L3 MAS wins Flight Sciences Technical Investigation and Engineering Support contract

On the same subject

• 

  May 19, 2021 | Local, Aerospace

  Babcock, Leonardo to jointly pursue Canada’s Future Aircrew Training programme

  Babcock Canada and Leonardo Canada have signed a letter of intent to jointly pursue Canada’s Future Aircrew Training Program (FAcT).

• 

  December 20, 2018 | Local, Land

  Saudis fall $1.8B behind in payments for arms deal with Canada

  NORMAN DE BONO Saudi Arabia has fallen behind in making payments on its $15-billion arms deal with Canada, a contract that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he's looking for ways to halt. The Saudi government was short $1.8 billion in payments to the end of September for light-armoured vehicles assembled at General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS) in London, according to financial statements from the Canadian Commercial Corp., the federal Crown corporation overseeing the controversial contract. “It is a problem. There is concern, absolutely,” a federal official with knowledge of the agreement told The London Free Press on Wednesday. The arrears on the deal can be traced to a new regime in Saudi Arabia since the agreement was signed in 2014, and there have been delays in payments since the change, said the official, who declined to be identified. “That changed the way everything worked, including payments,” he said of the desert kingdom's new leadership. However, since September the oil-rich country has been making payments and has reduced the amount owed, the official added. The deal, which the Liberals are under pressure to scuttle amid Saudi human rights abuses, including the slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country's consulate in Turkey, affects thousands of workers in the London area and in a supply chain that extends nationwide. Trudeau, whose government inherited the deal from former prime minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives, said publicly this week for the first time that the Liberals are trying to find a way to stop the sale involving hundreds of light-armoured military vehicles built by the Canadian division of American defence giant General Dynamics. The report by the Crown corporation handling the sale says “trade receivables” are short $1.86 billion as of quarterly statements ending Sept. 30, and that payments have been sparse over the course of about one year. “The significant increase in past due trade receivables, is mostly attributable to the ABP contract,” the report says, referring to the armoured brigades program. “Trade receivables are considered past due when the payor has failed to make the payment by the contractual due date.” The payment issue hasn't been helped by recent public musings by Trudeau, who on Sunday told CTV's Question Period the government is looking for a way to halt the sale. “We are engaged with the export permits to try and see if there is a way of no longer exporting these vehicles to Saudi Arabia,” he said, without being specific. Such a move would devastate GDLS Canada's 1,800-member workforce in London, as well as thousands of jobs with supplier companies, said David Perry, a senior analyst with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute think-tank. The Saudis may now feel even less inclined to write a cheque, he added. “It does not give the Saudis a reason to catch up on payments. The government of Canada is responsible for making sure GDLS gets paid for the work it has done,” said Perry. It also makes even less sense that Ottawa should want out of the deal now, he added. Not only would the federal government incur billions of dollars in penalties, according to GDLS Canada, but the Saudis aren't likely to pay the balance owed. “It does not make sense. It would leave the government out of pocket,” said Perry. A review of the quarterly reports suggest payments began slowing about a year ago, he added. “We are right back to dealing with an unreliable client, and that is a problem,” said London-Fanshawe NDP MP Irene Mathyssen. “Work has been done and they have not seen fit to pay their obligation.” She also slammed Trudeau for creating uncertainty around the issue. “It is a problem, it creates stress. The PM cannot make up his mind about what to do.” As for why payments aren't being made, Mathyssen cites reports of financial issues with the Saudi government. Media in May reported soaring debt in Saudi Arabia and economic woes as a result of low oil prices. “There have been reports they overspent, they do not have the cash they once did,” said Mathyssen. “Saudis are used to dictating to the world because they hold such significant oil reserves. They are used to calling the shots.” The Canadian Commercial Corp. (CCC) helps businesses sell overseas and works with foreign governments to buy here. It declined comment on the quarterly reports, saying financial matters between the Crown corporation and business are confidential. “CCC is bound by commercial confidentiality, and, as such, we are not able to disclose the details of our contracts or their management,” the company wrote in an email message. James Bezan, the Conservative critic for national defence, blamed Global Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland for the slowing cash flow. Her tweets in May criticizing the Saudi human rights record coincide with fewer payments made, he said. “It is concerning. It occurred after irresponsible tweets from Freeland rather than working through proper diplomatic channels,” he said. “The Liberals are prepared to trade away good jobs in London and southern Ontario rather than deal with this at a diplomatic level.” Bezan encouraged the government to find other ways to pressure the Saudis, such as targeting oil imports here, instead of cancelling a contract that would result in massive job losses. “GDLS has been on time, and on budget,” and would be the ones punished. “The government has the responsibility to work through the payments in a timely fashion,” he said. TRUDEAU WEIGHS IN ON SAUDI DEAL Speaking to reporters at a year-end news conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about whether he'll cancel the Saudi arms deal serviced by a major London defence contractor. “Our priority since Day 1 has been thinking about the Canadian jobs, the workers in London, and in the supply chains that have fed into this contract. We know that there are a lot of hard-working families in London who rely on these jobs, and we're going to keep those jobs in mind.” Says the contract, signed by the previous Conservative government, includes a confidentiality clause that prevents him from discussing what's in it, or the nature of the penalties for breaking the contract. Says Canadians are increasingly questioning whether the country should do business with Saudi Arabia. Called it a “complex situation.” Says he's been answering questions about the deal since taking office Says he'll continue to reflect on the “best path forward for Canada and for Canadians.” https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/saudis-fall-1-8b-behind-in-under-fire-arms-deal-with-canada

