February 5, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will be seeking an upgrade to its CH-146 Griffon maintenance and flight training simulators as part of a life extension project for the multi-role utility helicopters.
The first phase of the project, which is intended to keep the fleet of 85 Griffons flying until at least 2031, took off on Jan. 26 with the award of a $90 million contract to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada to develop and design options for the avionics systems, engines, integrated sensors and cockpit displays.
A follow-on contract to install new systems and upgrade others is expected in 2022.
Around the same time, the federal government will be inviting industry to respond to a request for proposals to modernize the Griffon simulators, according to a Department of National Defence spokesperson.
“The upgrade to the flight simulation devices will be procured under a separate contract,” she said in an emailed response.
The CH-146 simulators were built by CAE and delivered to the RCAF in the mid-1990s, shortly before the helicopters entered service between 1995 and 1997. CAE continues to provide in-service support.
As part of what is being called the Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) project, the RCAF wants to replace a number of the helicopter's avionics systems, including communications radios and cryptographic equipment, cockpit voice and flight recorders, the navigation systems, the automatic flight control systems, and the control display units. Obsolescence of critical components has been a problem for maintenance technicians for several years now.
The design phase will also look at upgrades to the engines and to the sensor suite. The CH-146, which is based on the Bell 412, performs a variety of transport, close fire support and armed escort missions for tactical aviation and special operations forces. However, it has a top speed of around 260 kilometres per hour, well below that of the Boeing CH-147F Chinook that it escorts during missions such as Operation Presence in Mali.
“These helicopters have performed extremely well over the years and with these new upgrades, they will continue to be a valuable asset that will allow our personnel to carry out missions and operations successfully well into the future,” RCAF commander LGen Al Meinzinger said in a statement.
While aircrews would like more speed, more lift and bigger guns as part of any upgrade program, the current platform meets most of their needs, Col Travis Morehen, commanding officer of 1 Wing, the RCAF's tactical aviation headquarters in Kingston, Ont., told Skies in a recent interview.
“I think we have done a really good job of exploiting what we can do with the Griffon,” said Morehen, who is currently serving as commander of the Canadian Armed Forces task force in Mali. “I don't think there are many nations that have been as agile and flexible with that type of platform as we have, whether it is the combat service support role for search and rescue, or precision insertion for special operations . . . or what we are doing in terms of utility lift, or providing, with the GAU-21 (.50 Cal machine gun), stand off fires.”
Whatever the changes that are ultimately accepted as part of the initial design phase now being conducted by Bell, the helicopters will require upgraded flight training and maintenance simulators to match.
The GLLE project, including modernized simulators, is expected to reach initial operational capability by 2024 and be fully operational by 2026.
https://www.skiesmag.com/news/griffon-life-extension-program-to-include-upgraded-sims/
May 16, 2023 | Local, Aerospace
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April 23, 2018 | Local, Naval
News release From: National Defence April 6, 2018 – Ottawa, Ont. – National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces In Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Department of National Defence (DND) commits to focusing on defence research and development to produce innovative solutions to surveillance challenges in the North, including the priority areas of Arctic joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Today the Government of Canada, has awarded a contract to Cellula Robotics Ltd to develop a fuel cell that will improve the ability for autonomous underwater vehicles to store sufficient energy to undertake long range and long duration missions. This contract has a total value of close to $648,000 and is being awarded under the 2016 Innovation Call for Proposals for the All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science & Technology (S&T) program. Surveillance solutions support the Government of Canada'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 may contribute to joint efforts between Canada and the United States to renew the North Warning System and modernize elements of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Through an investment of close to $133 million through to 2020, the ADSA S&T program coordinates and funds innovative research and analysis to support the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic. Quotes “In order to address Canadian challenges we need to explore innovative made-in-Canada solutions, especially given the extensive coastline in the Arctic. Our academic institutions and innovation industry are among the best in the world and we are proud to work with them to address particularly complex surveillance issues for the Arctic.” Defence Minister Harjit S. Saijan “Our Government is committed to providing the members of the Canadian Armed Forces with the tools they need to do their jobs, while obtaining the best possible value for Canadians. These contracts will draw upon Canadian expertise to develop cutting-edge surveillance technologies for the Arctic.” The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Public Services and Procurement Quick facts ADSA is a program led by DND, which 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. National Defence's science and technology organization Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is the national leader in defence and security S&T. It 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. Related products Backgrounder - Government of Canada announces contract award to Cellula Robotics Ltd for research and development in support of sub-surface surveillance in Arctic Associated links All Domain Situational Awareness Program Government of Canada Announces Contract Awards for All Domain Situational Awareness Science & Technology Program Government of Canada Announces 2016 Call For Proposals Bid Submission Period for Science and Technology Investments Contacts Media Relations Department of National Defence Phone: 613-996-2353 Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca Follow National Defence Science and Technology (@DRDC_RDDC) on Twitter For more information, please visit www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/04/government-of-canada-announces-contract-award-to-cellula-robotics-ltd-for-research-and-development-in-support-of-sub-surface-surveillance-in-arctic0.html
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