January 11, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
By: Harjit Sajjan
For any military force, maintaining an advantage requires innovation and investment. It is why Canada is modernizing our Army, Navy and Air Force while putting our serving members in the Canadian Armed Forces at its core. To ensure our people have the most advanced capabilities and tools for the future, Canada is putting a greater focus on research and development, supporting innovators in industry and in government, and building a closer relationship between these two worlds.
Since 2017, when we published our fully funded 20-year defense policy “Strong, Secure, Engaged,” we have seen significant changes in the global security environment. These new challenges underscore the need to invest in defense as a matter of national security and economic vitality. “Strong, Secure, Engaged” was released at a time when the dominant forces of the current security environment were just beginning to take shape. Today, Canada faces a world defined by great power conflict, rapid military modernization by states set on upending the international rules-based order, and advances against disruptive technologies in which North American geography no longer affords the protection it once did.
While we have traditionally been able to address threats abroad before they reach our shores, our security requires reinforcement. While this new space has many unknowns, we know that multilateralism and supporting the rules-based international order is critical to our success and our safety. Since 2017, Canada has increased our support to NATO partners through Operation Reassurance — which has seen Royal Canadian Navy ships deployed in the Black Sea region, the Royal Canadian Air Force supporting air policing in Romania, and Canadian Armed Forces members leading the Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Latvia — as well as through our work leading NATO Mission Iraq and our support for the coalition.
We also know that this changing security landscape means we need to take a thorough look at how we can secure North America against the threats of today and the future. It is why Canada continues to work with our American partners on the modernization of North American Aerospace Defense Command to build continental resiliency. This critical work will ensure that Canada and the United States of America have the ability to detect, deter and respond to threats, and that the only binational command in the world can meet the challenges of the 21st century.
For many years now, the Department of National Defence has worked hard to keep defense industries informed of future investment opportunities that will continue generating jobs and improving Canada's capacity for innovation. It is one reason that we have a forward-looking, 10-year defense investment plan that is updated every three years. This engagement with industry has become an integral part of the procurement process, providing critical insights while showing industry that we are a predicable partner.
Despite the unexpected challenges during 2020, Canada reached important milestones for key defense projects. In July 2020, the first Arctic and offshore patrol ship was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy, followed in the fall by delivery of the first new fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Construction of armored combat support vehicles for the Canadian Army began in May 2020, with the first vehicle delivered to the Armed Forces in December 2020. We also continue to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into equipping members of our armed forces.
We now see unprecedented innovation in all corners of the world, which militaries can harness to quickly understand and respond to potential threats before they cause harm. It is why new and emerging technologies in cyber and artificial intelligence are becoming an integral part of defense projects. Canada is growing its defense industry by leveraging research and development from both industry and government to achieve the best results. By working together, we can come up with innovative solutions to increase Canada's operational effectiveness while showing that defense is forging a path to the future.
In addition to embracing innovation within defense institutions and industry, more work is needed to support our people. The Canadian Armed Forces is a diverse institution, and our equipment needs to recognize that. It is why the Gender-based Analysis Plus process looks at factors such as gender, race, religion and ethnicity so that our defense projects better meet the needs of armed forces members.
These changes help get the best out of our people, producing meaningful results. For example, changes made to the brake pedal assembly in the new armor-protected cab of the Standard Military Pattern vehicle ensure all soldiers, no matter their size, can safely operate these vehicles.
By building an agile, well-educated, flexible, diverse, combat-ready military, we will be able to deal with threats abroad to protect stability at home. This historic investment through “Strong, Secure, Engaged” allows Canada to modernize our military by putting our people at its core as we continue to step up our contribution to North American and global security. When our partners and allies call upon Canada, we will be there for them.
Harjit Sajjan is Canada's minister of national defense.
April 26, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
The pandemic has also made it more difficult to source spare parts and conduct other maintenance activities on the air force's various fleets.
