October 19, 2023 | Local, Land, C4ISR
Senior leaders produced no documents on high-profile case of Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, DND claims
National Defence claims documents don't exist are false, major general says
June 6, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
L’appel d’offres pour le remplacement des CF-18 lancé bientôt
NORMAND BOIVIN
Au cours des prochaines semaines, un mois au maximum, le Canada devrait lancer le processus d'appel d'offres pour le remplacement de sa flotte de CF-18.
Le major-général Alain Pelletier est en train de mettre la touche finale aux travaux qui l'ont tenu occupé au cours des deux dernières années pour le choix du prochain chasseur, tout en s'assurant de maintenir la capacité opérationnelle de la flotte actuelle.
« Nous sommes toujours en discussions avec les quatre fournisseurs en lice », a expliqué au Quotidien, lors de son passage dans la région mardi, celui qui est devenu, en mai, le nouveau commandant de la 1re Division aérienne du Canada. Même si le F-35 est le seul avion furtif de cinquième génération, le major-général affirme que les offres seront analysées en fonction de la capacité du futur chasseur à répondre à la mission que va se donner le Canada et du nombre d'années de service qu'il sera en mesure de fournir – 35 à 40 ans –, plutôt que de génération.
Dassault a retiré son Rafale de la course.
Furtif, oui ou non ?
Les F-18, comme les F-16 ou les F-15, sont des avions de quatrième génération et sont facilement détectables par les radars. Le F-35 et le F-22 sont les seuls avions de chasse de cinquième génération, c'est-à-dire qu'ils ont une faible signature radar, ce qui les rend pratiquement indétectables.
Entre les deux, le Typhoon, fabriqué par Eurofighter, est un appareil qu'on dit de 4,5e génération. Il n'est pas complètement furtif, mais a des caractéristiques qui diminuent sa signature radar. On peut le détecter, mais son écho est plus petit et peut être confondu avec autre chose. Il y a aussi des changements sur le Super Hornet. Boeing fait des tests pour diminuer sa signature radar par des contre-mesures électroniques et certaines peintures qui, semble-t-il, absorbent les ondes radar au lieu de les réfléchir.
« Avec l'évolution des technologies, ce genre de dénomination tient moins la route, car on parle maintenant de 4,6 et même 4,7e génération. Nous avons nos exigences et nous discutons avec nos quatre fournisseurs », affirme le major-général Pelletier.
Le F-18 Super Hornet de Boeing, le Gripen du Suédois SAAB et le Typhoon européen sont donc encore dans la course avec le F-35 Lightning de Lockheed Martin.
Une fois que le Canada aura déposé la version finale de ses exigences, le major-général Pelletier estime que les quatre avionneurs devraient soumettre leurs offres à la fin de 2021. S'ensuivra une période de négociations devant aboutir à la livraison des premiers appareils quelque part en 2025, pour la mise en service au début de 2026.
Lorsque les 88 nouveaux chasseurs auront été livrés et que les CF-18 prendront leur retraite, ils auront presque 50 ans. D'ici là, ajoute Alain Pelletier, le Canada va tout mettre en œuvre pour s'assurer que nos vieux CF-18 continueront d'être en mesure de remplir leurs missions de protéger l'espace nord-américain et d'assurer la paix ailleurs dans le monde.
Ainsi, les avions, qui avaient été achetés au début des années 80 pour servir jusqu'en 2010, ont déjà subi des modifications pour les mettre à niveau avec de nouveaux systèmes d'armement et pour augmenter leur vie utile d'abord jusqu'en 2017, puis en 2025.
À cause de la décision du gouvernement fédéral d'annuler la commande initiale des F-35 pour retourner en appel d'offres, ils devraient donc bénéficier de nouveaux investissements pour prolonger leur vie jusqu'en 2032.
