July 22, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

Fighter jet firms mull pullout from Canadian competition – F-35 could be last plane standing

Airbus and Boeing may pull out of a bidding process to supply Canada with new fighter jets because they say the contest is unfairly tilted toward Lockheed Martin's F-35, Reuters has reported.

Officials with Saab have expressed similar concerns.

The news comes as the request for proposals (bids) is expected to be released soon.

Boeing and Airbus have now formally written to the federal government expressing concerns about the current requirements, according to Reuters. Pat Finn, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Materiel at the Department of National Defence, has confirmed one of the companies sent a formal letter but he didn't provide details.

It's no secret Saab, Airbus and Boeing are upset with the changes made to the competition after the Pentagon threatened to pull the F-35 out of the $19 billion competition. Officials with Lockheed Martin's three competitors say the Canadian government went overboard to please the Pentagon and the bid package is now designed so the F-35 would emerge as the clear winner.

That would make the Royal Canadian Air Force happy since it has always wanted the F-35 stealth fighter.

The Liberal government has committed to purchasing 88 new fighter jets.

The competition was launched on Dec. 12, 2017. Four fighter jets are to be considered. Those include the F-35, the Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Gripen.

In the fall of 2018 Dassault Aviation pulled out as a potential bidder. The company had planned to offer the Rafale but decided against competing the aircraft because of the extensive requirements for interoperability with the U.S. military.

The first delivery of the jets is expected in the mid-2020s with the full capability available in the early 2030s, according to the DND document.

The requirements for a new Canadian fighter jet put emphasis on strategic attack and striking at ground targets during foreign missions, according to federal government procurement documents obtained by Postmedia.

While the Liberal government has been highlighting the need to buy the jets to protect Canadian airspace and meet the country's commitments to the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defence Command, the procurement criteria, currently in draft form, provides additional weight to those aircraft that can excel at ground attack for overseas operations. That criteria is seen to favour Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jet, say those industry representatives allied with Lockheed's rivals.

But Finn, the Department of National Defence's procurement chief, says there is such a wide variety of requirements to meet that while some aircraft might be seen to do well in some areas, they may not excel in others. “Somebody may be better in a high-end scenario but they're worst for cost,” Finn explained in a recent interview. “That's why we say it's the whole piece” that will be considered in the competition.

Some will dismiss the latest news about companies threatening to pullout of the competition as a bluff or a last-ditch effort to force changes on the request for proposal package, which is expected to be released in a week or so.

That is one scenario. The other scenario is this: the effort to prepare a bid is expected to cost each firm about $15 million and involve up to 30 staff members. It is an extensive process. If Canada's request for proposals is so tilted towards the F-35 – or seen to be tilted – then companies will think twice about committing to that process.

(Analysis)

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/fighter-jet-firms-mull-pullout-from-canadian-competition-f-35-could-be-last-plane-standing

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January 25, 2018 | Local, Land

CANSOFCOM takes delivery of Ultra-Light Combat Vehicle (ULCV)
News Release From National Defence Members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) unload new Ultra-Light Combat Vehicles (ULCV) in Petawawa, Ontario, on January 23, 2018. Delivery of these vehicles will continue through to April 2018. Photo Credit: CSOR Imaging ©2018 DND/MDN January 25, 2018 – Ottawa – National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces In the Strong, Secure, Engaged defence policy, the Government of Canada committed to ensuring the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have the support and equipment they need to carry out their important missions. The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) has accepted delivery of its first Ultra-Light Combat Vehicles (ULCV). These vehicles, which were procured from Polaris Industries Limited, will help protect members of Canada's Special Operations Forces as they conduct missions in challenging environments. It will provide them with fast, mobile transportation over demanding terrain, and has been specifically configured to support rapid deployment by most Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft, particularly the CH-147F Chinook helicopter. This procurement – which was completed on time and on budget – will help ensure special forces operators have the tools they need to succeed for years to come. Additional Multimedia Members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) unload a new Ultra-Light Combat Vehicle (ULCV) in Petawawa, Ontario, on January 23, 2018. The ULCV procurement initiative will help ensure special forces operators have the tools they need to maintain field superiority for years to come. Photo Credit: CSOR Imaging ©2018 DND/MDN New Ultra-Light Combat Vehicles (ULCV) are positioned in a storage facility in Petawawa, Ontario, soon after delivery. Procured from Polaris Industries Limited, a total of 62 ULCVs were purchased at a value of approximately $23M. Photo Credit: CSOR Imaging ©2018 DND/MDN Quotes “The women and men of our Special Operations Forces deserve the best equipment to do the tough job we ask of them. We are proud of them, and through Strong, Secure, Engaged, our government will continue to make investments &lrm;in our most important asset: our people.” - Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan “The acquisition of the ULCV is a tremendous step forward in light mobility for the men and women of CANSOFCOM. This platform will serve as a unique complement to our existing mobility arsenal and assist CANSOFCOM in its delivery of agile special operations forces effects for years to come.” - Major-General Mike Rouleau, Commander, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Quick Facts In December, 2016, the Government of Canada announced that a contract valued at approximately $20.6M was awarded to Polaris Industries Limited for the acquisition of 52 ULCV with the option to procure an additional 26 vehicles over a two year period at an additional cost. In July, 2017, CANSOFCOM exercised the option to procure an additional 10 ULCV, bringing the total number of ULCV under this acquisition to 62 and value of the contract to approximately $23M. The ULCVs are being delivered as planned and on budget. Delivery of these vehicles will continue through to April 2018. The contract with Polaris Industries Limited includes technical support services, and integrated logistics support for two years. This includes everything from publications and manuals, to spare parts and driver training. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/01/cansofcom_takes_deliveryofultra-lightcombatvehicleulcv.html
May 14, 2019 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

Questions abound over ‘ugly’ defence procurement system following Mark Norman case
By NEIL MOSS Canada would be 'better served' if defence projects are overseen by a non-partisan body, says a retired Armed Forces colonel, who oversaw procurement and equipment management policy. https://www.hilltimes.com/2019/05/13/questions-abound-over-ugly-defence-procurement-system-following-mark-norman-case/199729
August 25, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

NATO chief tours Arctic defences as Canada comes under pressure to guard the Far North | CBC News
NATO’s secretary general is getting an up-close look at Canada’s northern defences Thursday as he visits the Arctic, a region of escalating geopolitical competition.

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Fighter jet firms mull pullout from Canadian competition – F-35 could be last plane standing

On the same subject

NATO chief tours Arctic defences as Canada comes under pressure to guard the Far North | CBC News NATO’s secretary general is getting an up-close look at Canada’s northern defences Thursday as he visits the Arctic, a region of escalating geopolitical competition.

NATO chief tours Arctic defences as Canada comes under pressure to guard the Far North | CBC News
NATO’s secretary general is getting an up-close look at Canada’s northern defences Thursday as he visits the Arctic, a region of escalating geopolitical competition.