Canadian Coast Guard to officially open new Search and Rescue station in Kingston, Ontario

On the same subject

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  March 28, 2023 | Local, Aerospace

  Boeing Statement on Canada?s Multi Mission Aircraft Project

  ARLINGTON, Va., March 27, 2023 – The Canadian Government today announced that it has submitted a Letter of Request through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program, regarding the acquisition of up to 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft. “The P-8A is a proven multi-mission capability that meets all requirements and will protect Canada’s oceans and its borders for future generations. We look forward to working with the U.S. and Canadian governments to finalize this sale under the Foreign Military Sales process. Together with our Canadian industry partners ― CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada, and StandardAero  ― we are committed to delivering 100% Industrial and Technological Benefits that will significantly grow Canada’s aerospace and defense industry.”

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  November 28, 2018 | Local, Naval

  Ottawa’s legal bill nearly $12 million for warship work

  Andrea Gunn (agunn@herald.ca) The federal government has spent $11.8 million on legal fees relating to the Canadian Surface Combatant project over the past two years, some of that owing to a large number of amendments to the project's request for proposals. In an answer to a written question posed last month by a Calgary Conservative MP, Public Services and Procurement Canada confirmed that 88 amendments had been made between July 1, 2016, and Oct. 2, 2018 to the request for proposals for the massive, multibillion-dollar project that aims to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's fleet of frigates. The request for proposals — the document that interested consortiums would have crafted their bids around — was released to 12 companies that had been pre-qualified to participate in the procurement by Irving Shipbuilding in October 2016. Irving is the prime contractor for the combat portion of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which includes the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and the Canadian Surface Combatant, and is tasked with building the 15 warships at its Halifax shipyard. At a projected cost of between $56 and $60 billion, it's the largest and most complex procurement in Canadian history. There were a number of delays in the closing date for the request for proposals. Originally set for April 2017, the first bids weren't received until last November. In its many technical briefings and media releases from that period, PSPC said the delays were partially as a result of the back-and-forth between industry, government and Irving — feedback which resulted in a number of amendments to the RFP. “A total of 88 amendments were issued by Irving Shipbuilding between November 1, 2016 and August 13 2018,” the order paper question response reads. “These amendments were developed and issued to address inquiries from the 12 pre-qualified bidders, and to incorporate process improvements to the competitive RFP so as to maximize the opportunities for bidders to demonstrate the value of their solutions to Canada.” The response goes on to say the $11.8 million was spent by the government of Canada on project legal fees during the amendment period, but that PSPC is not able to provide a breakdown on how much was spent on the amendments themselves. PSPC also noted that because Irving issued the RFP, they would have also incurred legal fees. In the end, three firms submitted bids for the Canadian Surface Combatant and last month the federal government chose a consortium of Lockheed Martin Canada and BAE Systems offering the UK navy's Type 26 global combat ship as the preferred bidder. Full article: https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/local/feds-legal-bill-nearly-12m-for-warship-work-261231/

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  March 9, 2023 | Local, Aerospace, Other Defence

  Minister Anand updates National Defence stakeholders on progress to modernize the Canadian Armed Forces for tomorrow’s security challenges

