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December 7, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

Feds to move military aircraft testing from Alberta to Ottawa, but Cold Lake politicians say they're in the dark

David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen and Tyler Dawson

DND officials said there had been consultation about the move with local politicians. 'It's totally not true,' said local MP David Yurdiga

The federal government will create a new centre of excellence in Ottawa to support aircraft testing, but it will come at the cost of relocating staff and shutting down existing military facilities in Alberta.

The move affects the Canadian military's Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, or AETE, which has been at Cold Lake, Alta. since 1971. Under the new plan AETE would be relocated to the international airport in Ottawa and partnered with the National Research Council Flight Research Laboratory and Transport Canada Aircraft Services Directorate to create a centre of excellence for flight testing and evaluation. The move would affect almost one-third of the unit, which employs 166 military personnel and 22 public servants. The remaining two-thirds would be reassigned to other air force functions, said Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier.

Moving AETE will save $14 million a year and free up space for the arrival of more fighter jets at Cold Lake. Canada is in the process of purchasing used fighter aircraft from Australia and the federal government has committed to buying 88 new jets to replace the existing fleet of CF-18s.

“This partnership will streamline our flight testing and evaluation capability, while ensuring sufficient space is available for the arrival of additional fighter aircraft in Cold Lake,” Le Bouthillier said.

The move, however, is not sitting well with local politicians.

David Yurdiga, the Conservative MP for the area, said he'd heard about the move on Monday when it was raised at the House Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts. DND officials briefing the committee said there had been consultation about the move with local politicians. “It's totally not true,” said Yurdiga.

Craig Copeland, the mayor of Cold Lake, said the city hasn't yet received a briefing from officials in Ottawa. “It's been sort of verbally mentioned over the years that there would be a re-org,” he explained. “We're hoping to get somebody to brief us.”

Details about the exact number of jobs that will be moved from Alberta are still not clear. It is not known how many of the air force personnel who will be reassigned to new jobs would continue to operate from Cold Lake.

Yurdiga said the loss of jobs would hit the community hard but he added that defence minister Harjit Sajjan had assured him there would be a “net benefit” to the community. “Cold Lake can't afford to lose even one position,” Yurdiga said.

“There are so many unanswered questions and uncertainty is what the community is facing,” he added.

Copeland said he had heard an estimate of 50 jobs being lost. That would be a real blow to the area, already suffering from depressed oil prices, and with a home foreclosure rate, he said, of around 10 per cent. “That is concerning to me,” Copeland said. “On the one hand it's tough to see people leave our community but on the other hands, we are hopeful — and expecting — that the Canadian military's going to be investing (locally) for the new fighter jet program.”

AETE currently occupies the second-largest and newest hangar at Cold Lake, which will be repurposed for other air force needs, including the new fighter program.

The final details of the move are still being worked on, including costs, Le Bouthillier said. DND is in ongoing discussions with the Ottawa International Airport Authority regarding the location of the new centre, he added.

The costs for relocating AETE are included in the $470 million the Liberal government has set aside for buying the used Australian F-18 fighter jets, and would not take place before summer 2021.

The Cold Lake location was primarily selected for AETE because of the large evaluation range nearby and its favourable climate for flight testing. AETE employs test pilots, flight test engineers, qualified systems evaluators, specialist engineers, and technologists.

Postmedia first revealed the proposal to move AETE in April 2016. The plan first started under the Conservative government but the Liberals continued with the relocation initiative. At the time the Canadian Forces said it would still use the bombing ranges associated with the Cold Lake installation but other test work could be moved.