On the same subject
-
-
November 11, 2019 | Local, Naval
Halifax Shipyard launches Canada’s second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Nov. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Royal Canadian Navy's second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, was launched today, Nov. 10, 2019, at Halifax Shipyard. The launch of the second of six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, marks a significant milestone for Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the revitalization of the Royal Canadian Navy's combatant fleet. The 103-metre future HMCS Margaret Brooke transitioned from Halifax Shipyard's land level facility to a submersible barge on Nov. 8, 2019 and launched in the Bedford Basin today. The ship is now pier side at Halifax Shipyard where work continues to prepare the ship for sea trials and handover to the Royal Canadian Navy late next year. The future HMCS Margaret Brooke joins Canada's lead AOPS, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, pier side at Halifax Shipyard. The future HMCS Harry DeWolf is in the final stages of construction and is preparing for initial builder sea trials at the end of November. Inside Halifax Shipyard's facilities, the Royal Canadian Navy's third and fourth AOPS, the future HMCS Max Bernay and the future HMCS William Hall, are under construction. The first two major sections of the future HMCS Max Bernay are scheduled to be moved outside in spring 2020. Canada's NSS was created to replace the current surface fleets of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. Over the next few decades, Halifax Shipyard will build six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, two AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard, and 15 Canadian Surface Combatants for the Royal Canadian Navy. As a result of the NSS, Irving Shipbuilding has become one of Atlantic Canada's largest regional employers, with thousands of Canadians now working in skilled, well-paying jobs. Halifax Shipyard, long at the centre of Canadian shipbuilding, is now home to the most modern, innovative shipbuilding facilities, equipment, and processes in North America. Halifax Shipyard is also continuing its legacy as the Halifax-class In-Service Support Centre of Excellence, with HMCS Charlottetown currently in the graving dock for an extensive docking work period. Quote Kevin McCoy, President, Irving Shipbuilding “Congratulations to our more than 2,000 shipbuilders on today's successful launch of the future HMCS Margaret Brooke. It is exciting to have two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships in the water and closer to being in use by the Royal Canadian Navy's sailors.” Media Contact: Sean Lewis Director of Communications Irving Shipbuilding Inc. T: 902-484-4595 E: Lewis.Sean@IrvingShipbuilding.com https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/11/10/1944417/0/en/Halifax-Shipyard-launches-Canada-s-second-Arctic-and-Offshore-Patrol-Ship.html
-
November 19, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
CAE, Jazz and Seneca launch first cadet pilot training program in Canada
CAE, Jazz Aviation, and Seneca have teamed up to develop Jazz Approach, an innovative Canadian program to provide Jazz with a pipeline of top-quality first officers. Cadets will receive a letter of employment from Jazz upon selection into the program, allowing for a direct path to join the airline as first officers conditional upon successful completion of the program. The parties involved have signed a five-year partnership agreement and the first cohort is set to begin training in April 2020. “CAE creates over 1,500 new pilots yearly over 30 cadet training programs globally, and we are thrilled to add a first Canadian cadet pilot training program to our list of curricula,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE's group president, Civil Aviation Training Solutions. “The demand for pilots has never been so high. With over 300,000 pilots needed globally over the next decade, CAE is working closely with airlines around the world to come up with pilot creation solutions. This program is a one-of-a-kind program, and a great example of how the Canadian aviation industry is working closely together to come up with innovative solutions to face that challenge. We thank Jazz for its trust, we are honored to help expand upon its pipeline of future pilots and we look forward to training them alongside Seneca.” Jazz Aviation's pilots have been training in CAE's network in Canada since 2003. Now, under this new agreement, with its partner Seneca, CAE will be assisting Jazz in the selection, training and certification of new pilots. “We are very excited to partner with two exceptional Canadian organizations, CAE and Seneca, to introduce the Jazz Approach program,” said Capt Steve Linthwaite, vice-president, Flight Operations for Jazz Aviation. “For Jazz, this innovative initiative will be an expansion of our Jazz Aviation Pathways Program (Jazz APP) and provides yet another avenue for future generations of pilots to launch their careers in aviation. The roots of the Jazz APP program go back to 2007 and the addition of Jazz Approach is an important step in growing the program to yet another level. We have worked with both CAE and Seneca for many years and we are delighted to have the opportunity to join together to introduce this program in Canada.” “We are thrilled to be partnering with CAE and Jazz Aviation through this innovative all-Canadian collaboration. The Jazz Approach program builds on the success of our partnership with Jazz Aviation and will be an excellent addition to the suite of academic and hands-on training offered within our School of Aviation,” said Lynne McMullen, director of strategic partnerships with Seneca's School of Aviation. “The Jazz Approach program is another opportunity for Seneca to be on the forefront of flight training in Canada.” About the Jazz Approach program CAE, Jazz and Seneca developed the Jazz Approach program in close collaboration, showcasing the latest competency-based training innovations. The Jazz Approach program embeds Jazz Aviation standard operating procedures (SOPs) and threat and error management strategies. Under the terms of this program, CAE will conduct recruitment, assessment and selection of the cadets according to Jazz's defined criteria. The cadets will undergo the integrated airline transport pilot license (ATPL) training over 18 months at Seneca's School of Aviation in Peterborough, Ont. Following completion, CAE will provide a CRJ200 type rating at CAE Toronto, leveraging CAE's innovative training equipment. Upon successful completion of the training program and subject to certain conditions, the first graduates will join Jazz Aviation as first officers by the end of 2021. Applications for the Jazz Approach training program will open on Dec. 1, 2019. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/cae-jazz-and-seneca-launch-first-cadet-pilot-training-program-in-canada