October 29, 2021 | Local, Naval
Des sous-marins nucléaires français au Canada ?
Un dossier important sur le bureau de la nouvelle ministre de la Défense Anita Anand.
June 25, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Naval
Canada Mimics Marine Corps Makeover For F/A-18C/D Fleet
As Canada's CF-18 fleet enters an unexpected fourth decade of service, the details of a nearly $1 billion upgrade package are settled.
With operators in Europe, the Middle East and Asia looking on, an upgrade package approved by the State Department on June 16 for up to 36 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) F/A-18C/Ds cements a new configuration aimed at keeping the Boeing-made jets in service decades beyond their planned retirement dates.
A group of Raytheon-made sensors and weapons—APG-79(v)4 active, electronically scanned array radars, AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missiles and AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapons—will be included in the RCAF's newly defined Phase 2 upgrade to help keep a subset of the 94-member CF-18 fleet operating into the 2030s. The State Department previously cleared Canada to acquire 32 AIM-120D advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles for the CF-18.
The package, defined in a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification to Congress on June 16, offers few surprises. The Phase 2 Hornet Extension Program will be closely aligned with a U.S. Marine Corps initiative to keep at least two squadrons of F/A-18C/Ds in service beyond 2029, as both the Marines and the RCAF have waited longer than expected for a replacement jet to arrive.
The U.S. Navy tipped the radar selection for the RCAF in a June 11 presolicitation notice that specified the APG-79(v)4, showing an intent to prevent Northrop Grumman from offering the APG-83 for the Canadian program. The Marines evaluated the APG-83 and the APG-79 two years ago, but selected the latter as the successor to the Raytheon APG-73 for the “classic” Hornet fleet.
“Partnering with the [Marines], who are completing the same radar upgrade, will enable the introduction of this new capability faster, more efficiently and at reduced cost for both services,” the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND) tells Aviation Week in a statement.
The upgrades by the Canadians and the U.S. Marines are driven by the same issue. A delayed delivery schedule for the Lockheed Martin F-35B has forced the Marines to keep a fleet of Legacy F/A-18s in service for a decade longer than planned.
The Canadian government's 11-year-old pursuit of a CF-18 replacement (highlighted by failed attempts to acquire 65 Lockheed Martin F-35As in 2010 and an interim fleet of 18 Boeing F/A-18E/F aircraft in 2016) is still in competition mode, with a contract award for 88 fighters due in 2022. Three bidding teams—F/A-18E/F, F-35A and the Saab JAS 39 Gripen—must submit final bids by July 31, which includes a one-month delay to account for the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry.
“These [CF-18] upgrades will provide a capability bridge until transition to a permanent replacement fighter,” the DND says.
Canada's fighter delays have not been easy for the RCAF to manage. The current fleet, acquired in the early 1980s, was originally expected to be retired in the early 2000s. A retirement date in 2020 fell through as the government of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper stalled on signing the contract for the controversial F-35A selection. The new administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed the selection process to 2022. The CF-18 is now set for retirement in 2032.
The situation is different in Finland. Although the Finnish Air Force operates the youngest fleet of F/A-18C/Ds, the head of the HX fighter competition has roundly rejected calls to extend their service life into the 2030s, saying even a few extra years of operations would cost at least €1.2 billion ($1.35 billion).
The State Department cleared the RCAF to buy 50 infrared-guided AIM-9X Block II missiles, 38 APG-79(v)4 radars and 20 AGM-154C glide bombs as part of an overall package worth $862 million. The bundle includes electronic equipment, tactical data and support.
The CAD$1.3 billion ($960 million) CF-18 Hornet Enhancement Program is divided in two phases. Phase 1 updates all 94 aircraft, including 18 former Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18C/Ds acquired two years ago, with interoperability and regulatory upgrades, including a new GPS/international navigation system, Identification Friend or Foe transponder, Link 16 tactical radios, satellite communications, targeting pod modifications and improved helmets.
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March 30, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Analysis: Will billions of dollars in new funding for the Canadian military be wasted?
An injection of billions of dollars more for the military doesn’t mean the country will be more secure.
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January 11, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, C4ISR, Security
CRIAQ START-UP - Deadline January 22nd 2021
Program details The CRIAQ Start-up Grant is targeted for Quebec start-ups active in the aerospace sector. Through a competitive process, CRIAQ will award two $10,000 grants per year in support of the technological development of two start-ups, under the rationale that this funding will help to bring the development of the product or service into alignment with potential users and customers. Project submission and approval process To be eligible for this grant, the company must be a start-up in and at least a portion of its activities must be geared toward the aerospace industry (products, services, solutions) and must be a good standing member of CRIAQ or must commit to become one before the grant is awarded. Elements to be considered will include the following: Date of incorporation within the last two years Number of employees (fewer than ten) Participation in a recognized incubator or accelerator Etc. Proposals will be evaluated according to the following four (4) criteria: Novelty of the product or service Technical feasibility Aerospace business opportunity potential Quality of the team It is also important to note that applications from companies stemming from a CRIAQ research project will be evaluated positively. Application and additional information The form below must be completed and submitted no later than January 22, 2021. The evaluation will be completed by February 5, 2021. Recipients must be available between February 16-19, 2021 for the announcement to be made at the CRIAQ RDV Forum. https://www.criaq.aero/en/program/criaq-start-up/