At the time, the military told defence industry representatives the remote Cold Lake location made it challenging to attract or retain people and that relocating could save money.

https://nationalpost.com/news/so-many-unanswered-questions-feds-to-move-military-aircraft-testing-from-alberta-to-ottawa-but-locals-say-theyre-in-the-dark

On the same subject

  • Remarks by Minister Anand for the CDAI Ottawa conference on security and defence - a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow

    March 16, 2023 | Local, Other Defence

    Remarks by Minister Anand for the CDAI Ottawa conference on security and defence - a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow

    Speech Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Senators, Members of the House of Commons, General Eyre, Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Distinguished guests from around the world. Good morning. Bienvenue. And welcome to Ottawa. I would like to sincerely thank Executive Director Youri Cormier and everyone at CDAI for giving me the opportunity to speak to you. Friends, we gather today at an inflection point. The international rules that have preserved peace, stability, and democracy for decades are under direct threat, as Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its second year. Putin thought that Kyiv would fall. He thought he could use this winter to conquer Ukraine. He thought that Europe would freeze in the dark.  And he thought that NATO would fracture. But he was wrong. The NATO alliance has only become stronger. Winter in Ukraine is almost over. Amidst the rubble, spring flowers are beginning to bloom in Ukraine. And, the Ukrainian flag continues to fly overhead. In the face of Putin’s imperial illusions, the strength, hope, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people are inspiring the world. Canada has stood in solidarity with Ukraine from the beginning. We have committed over one billion dollars of military aid for Ukraine – including, most recently, eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks, over 200 armoured vehicles, and a NASAMS air defence system. We have trained thirty-five thousand Ukrainian personnel under Operation UNIFIER, And earlier this week, we announced that we are extending Canadian training of Ukrainian sappers in Poland through to October and deploying an additional team of Canadian Armed Forces medical personnel to Poland, where they will train Ukrainian forces in advanced tactical medical skills. And I would like to recognize General Wayne Eyre, our Chief of the Defence Staff, who has just returned from visiting our personnel deployed on Operation UNIFIER. Thank you, Chief, for your leadership. We are also supporting Ukraine by deploying the Royal Canadian Air Force to Prestwick, Scotland, a hub from which our aviators have transported over seven million pounds of Ukraine-bound military aid within Europe, from Canada, and on behalf of our Allies and partners. Their unwavering dedication is exemplified by their motto – Can’t stop, won’t stop – and that’s a motto that we believe in too.But let’s be clear: while Ukraine’s fight for freedom and sovereignty remains the focus, the security challenges do not end with Europe. China is an increasingly disruptive global power. It increasingly disregards international rules and norms, and it is making large-scale investments to establish its military capabilities. As China continues to militarize that region, it is also challenging navigation and overflight rights, and it has engaged in coercive diplomacy. Canada must, and will, unapologetically defend our national interests, as we outlined in our Indo-Pacific Strategy. In order to respond to global challenges like these, and protect Canadian interests both at home and abroad, we need to build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow – and this is what I’m here to discuss. How do we ensure that we are ready for tomorrow? We start with our people, who must be protected, respected, and empowered to serve when they put on their uniform every day. As such, my top priority continues to be meaningful, durable, and robust culture change across our institution. Culture change is a team effort, and I salute the many culture change champions here today. Being ready for tomorrow also involves recapitalizing. And we are focused on providing the Canadian Armed Forces the equipment that they need to do their jobs and defend Canada. As part of our Strong, Secure, Engaged defence policy, we have committed to increasing our military spending by more than 70% in nine years. Last year, and as the world changed before our eyes, we knew we needed to go further. That’s why, through Budget 2022, we added eight billion dollars in new defence spending over five years. With these investments, we are modernizing our capabilities across all domains – and this is a definite priority for me as Minister. We are signing contracts, finalizing procurements, moving faster, and pushing harder, to deliver our personnel the materiel, resources, and equipment that they need to do their jobs and protect Canada. And, ultimately, we are building a Canadian Armed Forces that will be ready for tomorrow. Let me start with the Air Force. We’re ensuring that the Royal Canadian Air Force is ready for tomorrow. As I announced in January, Canada is acquiring a new fleet of eighty-eight F-35 fighter jets. These