• 

  November 19, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  NATO Challenge top 10 ready to pitch! / DRDC Outreach Day // Le Top 10 du Défi de l’OTAN est prêt à présenter ! / Journée de sensibilisation de RDDC

  NATO Challenge top 10 ready to pitch! The top 10 contestants in the Fall 2021 NATO Innovation Challenge, the Invisible Threat: Countering Cognitive Warfare have been selected. They will present their innovative solutions to a multi-national jury of defence experts on Pitch Day, November 30, 2021. As well as gaining valuable international exposure, the 10 finalists will vie for top 3 cash prizes in this pitch-style event. Thank you to all innovators for participating. Watch live starting at 9 am (EDT) on Youtube. For more information about this challenge please visit NATO Innovation Challenge page. Learn how innovators can partner with Defence Research and Development Canada! Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the organization that manages the IDEaS program on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND), will be hosting its 2021 Outreach Day on November 24, 2021. A trusted advisor and collaborative partner, DRDC works as a knowledge integrator for DND and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Like IDEaS, DRDC helps to develop and deliver new technical solutions to DND/CAF, other federal departments, and the safety and security communities. At this event, you will: Get the information you need for your business to partner with DRDC; Become familiar with the eight strategic focus areas in DND's Defence and Security Science and Technology program, to help you prepare for future calls for proposals; Find out about DND's Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program, which is funded at $1.6 B over 20 years; Learn about upcoming opportunities with the Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP); Hear from DRDC's acting Assistant Deputy Minister Sophie Galarneau; Ask your questions about future partnership opportunities Outreach Day will be held virtually on MS Teams on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 from 10:00 to 12:00 hrs EST. Please note that while the presentations will be in English, the question and answer period will be in both official languages. The presentation decks will be made available in French and English, as of November 22. Register for this session using the link below: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/defence-research-and-development-canada-drdc-outreach-day-tickets-207400529567 Le Top 10 du Défi de l'OTAN est prêt à présenter ! Les 10 meilleurs candidats du Défi de l'innovation de l'OTAN Automne 2021, la menace invisible : contrer la guerre cognitive ont été sélectionnés. Ils présenteront leurs solutions innovantes à un jury multinational d'experts de la défense lors de l'évènement de présentation, le 30 novembre 2021. En plus d'acquérir une précieuse exposition internationale, les 10 finalistes se disputeront les 3 premiers prix en argent lors de cet événement de style présentation. Merci à tous les innovateurs d'avoir participé. Regardez en direct à partir de 9 h (HAE) sur YouTube. Pour plus d'informations sur ce défi, veuillez visiter la page du Défi de l'innovation de l'OTAN (en anglais seulement). Découvrez comment les innovateurs peuvent s'associer à Recherche et développement pour la défense Canada! Recherche et développement pour la défense Canada (RDDC), l'organisation qui gère le programme IDEeS au nom du ministère de la Défense nationale (MDN), organisera sa journée de sensibilisation le 24 novembre 2021. Conseiller de confiance et partenaire collaboratif, RDDC travaille en tant qu'intégrateur de connaissances pour le MDN et les Forces armées canadiennes (FAC). À l'instar d'IDEeS, RDDC aide à développer et à fournir de nouvelles solutions techniques au MDN/FAC, à d'autres ministères fédéraux et aux communautés de sûreté et sécurité. À l'occasion de cette journée de sensibilisation vous pourrez : Obtenir l'information dont votre entreprise a besoin pour établir un partenariat avec RDDC; Vous familiariser avec les huit domaines d'intérêt stratégique du programme de science et de technologie pour la défense et la sécurité du MDN, ce qui vous aidera à vous préparer en vue des prochains appels de propositions; Vous renseigner sur le programme Innovation pour la défense, l'excellence et la sécurité (IDEeS) du MDN, dont le financement s'élève à 1,6 milliard de dollars sur 20 ans; Vous renseigner sur les possibilités à venir dans le cadre du Programme canadien pour la sûreté et la sécurité (PCSS); Écouter la sous-ministre adjointe par intérim de RDDC, Sophie Galarneau; Poser des questions à propos des possibilités de partenariat à l'avenir La journée de sensibilisation se déroulera de façon virtuelle au moyen de MS Teams, le mercredi 24 novembre 2021 de 10 h à 12 h (HAE). Veuillez noter que les présentations seront en anglais, par contre, la période de questions et réponses se fera dans les deux langues officielles. Quand aux documents de présentation, ils seront disponibles en français et en anglais à partir du 22 novembre. Pour vous inscrire, veuillez utiliser le lien ci-dessous: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/defence-research-and-development-canada-drdc-outreach-day-tickets-207400529567