April 22, 2022 | Local, C4ISR, Security
October 24, 2022 | Local, Land
The assembly line for howitzers was shut down years ago by the manufacturer because of a lack of orders, and it would have to be restarted.
September 24, 2020 | Local, Security, Other Defence
David Pugliese The project to purchase pistols to replace the Canadian military's Second World War-era handguns is once again underway and National Defence hopes to have the new weapons by the summer of 2022. The project had been stalled for years after small arms firms rejected in 2011 the federal government requirement that the guns be built at Colt Canada in Kitchener, Ont. In addition, the companies balked at the stipulation they had to turn over their proprietary firearms information to Colt, a firm that some saw as a competitor. But with small arms companies reluctant to bid on the Canadian pistol project, the federal government has had no choice but to drop those requirements and have an open competition. A request for bids will now be issued in early 2021, DND spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande confirmed to this newspaper. She said a “minimum of 9,000” handguns will be purchased. “These are mainly intended for the Canadian Army, and will be issued as required,” she added. The department hopes to have a contract in place by the summer of 2021, with initial deliveries by the summer of 2022, she added. The DND declined to discuss the amount of money that taxpayers will spend on the project. The new handguns will replace the Second World War-era Browning Hi-Power pistols used by the Canadian Forces. The replacement program for the 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistols has been on the books for years. In the fall of 2011, the DND abruptly cancelled plans for the purchase of 10,000 new pistols. The decision to shut the process down came after international firearms companies balked at the stipulation the firms turn over their confidential technical data to Colt Canada so the guns could be manufactured in Canada. Colt is the country's Small Arms Strategic Source and Centre of Excellence. The DND was told at the time by industry representatives that it didn't make economic sense to have Colt manufacture the guns in Canada or to have parts shipped to Colt so the guns could be assembled in Canada. The handgun replacement project has been seen as an example of a highly dysfunctional military procurement system. At one point the DND tried to prevent small arms companies from talking to journalists about the bungled procurement but the department's decree was largely ignored. Under the Munitions Supply Program sole source deals have been directed to Colt Canada to maintain a small arms expertise in the country. In late January Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced the purchase of more than 3,600 new C6AI FLEX General Purpose Machine Guns from the company. The $96-million order was a follow-on deal to the 2017 contract for 1,148 of the same machine guns. Some spare parts are included along with cleaning kits and carrying slings in the purchase. Critics pointed out that the cost of each gun worked out to around $27,000, at least twice the amount that other militaries are spending. In February and April two other contracts were directed to Colt to produce a semi-automatic rifle in 7.62 calibre to be used by Canadian Forces sniper teams as an auxiliary weapon. Lamirande said in 2018 changes were made to improve the Munitions Supply Program. Under those changes, new business was no longer automatically given to members of the supply program. Instead a thorough analysis is to be done to decide whether it is better to open a project up to competition or sole source the deal to firms in the Munitions Supply Program. “Factors that are considered include performance, value for money, flexibility, innovation potential, and socio-economic benefits,” Lamirande explained. “We also include considerations for current availability within timeframes and the long term sustainability of the solution.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/project-to-buy-new-pistols-for-canadian-forces-is-once-again-underway
December 7, 2018 | Local, Aerospace
December 7, 2018 – Greenwood, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Through Canada's Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is greening defence infrastructure and taking action against climate change. The Department of National Defence (DND) is expanding the use of energy performance contracts to improve the energy efficiency of our military infrastructure and provide our personnel with modern and green facilities in which to work and train. On behalf of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, Member of Parliament for West Nova Colin Fraser, today marked the award of an energy performance contract at 14 Wing Greenwood. The $20.5-million project will see 102 buildings upgraded with energy efficiency measures including new LED lighting and efficient ventilation systems. The wing's central heating plant will also be upgraded to a cleaner natural gas fuel source. These upgrades are expected to lower annual energy costs at the wing by about $900,000, or 13 percent, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by close to 7,500 tonnes per year. DND has a number of energy performance contracts in various stages of development and implementation at bases across Canada. Through these contracts, a company is contracted to pay for and carry out an energy retrofit project at a base or wing. The money saved in energy costs is then used to pay the company back over a five- to 15-year period, which minimizes the up-front costs to the taxpayer, and guarantees that the upgrades produce savings. Quotes “These energy performance contracts represent the great work underway across Canada to make our Defence infrastructure more sustainable and energy efficient. This work benefits our personnel by modernizing the places where they work and train, while significantly lowering our carbon emissions to help us achieve a greener future for all Canadians.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister “I am thrilled to see this green energy project move forward for Base Greenwood. This $20.5-million investment will create economic opportunities for surrounding communities, while demonstrating that greener, more sustainable government operations is as good for the economy as it is for the environment.” Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova Quick facts The contract for energy upgrades and retrofits at 14 Wing Greenwood was awarded to MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd. Similar contracts are in development for Bagotville, Shilo, Alert, Comox, Borden, Trenton, Kingston, Gagetown, Halifax, Montreal, Saint-Jean and Goose Bay. In addition to Greenwood, projects are underway at Valcartier, Esquimalt, and Petawawa. The project is expected to lower 14 Wing's annual GHG emissions by 7,500 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 1,600 cars off the road. As stated in Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, DND is improving its infrastructure to achieve a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from 2005 levels) by 2030. Implementing new energy performance contracts at bases and wings across Canada supports the government's low-carbon goal and new emissions reduction target of 80 percent by 2050. The broader Defence Energy and Environment Strategy bolsters DND's capacity to green its operations and adapt to climate change impacts by integrating adaptation measures, including energy performance contracts, into its policies and practices. Defence Construction Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada are DND's partners in procuring the services of energy services companies to modernize and green defence infrastructure. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/12/energy-efficiency-contract-awarded-for-14-wing-greenwood.html