  March 9, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces As the international security environment changes, the Government of Canada is continually working to equip our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel with the tools that they need to protect Canada. To that end, as outlined in Canada’s defence policy, we are increasing our defence investments by over 70 percent between 2017 and 2026, and we are making additional targeted investments in continental defence and other priority areas. Today at the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence hosted by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, Defence Minister Anita Anand updated industry partners, stakeholders, and defence experts on our work to protect Canadians, by announcing that Canada will be acquiring Portable Anti-X Missile systems, Counter Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, and Air Defence Systems as Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). The urgent procurement of these capabilities will improve the self-protection of military members deployed in Eastern Europe as part of Operation REASSURANCE. The Portable Anti-X Missile systems (PAXM) – Urgent Operational Requirement project will provide PAXM systems including missiles, simulators and associated support to empower the CAF personnel deployed with the Canada-led multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia with training and the capability to destroy main battle tanks. As part of this streamlined procurement process, it is expected a Request for Proposal will be issued in the coming months with a contract award in mid-2023. The Counter Uncrewed Aircraft System – Urgent Operational Requirement (CUAS UOR) project will provide a CUAS capability that will provide protection measures against hostile Class 1 UAS for CAF personnel deployed in the Operation REASSURANCE theatre of operations. A Request for Information was issued on March 2, 2023. The project will be executed with a phased implementation approach. A contract award for Dismounted Equipment and Fixed Site Systems is estimated for Fall 2023. A contract award for Vehicle Mounted, Fully Integrated Systems is estimated for early 2024. The Air Defence – Urgent Operational Requirement (AD UOR) project will acquire a soldier portable Very-Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD) for the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia in order to defeat attack aircraft and Class 1 UAS within its area of operations. A Request for Information is expected to be issued in March 2023 and a Request for Proposal is expected during Summer 2023. The timeframe for contract award is currently estimated for early 2024. Minister Anand also announced today that Canada has awarded a contract for the Redwing space domain awareness microsatellite project, valued at $15.8 million. Through this project, the Department of National Defence (DND) is investing in research and development to monitor objects orbiting Earth with a new agile microsatellite designed, built, and operated in Canada. To help reduce future risks to Canada’s space infrastructure from space debris or human-caused interference, the Redwing microsatellite will monitor objects in congested orbits and will be able to record and transmit tracking data from anywhere in its orbit. Redwing will also be able to take images of nearby space objects and monitor space objects performing unexpected maneuvers. The Redwing project is directed by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) with design, manufacturing, and operations led by Magellan Aerospace (Winnipeg, Manitoba). The ground stations will be located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and Happy Valley Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. The design phase is expected to be complete by fall 2024 with the microsatellite built and tested by 2026. Launch is planned for late 2026. Finally, Minister Anand invited attendees, other stakeholders, and all Canadians to participate in ongoing consultations for Canada’s Defence Policy Update (DPU). The DPU builds on Canada’s defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) and will help ensure that the CAF is able to meet any threat in the changed global security environment. Canadians are invited to contribute to the consultations through a new web form where they can provide comments and feedback in response to the DPU’s focus areas until April 30, 2023. Since the announcement of the review of Canada’s defence policy in Budget 2022, DND has undertaken targeted engagements with Canadian industry leaders and Canadian defence and security companies, Canadian defence and security experts, including academics, Members of Parliament and Senators, and Indigenous leaders. Internationally, DND has also engaged with Allies and partners, including NORAD, Five Eyes, and NATO– many of which are also undergoing similar review processes. Quotes “As our world grows more complex, we are making the necessary investments to modernize the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment that its members need to keep Canadians safe. Modernization is a team effort, and that is why we are working concurrently to update Canada’s defence policy in consultation with industry partners, experts, and Canadians. We are continuing to build a modern military that can protect our country from a range of new and emerging threats.” The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence Quick facts  Following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, an analysis of the Canadian Armed Forces’ urgent needs led to the designation of air defence, counter-uncrewed aircraft system, and anti-tank weapon system capabilities as Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) for the Canadian Armed Forces. The UOR is a procurement mechanism that can be used to procure essential equipment on an accelerated timeline.  The Redwing research and development microsatellite will perform space domain awareness observations of Earth-orbiting space objects in low-earth orbit , geosynchronous orbit  and near Cislunar altitudes with a view toward protection of Canada’s space infrastructure. DRDC will direct operations with Royal Canadian Air Force  support through 3 Canadian Space Division. The initiative is funded by DRDC, using the Canadian Safety and Security Program call for proposal competitive contracting mechanism through Public Services and Procurement Canada. On March 9, 2023, Minister Anand announced the opening of Defence Policy Update (DPU) consultations to all Canadians. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/03/minister-anand-updates-national-defence-stakeholders-on-progress-to-modernize-the-canadian-armed-forces-for-tomorrows-security-challenges.html