Canada requests costing on possible fleet of 16 Boeing P-8A aircraft - Skies Mag

On the same subject

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  October 20, 2017 | Local, Aerospace, C4ISR

  Government of Canada Announces Successful Proposals for All Domain Situational Awareness Science & Technology Program

  October 20, 2017 – Ottawa The All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science & Technology program will support the development of options, over a period of five years, for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic. Surveillance solutions explored and selected through the ADSA Science & Technology program will strengthen the Government of Canada's ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and will provide a greater awareness of safety and security issues, as well as transportation and commercial activity in Canada's Arctic. Canada's contributions to regional Arctic security also form a core part of the Canada-United States defence relationship. Nowhere is this more apparent than in joint efforts to renew the North Warning System (NWS) and modernize elements of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). As the security dynamics in the Arctic evolve, Canada and the United States will continue to work side by side to secure our shared northern air and maritime approaches. The NWS is a chain of unmanned radar stations in Canada's Arctic that provides aerospace surveillance of Canadian and United States northern approaches. While the current NWS is approaching the end of its life expectancy from a technological and functional perspective, the range of potential threats to the continent, such as those posed by cruise missiles, has become more complex and increasingly difficult to detect. To this end, Canada and the United States have already launched bilateral collaboration to seek innovative technological solutions to continental defence challenges including early warning. Studies are ongoing to determine how best to replace this important capability as part of the overall modernization of NORAD. The ADSA Science & Technology program is part of this bilateral collaboration. The following are the successful proposals from the first Call for Proposals: Title: Acoustic Source for Ocean Propagation Experimentation Supplier: GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Domain: Sub-Surface Surveillance Project Type: Technology Demonstration Funding: $4,953,038 (until 31 March 2020) GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc has been awarded a contract to develop, design, build and test an acoustic source which will support scientific experiments in underwater sound propagation. Such a device may form part of future systems capable of providing long distance underwater communications to support, for example, an unmanned underwater vehicle engaged in open ocean or under ice survey work. Title: Acoustic Array for Persistent Under-Ice Vehicles Supplier: GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Domain: Sub-Surface Surveillance Project Type: Research and Development Funding: $1,944,175 (until 20 September 2019) The objective of this project is to design and build a sensor array suitable for towing from an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). The innovative design, employing a fishing line-like cable with acoustic sensors, may be suitable for year-round underwater and under-ice operations, in environmentally hostile Arctic waters. Title: Development of the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Models (CHAIM) Supplier: University of New Brunswick Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick Domain: Air Surveillance Project Type: Research and Development Funding: $1,165,143 (until 31 March 2020) Current ionospheric models, used for prediction of radio wave propagation for communications and other applications, have significant shortcomings in Arctic regions. This is due to inaccuracies and limited local ionospheric observations. This project aims to improve this by producing high latitude electron density models at altitudes between 100 and 3,000 kilometres. Title: Bistatic High Elevation Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS) Scenario Study Supplier: C-CORE Location: Ottawa, Ontario Domain: Surface Surveillance Project Type: Study Funding: $221,000 (until 31 July 2018) This project is for the study of the potential capabilities of using a high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned air system (UAS) as a receiver in a bistatic configuration with commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) missions, both current and future. The study will look at how various configurations of transmitters and HALE UAS-mounted receivers can augment current detection and discrimination capabilities, while providing a highly mobile, persistent, all weather surveillance asset that currently does not exist. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2017/10/government_of_canadaannouncessuccessfulproposalsforalldomainsitu.html

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  November 3, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

  Saab and Mitacs to grow Canadian innovation links

  The partnership establishes the means to drive innovation by providing Saab access to the precise Canadian postsecondary expertise and know-how required to advance their R&D activities in Canada. Mitacs will match highly qualified research experts from Canadian academic institutes to advance Saab's next generation technologies, and Saab will provide industry guidance and other in-kind resources, while both will share the financial cost to support these applied research and innovation internships. “Saab works closely with universities around the world in fostering the academic research that can ultimately end up at the heart of our long range radars that can see stealth aircraft or helping to deliver the benefits of digitalization into airports. The MoU with Mitacs gives us the chance to extend that approach to Canada's universities, and we look forward to exploring new technologies and areas of research across Canada,” said Jonas Hjelm, Senior vice-president and Saab's head of business area Aeronautics. At a macro level, participating students and the selected projects will boost innovation by advancing Saab's development agenda with wider economic benefits in job creation and further industrialization of the research. At the intern level, the work will facilitate skills development and work-integrated learning as together Saab and Mitacs advance the mutually beneficial goals. “Mitacs is proud to partner with Saab and connect them with talent to advance business goals through research and development. Canadian student researchers drive innovation and benefit from working with Saab and applying their skills to advance aviation technologies. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for investing in R&D,” said John Hepburn, CEO and scientific director, Mitacs. This MOU arises from Saab's Industrial and Technological Benefit commitments that Saab has made as part of its bid for the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) and is subject to Saab's selection for that program. Saab has submitted an offer of 88 Gripen E fighters for the Canadian FFCP with a comprehensive ITB offer involving the Gripen for Canada Team (https://www.saab.com/markets/canada/gripen-for-canada) https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/saab-and-mitacs-to-grow-canadian-innovation-links/

