April 26, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

Government expects to award contract for new fighter jet fleet in 2022 (but admits it could face delays)

Though the federal government expects to award a contract for a new fleet of fighter jets in 2022, it admits that schedule is aggressive and could yet face further delays.

A request for bids to provide 88 new jets to the Royal Canadian Air Force will be released next month, according to a new update on major Department of National Defence projects released Wednesday, with the proposals to be evaluated by 2021 and a contract to be awarded a year later.

But in the update DND also admits that timeline is tenuous. “The approved schedule is considered very aggressive,” it said. “The project team is managing a number of risks which have the potential to impact schedule.”

The document doesn't outline the specific risks but DND officials have acknowledged that government negotiations with private contractors on the industrial benefits that are to be linked to the project could cause delays.

The Liberals have committed to purchasing the new jets in a program expected to cost up to $19 billion. The competition was launched on Dec. 12, 2017, and Canada expects to examine four different fighter jets as candidates for the RCAF's new fleet.

The project team is managing a number of risks which have the potential to impact schedule

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

The document also outlines the plan to purchase used Australian F-18s in the interim, which the RACF will use to boost the capability of its current fleet of CF-18s until the new generation aircraft are in service. The first of the Australian jets has already been delivered, with final delivery set for the end of 2021, according to the update. However, the parliamentary budget officer has found this interim solution could cost more than $1 billion, and the auditor general's office has pointed out that the air force is lacking pilots and maintenance crews for the planes it already operates.

Wednesday's DND update points out success stories as well as challenges with some of DND's multi-billion dollar projects.

Some programs, such as the purchase of Chinook helicopters and tactical armoured patrol vehicles, are completed or are nearing completion with few problems.

A new $2-billion program to buy heavy trucks is among those expected to be proceed without issues.

Canada also expects to award a contact next year for a mid-life upgrade of the fleet of Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters, and the conversion of former U.S. presidential helicopters so they can join the flight line for rescue operations.

But the report warns there could be problems with other upcoming projects such as the purchase of a fleet of drones.

It noted that there might not be enough procurement staff with the required expertise to move that program forward on schedule. The department hopes to deal with the problem by hiring contractors. A draft invitation to qualify for that project was released April 5 and a contact is expected to be awarded in 2022, the document said.

The first of a fleet of new fixed-wing search-and-rescue aircraft, meanwhile, are to be delivered in December. The first plane will be sent to 19 Wing Comox, B.C. in the spring of 2020. The 16 new planes will be phased in between 2020 and 2022.

But DND acknowledged it is keeping an eye on the potential that schedule could be affected because of the “complexities associated with transitioning to the new fleet while maintaining the current search and rescue posture.”

In addition, DND is keeping watch on problems with its new upgraded light armoured vehicles. Though the vehicles have been delivered on time, some technical issues will be fixed through a retrofit program. There have also been problems with software design and qualification of components in another new fleet of armoured vehicles that will be used for battlefield surveillance, the first of which is to be delivered next year.

The first new supply ship for the Royal Canadian Navy, being built in Vancouver, is expected in 2023 but won't be ready for operations until a year later. The delivery of the second supply ship “is currently under review,” the update added.

In the meantime, the navy has access to MV Asterix, the supply ship at the heart of the court case involving Vice-Admiral Mark Norman.

That ship, currently being leased to the navy by Quebec firm Davie Shipbuilding, was delivered on time and on budget and is considered a procurement success story.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/canada/government-expects-to-award-contract-for-new-fighter-jet-fleet-in-2022-but-admits-it-could-face-delays/wcm/a34c8b83-3838-4ff9-87ac-1741fd434059

