The CU-161 Sperwer was an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to provide ground troops with intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance at the battlegroup level (brigade to division).

The Sperwer system was comprised of the aircraft aerial, a ground control station (GCS), a transportable hydraulic catapult and ground data terminal (GDT), all carried on high mobility vehicles. The entire system was designed to be transported in two CC-130 Hercules aircraft and operate from unprepared sites using a catapult to launch and parachute and airbags to land.

The Sperwer was designed to carry advanced video cameras, providing high resolution day and night imagery and target geolocation with an accuracy of 20 meters.

The CU-161 Sperwer was used in Afghanistan from October 2003 until April 2009. The Museum’s Sperwer, 161007, was part of a second batch of Sperwers ordered in 2004. While in theatre in Afghanistan it was operated by the Tactical UAV Flight, made up of personnel from 408 Squadron and 5e Regiment d’Artilleries Legere du Canada. It was damaged on October 24, 2006 when the engine lost power shortly after launching from Kandahar airport. On August 18 2008 it was damaged when the parachute did not fully deploy after its mission. It was declared as surplus in March 2009 and on August 11, 2009, the Canadian Forces Sperwer UAV assets that were still in flyable condition were sold to the French Government.

Sperwer 007 was returned to Canada and arrived at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in 2010. Due to its number, 007, it was painted with a small martini glass while in theatre, in reference to James Bond, agent 007.