February 6, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

Air Force aiming to have armed drones in the air in next six years: commander

OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Air Force is hoping to pull the trigger on the purchase of new drones within six years after spending nearly two decades weighing different options.

The Canadian Forces has been working since the early 2000s to find unmanned aerial vehicles that can conduct surveillance over Canada's vast territory and support overseas missions.

Yet aside from purchasing a small number of temporary, unarmed drones for the war in Afghanistan, the military has never been able to make much progress on a permanent fleet.

Air Force commander Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger says he believes that is about to change after the Trudeau government became the first to officially authorize the acquisition of a fleet of armed UAVs through its defence policy.

In an interview, Meinzinger says the air force is nearly finished drawing up options — where it has been stuck for years — and will soon move into the next phase by presenting its proposals to procurement officials.

While the military has welcomed Canada's decision to buy armed drones and promised to abide by international laws, some arms-control advocates have expressed concern about the legal grey zone such weapons inhabit.

The Canadian Press

https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2019/02/06/air-force-aiming-to-have-armed-drones-in-the-air-in-next-six-years-commander-3/#.XFsws1xKiUl

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January 11, 2021 | Local, Naval

Government of Canada awards contract for inspection, repair and overhaul of service boats
NEWS PROVIDED BY Public Services and Procurement Canada Jan 08, 2021, 14:11 ET GATINEAU, QC, Jan. 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with safe and effective vessels required to protect Canadian sovereignty, while creating jobs and generating economic benefits for communities across Canada. Following an open and competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, has awarded a $16.5-million contract to Zodiac Hurricane Technologies Inc., from Delta, British Columbia, for inspection, repair and overhaul work, on an as-required basis, on inflatable rubber boats and rigid (hull) inflatable boats. Inflatable boats provide a critical operational capability to all elements of the CAF. They are used to support a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, dive support, fishery patrols, boarding party operations, and the transfer of personnel and equipment. The essential maintenance and support services provided by this contract will ensure the CAF's fleet of inflatable boats remains capable of meeting current and future operational demands. This contract was awarded under the repair, refit and maintenance component of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which provides economic opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across Canada. The contract will help create or maintain up to 23 jobs. Quotes "The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and we are working hard to ensure that it continues to deliver important benefits for Canada. The strategy continues to provide meaningful opportunities for the Canadian marine industry, generating jobs and opportunities from coast to coast to coast." The Honourable Anita Anand Minister of Public Services and Procurement "The Canadian Armed Forces fleet of inflatable boats increases our reach and effectiveness during a wide range of operations at home and abroad. This contract will provide critical maintenance and support services to ensure our members remain well equipped to do the important job we ask of them, including emergency evacuations and transportation of personnel and equipment, while also investing in Canada's growing marine industry." The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan Minister of National Defence "Canada's growing marine industry plays an important role in protecting Canadians and supporting Canadian workers. This investment, under the Government of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy, will help the hard-working members of the Canadian Armed Forces do their job, while also creating jobs in Delta." The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Quick facts Work under this contract is expected to run from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023, with options to extend the contract up to three years. Work will also include tests and trials, disposal, storage, shipping and transport, as well as field maintenance and engineering support. The scope of work will be on an as-required basis, depending on the condition of the boats throughout their serviceable life. This contract will support the CAF's current fleet of inflatable rubber boats and rigid (hull) inflatable boats, the CAF's future dive boats, the Canadian Army's 12-man assault boats, and the new multi-role boats being acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy. National Defence currently operates a fleet of approximately 1,000 inflatable rubber boats and 260 rigid (hull) inflatable boats. Since the launch of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, approximately $7.95 billion in contracts has been awarded under the repair, refit and maintenance pillar of the strategy. Associated links National Shipbuilding Strategy Royal Canadian Navy Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada For further information: Cecely Roy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Anita Anand, 343-549-7293, cecely.roy@canada.ca; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 819-420-5501, media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca Related Links www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-awards-contract-for-inspection-repair-and-overhaul-of-service-boats-841786125.html
August 24, 2022 | Local, Aerospace

Flying above and beyond at the Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Sandbox!
The IDEaS program will be holding its second Sandbox for the Detect and defeat: Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) challenge, in Suffield, Alberta, from September 12 to October 7, 2022. IDEaS, in partnership with the Canadian Joint Operations Command, will be leading the CUAS Sandbox, coordinating with the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, and the US Department of Defense Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate. The IDEaS program and its partners are looking forward to welcoming participants from different allied countries to build and increase knowledge on certain technology types that are of higher interest in the Uncrewed Aerial Systems realm. Visit the Sandbox web page for more information and stay tuned for more updates on the event! IDEaS is partnering with CANSOFCOM at Hack the North! The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) and IDEaS are thrilled to meet with the brightest young minds from around the world during one of the largest hackathons in Canada taking place at the University of Waterloo, Hack the North (English only), from September 16-18, 2022. Students will get the chance to meet Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) specialists and crack the code on Application Programming Interface challenges. Hackers, start your engines and let the race begin! The IDEaS Team
September 21, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

RCAF's first C-295 search and rescue aircraft arrives in Canada
David Pugliese The first of the new fixed wing search and rescue aircraft that will be used by the RCAF for operations has arrived in Canada. The aircraft landed in Newfoundland and is now making its way to Canadian Forces Base Comox, BC. “With the arrival of this aircraft in Canada, several key activities at CFB Comox will begin to support the transition of the Canadian fixed-wing search and rescue responsibility to the CC-295,” the RCAF noted in a statement to this newspaper. “This includes the start of aircrew training, operational testing, and the opening of the new training facility in Comox, B.C.” Each aircraft must complete initial operational capability preparations and testing to be ready for service. That also includes training so crews can operate and maintain the new planes. The aircraft won't be used for search and rescue operations until sometime in 2022, according to the RCAF. Briggs Aero sent out a photo on Twitter of the new aircraft arriving in Newfoundland on Wednesday. Airbus expects all of the 16 aircraft ordered by Canada to be delivered by the fall of 2022. A C-295 aircraft, destined for the RCAF as a trainer for maintenance crews, arrived at CFB Comox in February. Although almost identical to a C-295, that aircraft does not have nor need the full mission equipment capability to conduct search and rescue missions, Esprit de Corps military magazine has reported. It is not one of the 16 C-295 aircraft being procured under the fixed wing search and rescue project. Instead, it is considered an additional asset that is part of the training solution. “It will be used to train maintenance technicians on rigging, removal and reinstallation procedures,” explained National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier. “Therefore, not all components need to be operationally functional and can instead be less expensive replicas.” It will be registered as a training asset, not an aircraft. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/rcafs-first-c-295-search-and-rescue-aircraft-arrives-in-canada

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