Canadian Armed Forces donate $6.5 million in equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces

On the same subject

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  October 12, 2018 | Local, Aerospace, C4ISR

  Canada gets green light to buy King Air surveillance aircraft

  by Chris Thatcher The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of three King Air 350ER aircraft to meet a Canadian requirement for a manned airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (MAISR) platform. Airborne ISR systems were one of five investments specifically identified in the government's 2017 defence policy for Canadian special operations forces. The foreign military sale would provide a capability that special forces' command (CANSOFCOM) has been seeking for several years, but it could come with a high price tag. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Oct. 4 approval for the sale of three extended range King Air 350 twin-turboprops from Wichita, Kansas-based Beechcraft, part of Textron Aviation. With Canadian modifications for some of the ISR systems, the estimated cost was pegged at $300 million, the agency said. A spokesperson for National Defence noted in an email that the cited cost “is not the final price; it is the full and all-inclusive value of every aspect of the aircraft, their supporting systems, and all potentially related costs, including contingency and risk. The final cost is anticipated to be much lower.” Ashley Lemire said the Canadian and U.S. governments would work to more clearly define the requirements in the coming months and “negotiate an acceptable price.” According to DSCA, the proposed sale would include the three aircraft fitted with WESCAM MX-15D electro-optical and infrared imaging sensors, AN/AAR-47B(V)2 missile and laser warning systems, AN/ALE-47 countermeasure dispenser systems, KIV-77 Mode 4/5 crypto applique computers for friend and foe identification, plus various advanced receivers and transponders and network encryptors. It would also include mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, special tools and test equipment, ground support equipment, airframe and engine spare parts, as well as training. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada,” DSCA said in a statement. “The proposed sale improves Canada's capability to meet current and future threats; strengthen its homeland defence and the combined defence of North America; and supports coalition partners overseas. This proposed sale will improve interoperability with U.S. forces and other regional allies.” Though CANSOFCOM had been looking at options from a number of potential suppliers, including Canadian manufacturers, a DND spokesperson told ***Skies*** in May that the U.S. government was “identified as the only source of supply capable of providing the fully-integrated solution.” “Aircraft such as these will help enhance the ability of our Special Operations Forces to improve their understanding of the operational environment,” said Jessica Lamirande. “MAISR will have the capacity to be deployed on short notice and will provide the [Canadian Armed Forces] with better situational awareness on the ground and thus positively affecting the ability of CAF leaders to make decisions leading to mission success.” Though the aircraft will be a special forces asset, the King Airs will be operated and maintained by the Royal Canadian Air Force. “The RCAF is the lead force generator for the actual capability,” BGen Michel Lalumiere, director general of Air Force Development, told ***Skies***. “This is a sophisticated system, so there's a lot of integration” for near-real data transfer and ensuring interoperability with allies. ‪ “We will be in contested areas with this aircraft and sometimes adversaries have a vote,” he said. “This aircraft needs to bring, definitely, a set of capabilities to be able to operate in those types of environments.” In addition to modifying the aircraft with ISR equipment, the Canadian government will also seek to procure in-service support (ISS) through a competitive process. On Oct. 4, Public Services and Procurement Canada issued a letter of interest inviting industry to attend a presentation from CANSOFCOM and procurement officials on the sustainment requirements, which have national security implications. A letter of interest for feedback on MAISR in-service support was issued in April and over 15 companies registered to attend an ISS industry day in June. Further industry engagement activities are expected to continue until the spring of 2019. Delivery of the first King Air is expected by 2020. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/canada-gets-green-light-to-buy-king-air-surveillance-aircraft

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  January 23, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  LE MARCHÉ MILITAIRE À LA PORTÉE DES PME RÉGIONALES

  SAGUENAY – La plupart des PME croient que le marché de la défense et des équipements militaires est complexe et inaccessible. En réalité, ce n'est pas le cas. C'est ce qu'ont expliqué Rock Lemay et Patrick Sirois de la firme Triodeaux quelque 40 entrepreneurs de la région lors d'un déjeuner-conférence organisé par la Société de la Vallée de l'Aluminium(SVA), ce matin, au Manoir du Saguenay. « Il est important pour les PME de comprendre que les contrats ne concernent pas les armements et les avions, par exemple. Il y a plein de petites et grandes entreprises qui ont découvert le marché militaire. Ce marché de la défense et des équipements militaires qui avait été délaissé pendant plusieurs années au Canada, connaît une recrudescence dans les investissements afin de renouveler les équipements nécessaires aux soldats. Il ne s'agit pas seulement des produits de haute technologie, mais également de produits et de l'équipement communs tels que les bateaux, les camions, les plateformes, les uniformes et bien d'autres. Par exemple, l'entreprise d'autobus Prévost a une division militaire. L'armée a acheté 1 500 camions en France et Prévost doit les habiller avec des équipements adaptés. C'est là que les sous-traitants rentrent en ligne de compte et peut fournir des équipements comme des coffres, échelle, pièces de métal, plateforme, etc. », explique Patrick Sirois, président de Triode. Forte croissance Au cours des 10 prochaines années, les besoins du marché de la défense connaîtront une forte croissance. Les budgets pour le renouvellement des équipements sont déjà votés et alloués et les différents départements de l'armée s'affairent à déterminer leurs besoins avant d'aller en appel d'offres. « Autre facteur intéressant, Développement économique Canada (DEC) a mis en place au cours des dernières années une politique de retombées industrielles et technologiques qui favorisent les PME et les régions. En gros, cette politique assure que même si le contrat est octroyé à des entreprises étrangères, celles-ci n'auront d'autre choix que de travailler avec des fournisseurs ou des partenaires locaux pour faire de la recherche ou de l'assemblage de produits. » En fait, les prochaines années promettent d'être très intéressantes dans ce marché. Nul besoin d'être impliqué dans des projets d'armement. « Il y a beaucoup d'équipements pour lesquels la défense canadienne cherchera des fournisseurs, tels que des remorques, des ponts, des ponceaux, des équipements logistiques, des conteneurs ainsi que l'ensemble de l'équipement nécessaire à installer et soutenir des campements temporaires. Tous ces projets représentent de belles opportunités pour les entreprises de la région », affirment M. Sirois et son collègue Rock Lemay en précisant que le marché de la défense et des équipements militaires est de plus en plus accessible pour les PME qui savent se préparer et qui ont un minimum de processus déployés dans leur organisation. Enfin, soulignons que ce déjeuner-conférence servait à démystifier le processus et de permettre aux PME qui le désirent d'êtres accompagnées tout au long de la démarche par la SVA et son créneau d'excellence. (Texte en collaboration avec Guy Bouchard) https://informeaffaires.com/regional/manufacturier-et-fournisseur/le-marche-militaire-a-la-portee-des-pme-regionales

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  February 4, 2019 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  BUILDING SECURITY AND DEFENCE IN THE CANADIAN ECONOMY AND SMALL WARS, BIG DATA EVENT SUMMARY

  The CDA Institute, in collaboration with the 13thDefence and Security Economists Workshop, hosted two panel discussions on the themes of Building Security and Defence in the Canadian Economy and a discussion of the book Small Wars, Big Data, published by Princeton University Press in 2018. This morning of roundtables brought both scholars and practitioners together for a stimulating session of dialogue on the challenges of generating the economic capacity needed to protect Canadians wherever they might be and the role that empirical data can play in shaping military strategy and defence policies in asymmetric conflicts. The CDA Institute provided student rapporteurs for the event whose summaries of the proceedings follow. https://cdainstitute.ca/building-security-and-defence-in-the-canadian-economy-and-small-wars-big-data/