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  January 28, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  Government of Canada invests in the modernization of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CH-146 Griffon

  January 26 2019 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces As outlined in Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is making investments to re-capitalize and extend the life of equipment to ensure our women and men of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) have the equipment they need to fulfill the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) core missions. In support of this, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism Andy Fillmore, on behalf of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, announced today that Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited will be undertaking design work to extend the life of Canada's fleet of 85 CH-146 Griffon helicopters to at least 2031. The first phase of this life extension is the definition phase, during which Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited – the original equipment manufacturer – will develop design changes to upgrade the helicopter's avionics systems, engines, and cockpit displays, and integrate sensor systems. This definition work, valued at up to $90 million (including taxes), will be performed under the existing support contract for the CH-146, which was awarded to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited in 2011. The overall scope of the Griffon Limited Life Extension project is estimated to be valued at approximately $800 million (taxes included). The Griffon, Canada's multi-purpose utility helicopter, is essential to CAF operations both at home and abroad. The helicopter fills a number of functions, including tactical troop transport, reconnaissance, escort and surveillance, casualty evacuation, disaster relief, special operations aviation support, and search and rescue. Upgrading the CH-146 will ensure that it continues to make important contributions to the success of the full range of the CAF's missions and operations. Quotes “Through our defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, we are providing the women and men of our Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment they need to do the important work we ask of them. A tactical transport helicopter capability is absolutely critical to the success of the full range of military operations. With these upgrades, we are ensuring that our military can continue to rely on this proven helicopter for years to come.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence “We are ensuring the women and men who proudly serve in our Canadian Armed Forces have the equipment they need to carry out their important work at home and abroad. While investing in military equipment maintenance, we are also creating good middle-class jobs and generating growth for Canadians businesses.” Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility “I am proud to be announcing the modernization of the CH-146 Griffon. This project benefits both Canadian industry and our women and men in uniform by supporting high-quality jobs while ensuring the RCAF has the equipment it needs to succeed in operations.” Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism “Our government's policy ensures Bell Helicopter will invest back into our economy on a dollar-for-dollar basis to the total value of the contract. Through these investments and their partnerships with Canadian industry, Bell Helicopter will continue to be a key contributor to our economic growth, creating more jobs for Canadians and spurring innovation.” Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development “Extending the life of the CH-146 Griffon fleet will ensure the longevity of the RCAF's tactical helicopter capability. These helicopters have performed extremely well over the years and with these new upgrades, they will continue to be a valuable asset that will allow our personnel to carry out missions and operations successfully well into the future.” Lieutenant-General A.L. Meinzinger, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force Quick facts CH-146 Griffons are currently deployed on Operation PRESENCE in Mali, providing an armed escort for the CH-147 Chinooks during medical evacuations and transport of troops and supplies. Griffons are also deployed on Operation IMPACT in Iraq, carrying Canadian troops, equipment, and supplies in support of the CAF's training mission. CH-146 Griffons provided close fire support and tactical transport during the CAF's engagement in Afghanistan, reducing exposure of CAF personnel to ground threats such as ambushes, land mines, and improvised explosive devices. The CH-146 is based on the commercially available Bell 412 helicopter, and was developed with unique specifications for the Canadian Armed Forces. Canada's fleet of CH-146 Griffons entered service between 1995 and 1997. The CH-146 can carry up to 15 people (two pilots, a flight engineer, and 12 passengers), has a maximum gross weight of nearly 5,400 kilograms, and can reach speeds up to 260 kilometres per hour. The Griffon Limited Life-Extension (GLLE) project will extend the life of the fleet to at least 2031 while the project for the acquisition of the next generation of tactical utility helicopters is developed and implemented. Once the definition phase is complete, a separate contract is expected to be awarded for implementation in 2022. Associated links CH-146 Griffon https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2019/01/government-of-canada-invests-in-the-modernization-of-the-royal-canadian-air-forces-ch-146-griffon.html