state-of-the-art aircraft are the best fighters for Canada, and they will solidify our ability to protect Canada for decades to come. Our investments in the Royal Canadian Air Force include not only aircraft, but also the infrastructure required for these aircraft at both the Cold Lake and Bagotville bases. That’s not all. One of our Air Force’s most important missions is the protection of the North American continent – and that’s why, in June 2022, we announced Canada’s plan to modernize NORAD, backed by an investment of 38.6 billion dollars over the next two decades. This plan invests in: Arctic and Polar Over-the-Horizon radar, C2, air weapons, infrastructure, research, and development. And, as we make these investments, we will work hand-in-hand with Indigenous and Northern partners, to ensure that the economic benefits are shared from coast to coast to coast. And at sea? We’re building a Navy that’s ready for tomorrow. We continue the work of delivering a new fleet of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants for our Navy, with the project now in its design phase and construction expected to begin next year. This is the largest modernization of our naval fleet in decades, and it will ensure excellent interoperability with our allies. On land, we are building a Canadian Army that’s ready for tomorrow. We are equipping the Canadian Army with a new and modern fleet of 360 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, replacing the current LAV II Bisons and M113 Tracked LAV fleets. This fleet will serve as ambulances, mobile repair and vehicle recovery vehicles, as well as engineer support vehicles and command posts, for both domestic and international operations. But, we know that there are several crucial capabilities that we need to move ahead with – faster. Canada’s largest foreign military deployment is on NATO’s eastern flank, in Latvia, and our troops must have the equipment that they need to protect themselves and do their jobs. And that is why today, I am delighted to share with you that we are proceeding with three procurements as Urgent Operational Requirements – or UORs. Through this accelerated procurement mechanism, we will rapidly deliver the following equipment for our Canadian Armed Forces. First: Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems – capable of providing targeted strikes against armoured threats. This project will provide PAXM systems including missiles, simulators and associated support to empower the Canadian Armed Forces with training and the capability to effectively destroy main battle tanks. Second: a Counter Un-crewed Aerial System capability, to provide protection against hostile un-crewed aerial vehicles – and this capability, too, will help protect our personnel deployed in Europe. And third: a short-range Air Defence System, which will also be capable of defeating attack aircraft and Class 1 un-crewed aerial systems in the context of the Canadian-led, enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia. Today, I am delighted to announce that we are proceeding with three procurements as Urgent Operational Requirements. Through this accelerated procurement mechanism, we will rapidly acquire the following: Anti‑Tank Guided Missile systems, a Counter Un-crewed Aerial System capability, and a short‑range Air Defence System. These projects will better equip our Canadian Armed Forces members deployed on NATO’s Eastern Flank with the capabilities that they need. Canada’s leadership of the NATO Battle Group in Latvia demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the Alliance. And these new capabilities will further bolster the security of Allied troops under Canadian command on NATO’s Eastern Flank.           As we continue to equip our people in the traditional domains, we must also be laser-focused on emerging domains like space – and we must ensure that we are ready for tomorrow. Last summer, I ordered the creation of 3 Canadian Space Division. This reorganization of the Canadian Armed Forces serves to facilitate decision-making on matters related to the protection of Canadian assets in space. It will help us observe and attribute irresponsible behaviour in space and allow us to continue to establish common standards of responsible behaviour. It also allows Canada to further its collaboration with partnered and allied armed forces such as France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Germany. Space is crucial to our national security. Canada uses military and civilian assets in space, including GPS and communications systems. If those assets are threatened by adversaries, we risk losing our cell phone services, our banking, our internet, and our navigation systems. It is critical that we are aware of what’s happening in the space domain, so that we can monitor adversaries, support our allies, and safeguard our interests. Today, I have some exciting news to share in this regard. I’m thrilled to announce that we have awarded a contract for a new agile microsatellite designed, built, and operated in Canada. Thanks to a Federal investment of 15.8 million dollars, the Redwing Space Domain Awareness Microsatellite project, will monitor objects orbiting the earth, to help reduce future risks to Canada’s space infrastructure from space debris or human-caused interference. Design, manufacturing and operations will be led by Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba. And, ground