July 31, 2023 | Local, Aerospace, Security
Q&A with Boeing Canada's Charles “Duff” Sullivan - Skies Mag
Skies sat down with Charles “Duff” Sullivan, managing director and president of Boeing Canada Operations Ltd., to discuss a variety of topics.
July 14, 2020 | Local, Aerospace
Canada’s Secret Cold War Submarine Drone Is Still Relevant Today
Extra-large autonomous submarines may revolutionize intelligence gathering and espionage under the sea. One of these ground breaking projects is the U.S. Navy's Boeing Orca extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV). It is much larger than any other underwater drone currently in the water. But there is a historical precursor that, despite its epic Cold War story, is not widely known. And its mission, to lay covert sensor networks in the arctic, may be as relevant today as it was then.
During the Cold War, NATO believed that Russian submarines were using the ice cap in the Canadian Arctic as cover to covertly move between the Atlantic and Pacific. So the U.S. and Canada placed a special sonar network there, deep under the ice. Canadian engineers had to build the world's largest autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), Theseus, to lay a cable where ships could not reach.
The project started in the 1980s, at a time when Russian submarines were getting much quieter. To listen for them, a joint U.S. and Canadian sonar array was to be placed several hundred miles north of the remote Canadian base at CFS Alert. The array was codenamed Spinnaker, in honor of the bar where scientists made many of the unclassified decisions in the project. This was similar to the now-famous SOSUS (Sound Surveillance System), but used classified technology to match its operational circumstances. In fact it must have been much more advanced than the original SOSUS.
Connecting the sonar array to the base would require laying a fiber-optic cable for hundreds of miles under permanent ice cap. The solution was to build the world's largest autonomous underwater vehicle. The uncrewed submarine would swim from an ice hole nearer to the base all the way to the Spinnaker array. As it went the cable would unreel out of the back. Thus ‘Theseus' got its name from the mythical hero of Ancient Greece who trailed thread behind him when he ventured into the labyrinth to fight the Minotaur.
When we think of advanced Canadian military projects which were ahead of their time, the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow springs to mind. That delta-winged Mach-2 fighter flew in the 1950s and was cutting edge technology at the time, one of the all-time great aircraft. But it was cancelled abruptly in 1959 before it could enter service. The Theseus AUV is up there with the Avro Arrow, but less well recognized. And unlike the Arrow, it was used operationally, in one of the boldest projects started during the Cold War.
The project had many secret aspects. Years later much of what we know about the project comes from Bruce Butler, one of the core team involved. Bulter has written a book, Into the Labyrinth (on Amazon), and recently talked to the Underwater Technology Podcast about the project.
Theseus was 35 feet long and about 4 feet across. In AUV terms this is large, even today. In modern naval terminology it would be categorized as a large-displacement uncrewed underwater vehicle (LDUUV).
The Spinnaker sonar system was placed on the sea floor right on the edge of the arctic shelf. It was about 84 degrees north, up in the top right-hand corner of Canada, near to Greenland. Such an advanced project took years to realize, so it was not until spring 1996 when Theseus could go to work laying the cable. The whole operation was pushing the boundaries of uncrewed underwater vehicles at the time. Despite some close calls along the way, Theseus was able to navigate to the Spinnaker, letting out the vital thread as it went.
Many details of the project and technology involved are still classified. And we may never know whether Spinnaker ever picked up any Russian submarines. By the time it had been laid the Russian Navy was in steep decline following the end of the Cold War.
But with a resurgent Russian Navy today, the relevance of systems like Spinnaker may be greater than ever. And one of the roles which large submarine drones like the Orca might do is lay cables on the sea floor, unseen from above. Historical precedents like Theseaus can help us understand the way that these might be employed, and the challenges that they will face.
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May 26, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
NEW funding opportunities to help fight COVID-19
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) are seeking a smart digital exchange platform that will connect researchers, health providers, and solution providers with devices and information to respond to COVID-19. The NRC is also looking for magnetic reagents to perform molecular diagnostics of the COVID-19 virus. Think you can solve one of these challenges? Compete for funding to prove your feasibility and develop a solution! COVID-19 Funding Opportunities
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January 17, 2019 | Local, Land
Government completes new armoury at Saint-Hubert Garrison
January 16, 2019 – Saint-Hubert, Quebec – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces As outlined in Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is investing in Defence infrastructure to provide our military personnel with modern, functional, and green facilities in which to work and train. Today, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan and Parliamentary Secretary to the Defence Minister Serge Cormier, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new armoury at the Saint-Hubert Garrison. The project represents a $50-million investment in Reserve infrastructure and provided economic benefits for the local community, creating 230 jobs during construction. The centralized 8,824-m2 facility will co-locate multiple Reserve units and provide personnel with modern administrative spaces, training rooms, an advanced weapons simulator, vehicle and equipment storage areas, common mess facilities, and a fitness centre. Work continues on the renovation of an existing building, as well as the demolition of an aging and obsolete hanger. Quotes “Through our defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged, our government is expanding our Reserve Force, modernizing Defence infrastructure, and taking care of the future training and operational needs of our people. I am proud that we are delivering on the new Saint-Hubert Armoury, a green and modern facility which will support the future success of Canada's Reserve Force in the Montreal South Shore area.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister “This new facility is a great example of the investments National Defence is making in green infrastructure across Canada. Greening Defence infrastructure will help us use less energy, lower our greenhouse gas emissions, and build a cleaner, healthier, more affordable future that we can be proud to leave our children.” Serge Cormier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence “Garrison Saint-Hubert is an integral part of the Montreal South Shore community. This kind of investment in Defence infrastructure provides economic opportunities for the region and supports our Reservists by providing them with new facilities in their communities.” Sherry Romanado, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors Quick facts The new and renovated facilities will be used by a number of Reserve Force units, including Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, 34 Service Battalion, 41 Military Police Platoon, and the 34 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters in the greater Montreal region. A $25-million contract was awarded to Laval-based Groupe Geyser Inc. for this construction project. The $2.6-million design contract was awarded to Birtz Bastien Beaudoin Laforest, and Stantec. The total project value of $50 million included construction, design fees, contract management, communications, furnishings and landscaping. Completed in December 2018, the new armoury was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver standards. It will help Defence reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings and non-military vehicles by 40 percent (from 2005 levels) by 2030, and support the new federal emissions reduction target of 80 percent by 2050. Associated links 2nd Canadian Division - Quebec 34th Canadian Brigade Group Defence Energy and Environment Strategy https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2019/01/government-completes-new-armoury-at-saint-hubert-garrison.html