Canadian special forces pilots warn they are being held back by inferior equipment and the obsolete Griffon helicopter

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  August 13, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  Canadian Space Agency Prepares for Busy Six Months of Industry Events

  The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is seemingly doing more industry events these past few years than in the past, and the next six months will see up six events scheduled. The upcoming events are: September 16 – 20: CSA 2019 Fall Industry days – Canadian industry stakeholders will have the opportunity to explore the Lunar Gateway Program and meet with international primes to discuss potential partnerships at CSA Headquarters in Saint-Hubert. QC. More information released coming soon. October 17 – 18: CSA International Industry Days – Canadian industry will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of German and Brazilian space industries, governments and military at CSA Headquarters in Saint-Hubert, QC. More information released coming soon. October 21 – 25: International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2019 – Satellite Canada Innovation Network Inc. (SatCan) is leading the Canada Pavilion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress 2019 being held in Washington, DC. Over 4,000 people are expected as the Americans put on a show for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission. February 2020: Investment Space 2020 – The inaugural InvestmentSpace event last February was very successful so the CSA is planning the next edition for February 2020. Exact dates and location TBC. The CSA is also planning possible delegations to Australia and Japan depending on industry interest. Australia: GEO Ministerial, 4-9 November 2019, Canberra Last year, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) that establishes a cooperative framework for joint activities, exchange of expertise, greater cooperation in the areas of research and development, academic exchange and industry collaboration. In line with the agreement, the CSA is considering a mission to Australia on the margins of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) Ministerial Summit and Industry Track (detailed information attached) in Canberra. This could take various forms, including 1) Outreach Program and 2) Booth where you can exhibit your products. In addition, GEO events may provide opportunities to network with potential Asian partners and with the Digital Africa Initiative. If there is enough interest, the CSA could work with Trade Commissioner Service in Australia to develop an outreach program, including meetings with Australia Space Agency senior officials and B2Bs with Australian companies. Expo space (Canada Booth) during GEO week could be arranged if there is enough interest from the Canadian space industry. For 2019 the GEO Secretariat is introducing a new Associate Member category designed to encourage industry's participation in GEO. Associate Members would be invited to participate in GEO Plenaries, thus providing insights into the data and information needs of the GEO community to potentially inform investments and gain access to market opportunities in the GEO member states. Canada's lead for GEO, Environment and Climate Change Canada, would have to provide Canadian companies with a Letter of Support to become an Associate Member (the CSA could facilitate this process). Would you be interested in participating in this mission? YES/NO Would you be interested in participating in a Canadian booth at the Expo? YES/NO Would you be interested in becoming a GEO Associate Member? YES/NO Japan: Option 1 – CSA-led Mission and attendance to DSEI, 18-19 November 2019, Chiba and Tokyo This potential mission could be co-organized between CSA and Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), and would include participation to the DSEI and access to Canadian Pavilion organized by CADSI . DSEI Japan would be an important defence event and will bring together participants from the global defence and security sector, as well as the Japanese defence community to explore partnerships, innovative projects and share knowledge. The CSA could work with Trade Commissioner Service Tokyo to develop an additional space-focused outreach program to include site visits and meetings with senior JAXA officials and Japanese industry sector organisations, on the margins of DSEI event. Would you be interested to participate in this mission? YES/NO Would you be interested to be part of CADSI Canadian Pavilion during DSEI event: YES/NO Japan: Option 2 – CSA-led Stand Alone Mission (end of January – early February 2020), Tokyo The CSA could develop a space-focused outreach program with the Trade Commissioner Service to include site visits and meetings with senior JAXA officials and Japanese industry sector organisations; the approximate duration of this mission would be 1 week. Would you be interested to participate in this mission? YES/NO If interested in the Australia or Japan opportunities, the CSA was looking for responses to these questions by last Friday emailed to asc.relationsindustrie-industryrelations.csa@canada.ca. As well they were asking you to include specific areas of interest (your interested in) to ensure that outreach programs and meetings with foreign government officials are relevant to your needs. http://spaceq.ca/canadian-space-agency-prepares-for-busy-six-month-of-industry-events/

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  December 17, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

  Saab offers two aerospace centres in Gripen E proposal for Canada’s Future Fighter