July 3, 2018 | Local, Aerospace
REELING IN THE YEAR The operational, procurement, training and historical milestones of the past 12 months. By Joanna Calder NORAD AT 60 NORAD AT 60 By Ken Pole SUBMARINE HUNTER The formidable CP-140 Aurora is getting reacquainted with anti-submarine warfare. By Chris Thatcher FUTURE FIGHTERS To manage “interdependencies,” the RCAF placed all fighter projects in one office. By Chris Thatcher YEAR OF THE CYCLONE Declared operationally capable, the CH-148 is embarking on its first deployment. By Lisa Gordon SHAKEDOWN OVER IRAQ The mission in Iraq may have changed, but CH-146 Griffons are still critical support. By Chris Thatcher BIRTH OF SWIFT DEATH In one of many firsts, 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron is marking its 100th anniversary. By Richard Mayne RAM TOUGH After 100 years, 401 Squadron remains on high readiness duty. By Chris Thatcher TROUBLE WITH TRANSITIONS Managing personnel poses a challenge in the transition from old to new fleets. By Chris Thatcher DAWN OF MARITIME AVIATION Formed to counter German submarines, 12 Wing Shearwater celebrates 100 years. By Ernie Cable BOMBER COMMAND Sharing tales of the true nature of courageous fighting spirit. By Richard Mayne CRITICAL SPACE The RCAF has responsibility for the defence Space program. Now comes the hard part. By Ben Forrest AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION Before deploying to Mali, CH-147 Chinooks became forward aeromedical evacuation capable. By Chris Thatcher TECHNICIANS AT WORK Cpl Taylor Hartnell shares a day in the life of maintaining the CH-147 Chinook. By Ken Pole INSIGHT SHOWCASE 2018 supplier capability https://assets.skiesmag.com/digital/2018/RCAF-2018/html5/index.html?page=2:
August 1, 2019 | Local, Aerospace, Land, C4ISR, Security
The takeover of the Canadian company Provectus Robotics Solutions Inc. expands Rheinmetall's technological capabilities in the field of robotics and autonomous driving. In future, both halves of the Group – Automotive and Defence – will benefit from the know-how of the newly acquired robotics specialist. Automation and digitization are among the vital Group-spanning technology clusters which Rheinmetall is systematically working to expand, concentrating knowledge and capacities in order to exploit additional future growth potential. Effective 1 June 2019, Rheinmetall Canada Inc., a subsidiary of the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group, took over a 100% stake in the Ottawa-based company. Founded in 2010, Provectus Robotics Solutions is a young company specializing in the development of advanced robotic systems and software. Though now owned by Rheinmetall Canada, Provectus will continue to operate under its previous managing director, Paul Rocco. In recent product presentations, Rheinmetall has generated great interest with its Mission Master unmanned multi-mission vehicle, which is based on Provectus technology, modified for military use by Rheinmetall Canada. Everything points to unmanned ground vehicles playing an increasingly important role in future military operations on land, much like unmanned air vehicles in an aviation context. Some will serve in an unarmed logistic or reconnaissance role; others will function as mobile weapon platforms. “We have already been working closely with Provectus in our unmanned ground vehicle project. This vertical integration gives us a decisive advantage in the field of autonomous mobility technology", said Stéphane Oehrli, president and CEO of Rheinmetall Canada. “Since this capacity is also a key enabler for the Automotive division, the whole Rheinmetall Group will hence benefit from Provectus' expertise. The automation of other Rheinmetall mobile platforms is actually an innovation we are already thinking of.” As Paul Rocco from Provectus, explains, “Rheinmetall Canada is the ideal platform for accelerating our growth while simultaneously strengthening our presence in Canada as well as internationally. This is a unique opportunity for the Provectus team to significantly improve our market potential in the world of autonomous driving and to take advantage of new opportunities.” The buyout is part of Rheinmetall's strategy of positioning itself as a preferred supplier of cutting-edge technology – around the world but particularly in Canada, where the Group is a longstanding, tried-and-tested partner of the country's armed forces. Rheinmetall is eager to apply expertise from Provectus Robotics Solutions in implementing ISTAR, a major project of the Canadian armed forces now underway. (The acronym ISTAR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance.) http://www.canadiandefencereview.com/news?news/2708