stations will be located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories and Happy Valley Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. When launched in late 2026, this research and development satellite system will identify and help to reduce risks to Canada’s space infrastructure from space debris and human-caused interference. Why does space domain awareness matter? In November 2021, Russia decided to fire a missile into one of its own old satellites as part of its anti-satellite weapons testing. The over fifteen hundred pieces of debris generated by the strike are contributing to the pollution of the low-earth orbit and endangering our assets. Countries like Russia are demonstrating recklessness in the space domain – but Canada, for its part, will always act responsibly in space. And finally, but no less importantly, let me touch on the cyber domain. The cyber domain is here to stay. It will shape the conflicts of today and tomorrow, and Canada will remain ready to protect itself, now and tomorrow. Last winter, we saw Russia disrupt the Viasat KA-SAT Satellite internet service, which rendered critical infrastructure for Internet and communications inoperable in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe. Canada have the capabilities to help our allies and partners in Europe, and we are doing so. In support of Ukraine, we provide cyber intelligence and threat analysis, cyber security, and are engaged in cyber operations. Outside of Ukraine, we have been supporting Latvia with a Cyber Task Force since last year – to help protect our Allies, and protect our NATO Allies against aggression in the cyber domain. Friends, that is what we are doing in five crucial domains to build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow. And to help us in these efforts, we are updating our 2017 Defence Policy to better reflect our rapidly changing world. It is critically important that we get this right, which is why we have been engaging stakeholders across Canada, as well as our Allies and partners, to inform our way forward. Today, we’re launching public consultations with all Canadians on our Defence Policy Update – or DPU. We have launched a new digital platform where Canadians can learn more and share your ideas for the DPU – and I invite you all to contribute online. We want to hear from you on how to recruit and retain talented Canadians, how to create sustainable cultural change, how to meet the needs of Canadians in the event of a natural disaster, and much more. This consultation process also includes targeted discussions with: Indigenous and Northern communities and leaders, who are integral partners in safeguarding Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. NATO Allies, Five Eyes partners, and other like-minded countries. And of course, Canadian industry representatives, defence and security companies, national security experts and scholars . Our Canadian defence industry is innovative, dynamic, and bold. You engineer the impossible. And you help us maintain a strategic edge over our competitors. So, we see you as key partners in our work to modernize. We must also remember that Canada’s economic prosperity is fundamentally linked with our national security. Therefore, we must ensure the stability of our supply chains, and uphold our resiliency by strengthening our ties to our closest partners. Our investments will provide tremendous economic opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers. And by working together, I am confident that we can address the threats of today and anticipate those of tomorrow. Friends, We are at an inflection point in the history of conflict. And that is why there is an urgent to build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow. For much of history, a military’s effectiveness was characterized by a steady accumulation of strength – simply having a bigger arsenal. However, today’s era of military competition is also defined by speed, agility, and interoperability. In a changing world, we are ensuring that our military has what it needs for tomorrow. The urgent procurement of Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems, a Counter-UAS capability and a short-range Air Defence System will strengthen our abilities in the traditional domains of conflict. And, for emerging domains like space, the Redwing Microsatellite contract award announced today will enhance our awareness and reduce risks to Canada’s assets in space. We know, to stay agile, we must be prepared to push back against threats in all domains, sometimes all at once. Let me conclude by addressing our military members directly: You are at the heart of our work to protect Canada. And we are acting quickly to give you the tools you need to do your job. Modernization involves not just the members of our military, but our industry partners, our friends in academia and think tanks, Indigenous partners, and Canadians. National security is a team endeavour. And we are all part of Team Canada. Together, we will build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow. I wish you all a productive conference, and I look forward to hearing more about your important, forward-thinking conversations. Thank you. Merci. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/03/cdai-ottawa-conference-on-security-and-defence---a-canadian-armed-forces-ready-for-tomorrow.html