  By Garrett Reim14 December 2020 Saab is offering to open two new aerospace centres as part of its Gripen E proposal for Canada's Future Fighter Capability Project. The aerospace facilities, the Gripen Centre and the Aerospace Research & Development Centre, would be based in the greater Montreal region, the company announced at Aero Montreal's International Aerospace Innovation Forum 2020 on 14 December. Mission system software and hardware development, as well as integration, for the proposed Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Gripen E would be done at the Gripen Centre. The Aerospace Research & Development Centre would focus on a variety of aerospace technologies, including automation, artificial intelligence and “greening” technologies. That work may or may not be directly related to the Gripen E. Rather, the research and development would focus on next-generation aerospace technologies more generally. Saab is also in talks with undisclosed local universities about partnerships related to the aerospace centres, it says. Saab has only about 50 people working in Canada currently, across various businesses such as maritime traffic management and army training and simulation work. However, between the two aerospace centres, the company anticipates at least 3,000 people being directly employed. The RCAF is looking to buy 88 advanced fighters to replace its fleet of Boeing CF-18 Hornets. Canada's Department of National Defence estimates acquisition of the aircraft, related equipment and entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($11.8-14.9 billion). A contract is scheduled to be awarded in 2022 after evaluation by the RCAF. The air force wants the first jets received as soon as 2025. The new fleet is expected to fly beyond 2060. In addition to Saab, the RCAF received bids in July from Boeing, which is offering its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin, which is offering F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters. Canada is also part of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme, spending more than $500 million on the effort since 1997, an investment that has allowed Canadian companies to secure C$1.8 billion in contracts from the project. However, Ottawa has not yet committed to buying F-35s, hence the acquisition competition. Politicians objected to F-35s in part due to the high cost of early examples of the stealth fighter. The cost of the F-35A has fallen to $77.9 million per unit, though operating costs remains high, at $35,000 hourly. Lockheed has promised to lower that figure to $25,000 hourly by 2025. For its part, Saab has proposed that Canada's IMP Aerospace & Defence would handle in-country production of the Gripen E, and provide support over the lifetime of the fleet. The company says initial aircraft would be produced in Sweden to meet Ottawa's goal of first fighter delivery in 2025. It is still evaluating how many aircraft could be made in Canada, but says it aims to “maximise” the number. The rest of the Saab Gripen for Canada team would include CAE, which is to provide training and mission systems; Peraton Canada, which is to supply avionic and test equipment, as well as component maintenance, repair and overhaul, and material management; and GE Aviation, which is set to provide and sustain the fighters' turbine engines. https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/saab-offers-two-aerospace-centres-in-gripen-e-proposal-for-canadas-future-fighter/141602.article

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  February 15, 2023 | Local, Other Defence

  Joint Declaration of the Defence Ministers of Canada, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom

  February 15, 2022 – Brussels, Belgium – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces We, the Ministers of Defence of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Host Nations, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and the respective Framework Nations, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany reaffirm our commitment to protecting our populations and those of our Allies. We will continue to significantly strengthen the Deterrence and Defence of the Baltic Region as part of NATO’s Collective Defence obligations. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine is defining the future security landscape of Europe and beyond.  Russia is and will remain the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security. We – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany, with full respect to the different approaches towards the tailored presence in the Baltic States, will coordinate efforts with each other and NATO in order to achieve the most effective and credible deterrence and defence posture in the region. To support this goal, we seek to closer strengthen our cooperation through: Integration of the eFP into the further implementation of the Concept for Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area, including into new defence plans, modernized force structure, and command and control arrangements, in close coordination with NATO. Closely working on pre-positioning of equipment and ammunition in the Baltic States. We will exchange our approaches to find the most suitable way for the preparation of our forces, including stockpiling and pre-positioning of weapons, ammunition, material and equipment. Enhancing our collective defence including increased Allied presence in the Baltics, exercises to be prepared for high intensity and multi-domain operations and ensured reinforcement of an Ally on short notice. Actively seeking ways to exchange information regarding training, exercises, force deployments, and other similar high profiled initiatives. Coordination of our Strategic Communications in order to maximize the Deterrence and Defence effects of our commitments as well as disseminating and promoting coherent NATO messaging and priorities The Baltic countries will continue to invest in infrastructure and training opportunities to ensure all necessary Host Nation Support. Our commitment to Article 5 is resolute and firm. We, as Defence Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany, are committed to the implementation of the 2022 Madrid Summit decisions and will continue to work together to strengthen NATO’s Posture in the Region. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/02/joint-declaration-of-the-defence-ministers-of-canada-estonia-germany-latvia-lithuania-and-the-united-kingdom.html