On the same subject

October 25, 2019 | Local, Naval

The Global Naval Vessels And Surface Combatants Market 2019-2029
Summary The global naval vessels and surface combatants market is valued at US$36. 7 billion in 2019, and will grow at a CAGR of 1. 97%, to reach a value of US$44. 6 billion by 2029. New York, Oct. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "The Global Naval Vessels And Surface Combatants Market 2019-2029" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p02275942/?utm_source=GNW The cumulative market for global naval vessels and surface combatants is anticipated to value US$429.8 billion over the forecast period. The demand for naval vessels is anticipated to be driven by high levels of expenditure by emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region including India and China. The North American region supported by US Navy's multi-year procurement programs, is expected to maintain its leading position globally, exhibiting a steady pace of growth over the forecast period. The global naval vessels and surface combatants market is expected to be led by North America with revenue share of 41.9%. Cumulatively, North America is projected to spend US$180.3 billion on naval vessels and surface combatants over the forecast period. In 2019, regional expenditure is expected to value US$15.1 billion and increase to US$19.0 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 2.32%. Asia-Pacific will follow North America and is expected to account for 26.2% revenue share of the global naval vessels and surface combatants market over the forecast period. Europe is anticipated to be the third-largest market globally with a revenue share of 22.2% over the forecast period, driven by the naval expansion and capability enhancement initiatives undertaken by various countries in the region. With a share of 5.5%, the market for naval vessels and surface combatants in the Middle East is projected to be the fourth largest globally. Frigates is expected to be the largest segment in the naval vessels and surface combatants market during the forecast period. Driven by several high-value procurement programs worldwide including the US Navy's FFG(X) program, Canadian Navy's ‘Canadian Surface Combatant' program, Saudi Navy's Multi-Mission Surface Combatant program, Australian Navy's SEA 5000 (Hunter-class) program and French Navy's Intermediate Frigate (FTI) program among others; the Frigates segment is expected to account for a 28.7% revenue share of the total market over the forecast period. Destroyers segment will follow Frigates segment with 19.6% market share. With 15.1% share, Amphibious Ships segment is anticipated to hold the third position in the global market. The growing demand for Amphibious Ships is primarily attributed to the ongoing initiatives of naval forces to develop relevant sealift capabilities. Light Combat Vessels and Corvettes segments to account for respective shares of 11.8% and 9.3%. Aircraft Carriers will account for a decent share of 8.6% over the next decade. The remaining share of 6.9% will be held by Auxiliary Vessels segment. The report "The Global Naval Vessels And Surface Combatants Market 2019-2029", offers a detailed analysis of the industry, with market size forecasts covering the next ten years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for naval vessels, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants. In-depth analysis provides - - Market size and drivers: detailed analysis during 2019-2029, including highlights of the demand drivers and growth stimulators.It also provides a snapshot of the spending and modernization patterns of different regions around the world - Recent developments and industry challenges: insights into technological developments and a detailed analysis of the changing preferences of naval vessels and surface combatants segments around the world. It also provides trends of the changing industry structure and the challenges faced by industry participants - Regional highlights: study of the key markets in each region, providing an analysis of the key segments of the market that are expected to be in demand - Major programs: details of the key programs in each segment, which are expected to be executed during 2019-2029 - Competitive landscape and strategic insights: analysis of the competitive landscape of the global market. It provides an overview of key players, together with information regarding key alliances, strategic initiatives and financial analysis Companies mentioned: General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Austal, Naval Group, Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), Lockheed Martin, Fincantieri SpA, BAE Systems, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd and Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding Scope - The global naval vessels and surface combatants market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.97% over the forecast period. - The market consists of seven categories: frigates, destroyers, amphibious ships, light combat vessels, corvettes, aircraft carriers, and auxiliary vessels. - North America will dominate the sector with a share of 26%, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe. The frigates segment is expected to be the leading segment during the forecast period. Reasons to buy - Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the global naval vessels and surface combatants market over the next ten years - Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for different naval vessels and surface combatants segments in the top spending countries across the world and identify the opportunities offered by each of them - Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others - Identify the major channels that are driving the global naval vessels and surface combatants market, providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion - Channelize resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the defense ministries of different countries within the global naval vessels and surface combatants market - Make correct business decisions based on thorough analysis of the total competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of the top naval vessels and surface combatants providers around the world which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever available. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02275942/?utm_source=GNW https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-naval-vessels-surface-combatants-134956689.html
December 10, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Québec Invests $350,000 in Zetane to Support Collaboration with Rheinmetall Canada to Develop Artificial Intelligence in Predictive Maintenance