  • Major contract awarded for work on the Joint Support Ships

    February 4, 2019 | Local, Naval

    Major contract awarded for work on the Joint Support Ships

    Mississauga-based INDAL Technologies Inc. has been awarded a contract to provide the helicopter handling system for the Joint Support Ships North Vancouver, BC – Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) has awarded INDAL Technologies Inc. (INDAL) of Mississauga, Ontario, a contract valued at almost $20M for work on Canada's new Joint Support Ships (JSS). INDAL represents one of more than 60 Ontario suppliers to date that Seaspan is working with to meet its commitments under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). INDAL is providing its Aircraft Ship Integrated Securing & Traversing (ASIST) System for JSS. The ASIST System is a state-of-the-art integrated helicopter handling system for surface combatants. The System provides the functionality necessary to support helicopter handling, including deck securing on touchdown, on-deck manoeuvring and traversing to/from the hangar space, and helicopter launch. INDAL will also be supplying all the installation support and training, as well as the required maintenance and logistics documentation. A distinct capability of this System is its ability to straighten and align the helicopter remotely from the ASIST Control Console using combined operations of the on-deck Rapid Securing Device (RSD) and Traverse Winch sub-system. Straightening and alignment is achieved with no requirement for external cables attached to the helicopter. Various configurations of INDAL's ASIST systems are operating successfully with navies from around the world including Chile, Turkey and Singapore. ASIST has also been selected by the U.S. Navy as an integral capability within its DDG-1000 “Zumwalt” destroyer program and by the Royal Australian Navy for its Air Warfare Destroyer and SEA 5000 Programs. Thanks to its work under the NSS, Seaspan has issued over $690M in committed contracts with approximately 540 Canadian companies. By building ships for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in Canada, Seaspan is helping to re-establish a Canadian marine industry. As the company continues to make progress on its NSS commitments, this supply chain is expected to grow as more Canadian companies realize new opportunities with a revitalized shipbuilding industry. It is through its work on the NSS that Seaspan is directly and indirectly helping to employ thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. QUOTES “This contract is a prime example of how the National Shipbuilding Strategy is helping drive technological innovation in Canada, while also building a strong, sustainable marine sector. INDAL Technologies Inc.'s homegrown, state-of-the-art technology will help equip our Royal Canadian Navy's future supply ships with the tools needed so that our women and men in uniform can carry out their important work.” – The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility “Seaspan Shipyards is pleased to announce this major contract award for INDAL Technologies Inc. to provide a crucial system for the Joint Support Ships. Through its work in Canada, and internationally, INDAL is a trusted leader in the design and development of ship borne helicopter handling and other sophisticated marine systems. As a result of contract awards like these the NSS is encouraging investment by Canadian companies, supporting the development of export opportunities, and creating highly-skilled, middle class jobs across Canada” – Mark Lamarre, Chief Executive Officer, Seaspan Shipyards “On behalf of INDAL Technologies Inc. I am excited to announce that we have been awarded a contract valued at almost $20 million to provide the helicopter handling system for the Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) new Joint Support Ships currently being built at Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards. INDAL Technologies prides itself in combining a high level of engineering and manufacturing capability with expertise in the management of large and complex defense programs to produce unmatched solutions for the RCN. We value our ongoing relationship with Seaspan and our partnership under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.” – Colleen Williams, General Manager, INDAL Technologies Inc. QUICK FACTS Seaspan operates three yards with a combined workforce greater than 2,500 people across its yards in North Vancouver & Victoria. To date, Seaspan has awarded over $690M in contracts to approximately 540 Canadian companies, with nearly $230M in contracts awarded to Ontario-based companies. INDAL is based in Mississauga, Ontario, since its incorporation in 1951 under the name Dominion Aluminum Fabricating Ltd., the company has developed its engineering design and manufacturing capabilities and today is heavily involved in systems integration and testing. The company has over forty years of experience with equipment for shipboard aircraft operation, its personnel are uniquely trained and experienced in designing and building system solutions for handling aircraft and UAVs onboard ships in the toughest possible environments. INDAL is positively impacted with 38 person-years of direct employment as a direct result of its work under the NSS. https://www.seaspan.com/major-contract-awarded-work-joint-support-ships

