Canadian special forces vehicle purchase faces more delays

On the same subject

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  August 22, 2018 | Local, Naval

  Government of Canada makes long-term investments to protect Canadian ships and sailors with modern and efficient equipment

  News release August 17, 2018 – Esquimalt, B.C. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Through Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the Royal Canadian Navy remains an agile, multi-purpose and responsive naval force. In support of this commitment, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, highlighted the award of two contracts related to maritime equipment today. The contracts will acquire, upgrade, and sustain defensive systems for the Royal Canadian Navy. These long-term investments will enhance and improve the Royal Canadian Navy capabilities and sustain more than 50 jobs annually for many years to come. The two contracts are as follows: A $94.2-million contract to Lockheed Martin Canada to maintain and overhaul, the Reprogrammable Advance Multimode Shipboard Electronic Countermeasures System (RAMSES). A $21.1-million contract to Rheinmetall Canada to procure and install a third launcher on the frigates, improving the current MASS configuration. RAMSES is an electronic attack system that protects the modernized Halifax-class frigates against radio frequency guided missiles. It employs jamming signals to track and distract anti-ship missiles from hitting the ship. MASS is an integral part of the anti-ship missile defence suite. It is a firing system used to launch decoys to project vessels against anti-ship missiles guided by radio frequency, laser and infrared seekers. Both contracts will help naval combat operators continue to protect Canadian ships and sailors with modern and efficient equipment, while helping to bolster our Royal Canadian Navy across its fleets. Quotes “These investments in our Royal Canadian Navy will provide our women and men in uniform with what they need for successful missions, and deliver jobs, both here in British Columbia and across Canada for years to come. Our defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, promised an agile, multi-purpose Navy and we are delivering on that promise with today's $115 million investment.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister “Our Government is committed to building a more agile, better-equipped military, while ensuring the best value for Canadians. These systems will provide the frigates of the Royal Canadian Navy with the modern equipment they need to do their jobs safely and securely in various environment, at home or abroad.” – Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Disability Quick facts The RAMSES contract will be valid until the late 2030s, If all options are exercised, and will ensure maintenance of the Halifax-class frigates' electronic attack capability. The MASS replaced the obsolete SHIELD system. The installation of a third launcher will enable 360° anti-ship missile defence coverage for the Halifax-class frigates. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/08/government-of-canada-makes-long-term-investments-to-protect-canadian-ships-and-sailors-with-modern-and-efficient-equipment.html

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  October 11, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  Purchase of three spy planes from the U.S. could cost Canada $140 million more than planned

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Canadian companies had wanted to provide the aircraft, but the Canadian military decided it needed the planes quicker than they believed Canadian firms could deliver The cost of three small surveillance aircraft Canada is buying from the U.S. could be $140 million more than the Canadian military had originally estimated. The three Beechcraft King Air planes, to be based at CFB Trenton in Ontario, will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cell phone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada. On Oct. 1 the Canadian Forces told Postmedia the three outfitted planes and initial in-service support would cost between $100 million and $249 million, as outlined in the Liberal government's defence policy documents. However, on Oct. 4 the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency revealed the final tally, informing Congress that the deal was underway with an estimated cost of US $300 million — around $389 million. Canadian companies had wanted to provide the aircraft and on-board equipment, and several have formed alliances with U.S. firms who supply the Pentagon with the same or similar aircraft. But the Canadian military decided it needed the planes more quickly than they believed Canadian companies could deliver, and that U.S. security regulations governing the on-board sensor equipment might cause delays. As a result, it determined the U.S. government was the only supplier capable of providing the planes. The Canadian Forces says it hopes to get a better deal. The cost the U.S. government agency presented to Congress is not the final tally and the “final cost is anticipated to be much lower,” the Canadian Forces claimed in an email. “Over the coming months, we will work to more clearly define our interests and requirements for the purchase, and negotiate an acceptable price with the U.S.,” the email said. Department of National Defence spokeswoman Ashley Lemire said in an email to Postmedia that the delivery of the first plane would take place sometime between 2020 and 2021. The final delivery of the three aircraft would be wrapped up by 2022. The main contractor is Beechcraft in Wichita, Kan. The Canadian government will run a separate program to allow companies to compete to provide in-service support for the planes. The government expects to ask for bids for that 20-year contract sometime in the spring of 2019, said Lemire. DND declined to provide an estimate of what that long-term support would cost taxpayers. Industry representatives have complained over the years that the Canadian Forces cut domestic firms out of the project and reduced the role they could play. Lemire rejected that claim, saying Canadian firms would have a role in servicing the planes. https://calgaryherald.com/news/purchase-of-three-spy-planes-from-the-u-s-will-cost-canada-140-million-more-than-planned

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  March 11, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Trudeau open to more military spending due to Russian invasion of Ukraine - Canadian Manufacturing

  Defence analyst David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute said Canada spent years underfunding the military.