Canadian, U.S. and other navy chiefs visit China as militaries try to rebuild relations

On the same subject

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  October 3, 2022 | Local, Land

  Government of Canada awards support services contract for Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, Nunavut

  October 3, 2022 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Following a fair, open and transparent competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, has awarded a $122 million contract (including taxes) to Nasittuq Corporation, from Ottawa, Ontario, to provide support services to CFS Alert in Nunavut for an initial period of eight-and-a-half years. CFS Alert is a military station located in Nunavut on the north-eastern tip of Ellesmere Island, the northernmost island of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. CFS Alert maintains signals intelligence facilities to support Canadian military operations and plays a key role in projecting Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. Environment and Climate Change Canada operates a weather station in CFS Alert, though the station is a closed military facility not open to public access or use. The contract with Nasittuq Corporation covers all site support services for CFS Alert, including accommodations, food services, maintenance and operation of grounds and roads (including runway), power plants, buildings, generators, water and sewage treatment systems, fire alarm systems, fuel storage tanks, and a quarry operation. Nasittuq Corporation will also provide maintenance and extensive repair work of some of the 90 buildings on the station – including 19 major structures. The services provided through this contract will help provide personnel with well-maintained workplaces that support effective base operations, and the necessary capability to live and work in the Arctic environment. The Canadian Content Policy and Canada's obligations under the Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements including the recent Treasury Board of Canada issued Directive on Government Contracts in the Nunavut Settlement Area are being applied to this contract. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2022/10/government-of-canada-awards-support-services-contract-for-canadian-forces-station-cfs-alert-nunavut.html

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  January 15, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

  Canadian government to spend estimated $800M more to keep aging CF-18s in fighting shape

  OTTAWA — The federal government is planning to invest hundreds of millions of dollars more to ensure Canada's aging CF-18s can still fight while the country waits for replacement jets, which were originally expected years ago. The extra money comes after the federal auditor general warned in late 2018 that Canada's fighter jets risked being outmatched by more advanced adversaries due to a lack of combat upgrades since 2008 and will result in new weapons, sensors and defensive systems for the fleet. Royal Canadian Air Force commander Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger estimated the added cost will be around $800 million, which is on top of the $3 billion the government has already set aside to extend the lives of the CF-18s and purchase 18 secondhand fighter jets from Australia. “Canada has a history of upgrading their fighter aircraft,” Meinzinger said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press. “It's a consequence of the fact that over time, threats ... advance as technology advances.” The air force did not initially plan any upgrades to the CF-18s' combat systems after 2008 because it expected to retire the last of the fleet by 2020, when a new fleet of jets was to have taken over. Instead, thanks to how successive governments have managed — or mismanaged — the jet file over the past decade, a competition to select a new fighter for the air force is only now underway. Even then, the last CF-18 isn't scheduled to be retired until 2032. The air force “imagined perhaps transitioning the fighter force a little bit earlier,” Meinzinger acknowledged, which is why the need to invest in the CF-18s' combat systems wasn't taken — or even apparent — earlier. “Because we anticipate flying the aircraft longer, this is why we're doing what we're doing to ensure we've got at least parity with the threats that we would see over that timeline before we can transition to the new fighter,” he added. The federal auditor general flagged concerns with the combat effectiveness of Canada's CF-18s in a report in November 2018, warning that the planes “will become more vulnerable as advanced combat aircraft and air defence systems continue to be developed and used by other nations.” The auditor general also found that even though the Department of National Defence had decided to invest money into the CF-18s to keep them flying past 2020, it “removed upgrades to combat capability,” in part because of “cost concerns.” Documents obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act show the auditor general's office initially wanted to say the fleet was “not fully capable for combat.” But defence officials said that could “compromise operational security” and suggested toned down language. “We've got an excellent capability,” Meinzinger said when asked about the state of the fleet. “The fighter force has got an outstanding reputation globally. They stand the watch 24/7, 365 under the NORAD rubric. ... I don't want Canadians to be worried about where we're at today.” The U.S. Marines are looking at keeping their F-18s — upon which the CF-18 is based — in the air until the 2030s, and Meinzinger said the two forces are working together to identify the best ways to do that. “We've made it a priority and we're moving as fast as we can to get it delivered,” he said. “Obviously our intent is always to ensure that we're making the investments such that we believe that we've got at least parity against the threats that we would face.” https://nationalpost.com/news/air-force-to-spend-hundred-of-millions-more-to-keep-cf-18s-fighting-fit

