DRES to CFB Suffield
and CFB Suffield
was co-located with the Research Establishment.
In 1974, the Defence Research Board evolved into the Research and Development Branch which was administered under the Assistant Deputy Minister Materiel of the Canadian Department of National Defence. Another reorganization followed on April 1, 2000 when the Research and Development Branch was placed under the Assistant Deputy Minister Science & Technology and renamed to Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC).
Suffield, Alberta
Suffield is a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada within Cypress County. It is located on the Trans-Canada Highway approximately northwest of Medicine Hat.- History :...
, operated under the name of the Defence Research Establishment Suffield from 1967 to its renaming to DRDC Suffield
DRDC Suffield
DRDC Suffield is a major Canadian military research facility located north of Suffield, Alberta and is one of seven centres making up Defence Research and Development Canada .-History:...
in 2000.
History
After being renamed from the Suffield Experimental StationSuffield Experimental Station
The military research facility located north of Suffield, Alberta, operated under the name of the Suffield Experimental Station from 1950 to its renaming to the Defence Research Establishment Suffield in 1967.-History:...
in July 1967, the Defence Research Establishment Suffield (DRES) continued to operate under the Defence Research Board. Four years later, on August 25, 1971, the Canadian Government ratified a ten-year agreement with the British Government that allowed the United Kingdom Forces to use the Military Training Area (MTA) on the Suffield Block
Suffield Block
The Suffield Block is an area located within Cypress County, southern Alberta, Canada approximately bounded by Highway 884 on the west, Highway 555 on the north,the South Saskatchewan River on the east and the Trans-Canada Highway on the south...
. The MTA occupies the northern three quarters of the military reserve and the remaining area was named the Experimental Proving Grounds (EPG).
On December 1, 1971, the Canadian Forces Base Suffield (CFB Suffield
CFB Suffield
Canadian Forces Base Suffield , is the largest Canadian Forces Base and the largest Commonwealth military training base in the world...
) was officially created and allocated to Mobile Command. A number of personnel and support functions were transferred from DRES to CFB Suffield
CFB Suffield
Canadian Forces Base Suffield , is the largest Canadian Forces Base and the largest Commonwealth military training base in the world...
and CFB Suffield
CFB Suffield
Canadian Forces Base Suffield , is the largest Canadian Forces Base and the largest Commonwealth military training base in the world...
was co-located with the Research Establishment.
In 1974, the Defence Research Board evolved into the Research and Development Branch which was administered under the Assistant Deputy Minister Materiel of the Canadian Department of National Defence. Another reorganization followed on April 1, 2000 when the Research and Development Branch was placed under the Assistant Deputy Minister Science & Technology and renamed to Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC).
| Chief DRES | Tenure |
|---|---|
| R.M. Hegge | ? to 1979 |
| Dr. J.C. Moldon | Aug 1990 to ? |
Large Explosive Events
- Distant Plain 6 was a 100 ton detonation (spherical form) in 1967
- The Prairie Flat 500 ton detonation (spherical form) on 9th August 1968 at the Watching Hill test site formed a 64 meter diameter crater
- The Dialpack 500 ton detonation on 23 July 1970.