  • Canadian Navy : The Canadian Surface Combatant – More than Just a Ship

    October 19, 2020 | Local, Naval, C4ISR

    Canadian Navy : The Canadian Surface Combatant – More than Just a Ship

    More than Just a Ship With the release of Canada's defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged in 2017, the Government of Canada signaled its commitment to renewing the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) fleet. As part of an effort to deliver a Blue Water Navy built around the ability to sustain two naval task groups of up to four combatants and a joint support ship, supplemented when warranted by a submarine and maritime air assets, the government committed to the acquisition of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC). The effort to procure these vessels represents the centrepiece of the National Shipbuilding Strategy - the largest procurement in Canadian history - and certainly one of its most complex, spanning over three decades Lockheed Martin Canada, the successful bidder in a lengthy but fair, open and transparent bid process, proposed a CSC concept design based on the United Kingdom's (UK) Type-26 Global Combat Ship, currently under construction. With this selection, Canada joins the UK and Australia who are leveraging the Type-26 Global Combat Ship design into their future fleets. The CSC is Canada's next generation warship, which will eventually replace both the recently retired Iroquois-class and today's modernized Halifax-class. Capabilities from both classes will be modernized and future-proofed to ensure not only that systems stay relevant for years to come, but more importantly that tomorrow's sailors have the equipment they need when sent into harm's way. It forms part of a broad vision of defence capabilities that will serve Canada's defence interests well into the latter half of the century. A Warship at its Core At its core, the CSC is being designed to be combat capable through the marriage of high-tech equipment and highly trained RCN sailors - able to conduct air, surface, sub-surface and information warfare missions simultaneously. The crews will be trained and organized to be capable of conducting warfare operations 24/7 and to both fight the ship and respond to any damage sustained simultaneously. Survivability, a key principle that shaped CSC requirements from the outset, refers to the ability to protect the crew onboard, maintain combat effectiveness under fire, and bring our sailors home safely on completion of the mission. This principle is reflected in ship requirements that include the military design standards for critical shipboard systems, levels of protection from blast and fragmentation, reduced signatures, a battle damage control system and, of course, the full suite of sensors and weapons the ship carries to defeat threats. The Operational Capability of CSC, or its ability to deliver credible and relevant effect, was also top of mind to ensure that the ship could deliver on the mission set outlined in Canada's defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged. The design and capability fit aims to deliver a highly versatile ship that is multi-role in nature, and that affords the greatest range of capability. This outcome translates directly into agility and responsiveness for the RCN, including re-rolling a deployed ship from one mission to another, without returning to port. The ship will be able to a perform a broad range of missions with North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), 5-Eyes nations, NATO, coalition partners, and here in Canada with other government departments and agencies. CSC will have decisive combat power for operations at sea, and in support of joint-force operations ashore. The versatility of the design will also ensure the RCN is well enabled to support missions for counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, intelligence and surveillance, interdiction and embargo operations, as well as provide support for humanitarian assistance, Search and Rescue, and law/sovereignty enforcement. The ship's capability suite includes: Four integrated management systems, once each for the combat system, platform systems, bridge and navigation systems and its cyber-defence system A digital beam forming Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and solid state illuminator capability The USN Cooperative Engagement Capability sensor netting system A vertically launched missile system supporting long, short and close-in missile defence, long-range precision naval fires support and anti-ship engagements A 127mm main gun system and dual 30mm gun mounts A complete Electronic Warfare and countermeasures suite A fully integrated underwater warfare system with bow mounted sonar, towed low frequency active and passive sonar, lightweight torpedoes and decoys Fully integrated communications, networking and data link capabilities CH-148 Cyclone multi-role helicopter, multi-role boats and facilities for embarking remotely piloted systems. A Node in a System of Systems More broadly speaking, the CSC will also serve as a node in a broader system of systems, all of which are geared to ensuring that Canada is strong at home, secure in North America and engaged in the world. This system includes space-based assets, intelligence networks, advanced Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) collection platforms, and shore-based command