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  November 4, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  A Second Wind for the Quebec and Canadian Economy

  AAA CANADA WILL PRESERVE MORE THAN 250 TEMPORARY JOBS IN QUEBEC THANKS TO THE SUB-ASSEMBLY OF CAE AIR1 MECHANICAL VENTILATORS MONTREAL, Nov. 3, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - A few months ago, the Canadian government awarded CAE, a world leader in civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare training, an order for 10,000 units of CAE Air1, its new model of mechanical ventilator designed to save lives in hospitals across the country. AAA Canada, a leading manufacturer in industrialization and production, has been mandated by CAE to carry out certain sub-assemblies of this very important device. During these difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this partnership is indeed, very promising. To ensure the fulfillment of this major mandate, AAA Canada has invested more than $450,000 in infrastructure required for the development of sub-assembly lines at affiliate company sites located respectively in Laval and Mirabel. The contract, won by AAA Canada, allows it not only to recall a large number of its workers whom were temporarily laid off following the crisis that affected the aerospace industry as a whole, but also to proceed with the creation of several temporary positions. An invaluable mandate at a time when the economy is faltering, and businesses are running out of steam. "The health crisis has stifled the Quebec and Canadian economy. The production of the CAE Air1 gave it an unexpected second wind. Thanks to the government's unwavering support, CAE's ingenuity and the great responsiveness and flexibility of our workers, we will be able to maintain and create nearly 250 temporary jobs, while helping to save lives. We are very grateful to CAE for this wonderful opportunity and I am extremely proud to witness, once again, AAA Canada's great determination to dare and innovate," said Avit Lévesque, General Manager of AAA Canada. "This is a substantial subsidy as it is equal to the threat this second wave presents to the public health and to the overcrowding of hospitals nationwide. We are proud to have AAA Canada among the Canadian suppliers involved in this collective effort to fight COVID-19. We thank them for their excellent support, expertise and agility," added Stéphane Roche, Vice President Global Procurement Sourcing and Real Estate at CAE. About AAA Canada (www.aaa-canada.ca/home) AAA Canada, an affiliate of DRAKKAR Aerospace & Ground Transportation, is a specialized subcontracting and technical assistance services company related to industrialization and production processes, operating in the aerospace, ground transportation, energy and now health sectors. AAA Canada has a team of passionate workers and draws its strength from the AAA European Group located in the 4 corners of the globe. Supported by AAA Group's international expertise, we provide a proven intervention method to deliver a high-quality finished product to our customers. Our approach to productivity, timeliness, quality and efficiency gives us a place of choice within our clients' facilities and operations. About CAE (www.cae.com) CAE is a high technology company, at the leading edge of digital immersion, providing solutions to make the world a safer place. Backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to reimagine the customer experience and revolutionize training and operational support solutions in civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare. We are the partner of choice to customers worldwide who operate in complex, high-stakes and largely regulated environments, where successful outcomes are critical. Testament to our customers' ongoing needs for our solutions, over 60 percent of CAE's revenue is recurring in nature. We have the broadest global presence in our industry, with approximately 10,000 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. www.cae.com SOURCE AAA Canada For further information: Contact Person: AAA Canada, Rosalie Côté, Senior Director - Communication & Marketing, rosalie.cote@drakkar.com, 514-806-0798 https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/a-second-wind-for-the-quebec-and-canadian-economy-885079492.html