December 12, 2023 | Local, Aerospace
Canadian Army needs to spend $220 million to replace gear donated to Ukraine, says general
Canadian Army will need to spend $220 million to replace equipment donated to Ukraine but replacements could take years.
February 4, 2019 | Local, C4ISR
February 1, 2019 – Ottawa, Ont. – National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces
The Department of National Defence is investing in defence research and development to produce innovative solutions to surveillance challenges facing the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF), particularly in Canada's North.
In support of this, Member of Parliament for York Centre Michael Levitt, on behalf of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, announced today that the Department of National Defence, through Public Services and Procurement Canada, has awarded two contracts to Raytheon Canada Limited and the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies' Space Flight Lab (UTIAS SFL) under the All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science & Technology (S&T) Program for a total of $46.2 million.
Raytheon Canada Limited has been awarded a contract for $31.2 million for the construction of transmit and receive electronics for a study of over-the-horizon radar detection at long range. A contract for $15 million has also been awarded to UTIAS SFL for the development of a prototype of a multipurpose microsatellite equipped with state-of-the-art sensor technology for air and maritime surveillance.
As outlined in our defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged, the ability to conduct leading-edge research and development in satellite and radar technologies plays a critical role in supporting the CAFs capabilities, particularly in remote locations such as Canada's Arctic.
Surveillance solutions such as these improve our access to accurate and timely information, enabling the CAF and our partners to better collect, understand and disseminate information and intelligence, and support our ability to succeed on operations at home or abroad. These systems will support our government's ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and provide a greater awareness of safety and security issues, as well as transportation and commercial activity in Canada's Arctic. In addition, solutions achieved under the ADSA program will contribute to joint efforts between Canada and the United States to modernize elements of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
“Our government understands that science and innovation are crucial in solving some of our most complex defence and security challenges. Through these contracts, the Department of National Defence is taking the next step to solving our surveillance challenges in the Arctic. We are proud to be partnering with Raytheon Canada and the Space Flight Laboratory to produce innovative solutions that will help to protect Canada's North.”
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan
Minister of National Defence
The UTIAS SFL microsatellites being developed will allow for quick and timely detection and identification of surface or airborne targets. This is expected to improve the reliability of the detection and identification performance, leading to improved situational awareness for the CAF and our partners. Upon successful completion and testing of the prototype, two additional microsatellites will be built to create a small formation. These will then be launched for demonstration and testing.
The primary objective of the Raytheon project is to demonstrate the feasibility of sky-wave radar technology for the detection of air targets at all altitudes beyond the radar's horizon. This involves reflecting signals off of the ionosphere and back to a receiving station located beyond the line of site. Once operational, the system will be used in conjunction with other systems to further understand the effect of the Aurora Borealis on target detection beyond the horizon.
The ADSA S&T Program aims to leverage innovative science & technology expertise from other government departments, academia, industry and allies, to identify, assess and validate technologies in support of air and maritime surveillance, particularly in the North.
Through a five-year investment of $133M through to 2020, the ADSA S&T Program is supporting the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic.
National Defence's science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), is the national leader in defence and security S&T. DRDC provides the defence S&T community, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments, as well as the public safety and security communities, with the knowledge and technology advantage needed to defend and protect Canada's interests at home and abroad.
December 12, 2023 | Local, Aerospace
Canadian Army will need to spend $220 million to replace equipment donated to Ukraine but replacements could take years.
May 21, 2019 | Local, C4ISR
The Government of Canada awards $500,000 in funding to this highly innovative Greater Montréal business May 21, 2019 – Kirkland, Quebec – Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) Reflex Photonics is a leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of electronic optics and photonic products for the defence, aerospace and telecom sectors, and for data centres. It supplies rugged embedded transceivers for interconnection in harsh environments. This highly innovative company has posted impressive growth in recent years; in 2018, it invested over $2 million in research and development. To help it maintain its momentum, the company has been awarded a $500,000 repayable contribution from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. This financial assistance will allow Reflex Photonics to acquire specialized state-of-the-art equipment, including an error rate tester and analysis software, as well as process automation equipment. The funding was announced today by the Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Louis, Francis Scarpaleggia. Specifically, this Government of Canada assistance will allow Reflex Photonics Inc. to meet the growing demand of prime contractors, increase its production and ensure better quality control of its products. With a total investment of almost $2 million, this project will also result in the creation of high-value jobs that will help increase economic opportunities for the middle class. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting innovative Canadian businesses. A driving force of the economy, innovation is the key to success because it generates growth that benefits both businesses and communities. This is why we are committed to ensuring that businesses are able to rely on adequate resources to create and market innovative products. Quotes “Support for high-tech companies helps strengthen the Canadian economy, maintain our international competitiveness and generate wealth. High-performing and forward-looking, Reflex Photonics unquestionably contributes to the economic growth of both Montréal and Canada as a whole, and creates jobs for the middle class.” Francis Scarpaleggia, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Louis “Our government gives Canadians the means to become more competitive and to thrive in the global economy. The funding announced today for Reflex Photonics is in line with Canada's competitive advantages generated through this company's expansion project, and will boost economic growth.” The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED “We are privileged to have loyal, passionate and dedicated employees that have contributed immensely to the success of Reflex in the recent years. Certainly, our strategic partners, both clients and suppliers have also been a source of continuous motivation to develop new products and technology with high added value. I am also very honoured to lead Reflex, which is now recognized internationally as a leader in its industry. The investments from our financial partners, as well as the expansion of our head office, allow the company to continue its growth while adapting to the needs of the markets that we service.” Noël Dubé, President and CEO, Reflex Photonics Inc. https://www.canada.ca/en/economic-development-quebec-regions/news/2019/05/reflex-photonics-will-be-able-to-pursue-its-growth.html
May 8, 2024 | Local, Land
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, will welcome Germany’s Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, to Canada for a bilateral meeting.