CFMETR, Nanoose Bay

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The Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (C.F.M.E.T.R.) is a maritime test facility located on the east side of Vancouver Island, at Nanoose Bay.

The C.F.M.E.T.R. is located over an area of Nanoose Bay that is several hundred metres deep, several dozen kilometres long and several kilometres wide over a seabed composed of soft mud and free of underwater obstacles. The facility employs a 3-dimensional sonar tracking system for monitoring the performance and position of objects in these waters for real-time tracking.

Equipment tested at the facility consists of a variety of devices, including sonobuoys, sonar systems (ship and aircraft), torpedos and the repair and overhaul of the dipping sonar used on Canada's Sea King helicopter fleet.

This facility is unique in the Canadian Forces as it staffed by active military personnel from Maritime Command (MARCOM) and DND civilian employees, as well as a small number of US Navy personnel and civilian employees. The facility is operationally controlled as a field unit of NDHQ. It currently sees active use from MARCOM and the United States Navy under a joint use agreement.