and control facilities. As part of this approach, the RCN will also take interoperability to the next level, enabling systems integration both with other Canadian Armed Forces capabilities and our closest allies. Designed with a communications and information systems architecture that will enable it to share significant amounts of data, it will contribute to a modernized North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), and better enable the RCN to leverage and support its closest allies on operations abroad. With its sensor-netting capability, which is also employed in the United States and Royal Australian navies, the CSC will have a significantly greater ability to defend itself against highly sophisticated threats. Finally, the ship will be digitally integrated with the RCN/CAF/DND enterprise ashore, in keeping with the RCN's Digital Navy strategy. It is being carefully designed from the outset with digital requirements in mind, with a view to leveraging new technologies in maintenance and materiel management, supply chain management, logistics, training, operational support, as well as operations. A Workplace and Home for Tomorrow's Sailors Ships are only as good as the sailors who sail them and going to sea has always involved some level of hardship, whether from the effects of the sea, the lack of privacy or simply the separation from family and loved ones. In keeping with an intent to ensure the Navy affords a safe, welcoming and inclusive workplace to all its members, the RCN is looking at the hardships of going to sea and aiming to lighten them in the CSC. Over the past several months a small team, comprised mostly of junior-level sailors, looked at the CSC design through a habitability lens and provided advice on those areas that sailors felt were most important to them. The team surveyed close to 3,000 members of the RCN and looked at everything from privacy, personal storage, sleeping quarters, mixed messing, mess occupancy, heads and wash-places, laundry facilities, digital connectivity, fitness facilities, recreation lounges and dining. The three most significant priorities highlighted were in the areas of privacy, the ability to digitally connect with families ashore and improved fitness facilities. The RCN is now working to see how this feedback might be incorporated into the design of CSC, to produce a ship that can better accommodate tomorrow's sailors and ensure that we remain committed to People First, Mission Always. A Significant Opportunity for Canadian Industry What lies ahead for a world-class industry team, led by Irving Shipbuilding Incorporated, Lockheed Martin Canada and BAE Systems, truly represents an immense opportunity. It all begins with ensuring the best equipment and right level of integration to enable and protect sailors in the future, so they can deliver on their mission. Next is the opportunity that comes within each line of effort related to the overall program: naval design, systems integration, shipbuilding, training development, and shore-based infrastructure. In each area, industry partners have a chance to adapt world-leading best practices, introduce new innovative approaches in their respective areas and leverage the best in modern technologies to make value-chain improvements. For example, the RCN is already involved with the CSC industry team in using a model-based systems engineering approach that will establish the foundation for the eventual creation of a digital twin of the ship, as well as a baseline digital thread that will facilitate the Navy's ability to capitalize on a variety of digital technologies in the future. The last area of opportunity lies in capitalizing on the benefits that come with three nations all building a surface combatant using the same baseline design. Examples include pursuing supply chain economies of scale, cooperating on design and engineering packages, sharing lessons learned in design and build practices, and collaborating on the development of training products. These areas of opportunity were spurred by Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy, which aims to not only deliver Canada's Navy and Coast Guard the ships they need, but also to create a sustainable marine sector in Canada, and contribute economic benefits and highly skilled jobs to Canada's economy. Conclusion The CSC is more than just a ship - it represents a national endeavour to safeguard Canada's defence needs. It is being designed from the keel up to be multi-purpose in its capabilities, affording Canada the ability to deploy it across a broad spectrum of mission sets, and agility to adapt to a new mission, in hours not days or weeks. It is a significant component in a much broader system of systems, where interoperability is being elevated to integration, and digital technologies and data are leveraged as capabilities. It offers a floating environment that balances hard steel and high tech against the habitability needs and desires of today's young sailors - a home away from home. And finally, it offers a tremendous opportunity for Canadian industry to take on a complex challenge and deliver in a world-class and innovative way. The Canadian Surface Combatant - the right ship for the RCN and Canada. https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Canadian-Navy-The-Canadian-Surface-Combatant-ndash-More-than-Just-a-Ship--31556116/

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