[Montreal Canada; December 10, 2020] Technology to avoid costly repairs and foresee critical equipment breakdowns for heavy-duty vehicles aims to go mainstream in Québec thanks to government support of a multi-phase innovation initiative. Specializing in the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in industry, the Montreal-region tech start-up Zetane Systems announced today funding to establish AI-powered predictive maintenance solutions with the defence contractor, Rheinmetall Canada , headquartered in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Investissement Québec (IQ) of the Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation (MEI) contributed $350,000 in non-refundable financing--accounting for half the project costs--to support the first phase of the innovation project. “By employing artificial intelligence, Zetane contributes to reducing the costs related to the maintenance of heavy-duty vehicles and reduces our ecological footprint. Several sectors, such as aerospace and construction, will be able to gain important advantages from the technology developed by this innovative fledgeling company. It's innovation initiatives like this that reaffirms Québec's leadership in artificial intelligence,” highlighted the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon. Gaining funding support for such initiatives requires a highly competitive application process and detailed evaluation by experts in government and industry. Thanks to the collaboration of the Québec government, the project will serve to introduce new technologies and industrial processes with significant potential to improve economic, social and environmental factors in Québec. Of particular focus, funding of innovation initiatives serves to encourage the advancement of high-risk innovation projects that have much potential in ensuring Québec industry remains competitive. “Funding opportunities from the Québec government merit fervent support. They make collaboration between leading innovative companies such as Rheinmetall within reach, even during difficult economic times. Government investments in innovation are always a smart allocation of our resources that will ensure promising Québec startups with global appeal remain competitive and build further prosperity for all of us,” said the CEO and co-founder of Zetane, Guillaume Hervé. A more efficient means to foresee and prevent mechanical problems Several major industries--such as construction, aerospace, municipal works and mining--require managing fleets of heavy-duty vehicles. Whether it be trucks, planes or trains, ensuring these vehicles are well maintained avoids accidents and project delays. Being well maintained also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by ensuring that vehicles function at peak performance. A challenge these industries face today is an inability to customize maintenance schedules for individual vehicles, as well as an inability to predict equipment breakdowns with accuracy. AI provides a new means to analyse past maintenance requirements and process data from sensors on vehicles in order to predict mechanical wear-and-tear before problems arise. AI-powered machine vision technology also enables the automation of certain tasks in routine vehicle inspections. Zetane's particular strength in the project stems from the company's provision of a software platform designed specifically for a more intuitive and streamlined development of enterprise applications of AI. Once delivered, Rheinmetall Canada will gain unique AI technologies to better serve its clients with more efficient, accurate and less costly maintenance services and supply more performant transport vehicles. “Our strengths at Rheinmetall Canada stem from our embrace of technological change. Partnering with intrepid start-ups like Zetane not only gives us access to cutting-edge yet practical AI tools developed for enterprises, but also enables us to rapidly execute experimental proofs of concept that address specific customer needs” said Roger Bolduc, Senior Director of Engineering at Rheinmetall Canada. Benefits beyond innovation This innovation project aims to optimize Zetane's capacities to introduce predictive maintenance to diverse industries. Once complete, Zetane will use their experience with Rheinmetall to market AI predictive maintenance to new clients, enabling the Québecois start-up to expand service offerings both here and internationally. Additional future benefits of the project identified in the funding application include important social and environmental factors. One benefit is retaining and expanding rewarding job opportunities in technology both in Montreal and in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Environmental factors include lowered greenhouse gas emissions due to better-maintained vehicles. Health and safety factors include the possibility for safer work environments thanks to expected decreases in accidents caused by equipment failures. In addition to reducing operating costs in the for-profit sector, savings accrued from predictive maintenance for municipal vehicles have the potential to reduce the costs of tax-payer funded municipal works and civic services. About Zetane Systems Zetane Systems is a software technology company specializing in artificial intelligence. Our proprietary software easily integrates into existing AI platforms and provides a visual, intuitive workspace for building technology products in the AI subdomains of machine learning; the Zetane software provides a digital workspace to produce AI innovations. Zetane aims to make AI development more accessible and promote the technology industry's abilities to explain the inner workings of AI innovations. We do this by making AI more available to diverse professionals and industry verticals through our easy-to-learn-and-use software that complements and works with current popular AI development tools. About Rheinmetall Canada Rheinmetall Canada is a proud member of Germany's Rheinmetall Group, Europe's foremost supplier of army technology and a longstanding partner of armed forces. As an internationally recognized systems integrator, Rheinmetall Canada creates technologically advanced, fully-customised solutions for the global defence and security market. Located in its facilities in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Ottawa, and other locations throughout the world, over 375 employees put their expertise to work and push back their limits to ensure innovation and the success of each mandate. Ministry of Economy and Innovation on social media Facebook : facebook.com/EconomieQc LinkedIn : linkedin.com/company/économie-québec Twitter : twitter.com/economie_quebec Press contact: Jason Behrmann Director of Marketing and Communications info@zetane.com
February 7, 2023 | Local, Land

Protecting the Baltics from Russia is proving to be difficult for Canada and NATO | CBC News
Converting NATO's so-called "tripwire" forces in the three Baltic countries to fully topped-up fighting brigades — the kind that could withstand a Russian invasion — is proving to be a challenge for the lead nations involved: Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.

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