MBDA to supply Sea Ceptor weapon system for Canadian CSC frigates

On the same subject

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  December 20, 2022 | Local, Aerospace

  Defence Department gets OK to spend $7 billion on 16 F-35 fighter jets: CP sources

  The Department of National Defence recently received quiet approval to spend $7 billion on 16 F-35 fighter jets and related gear.

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  February 17, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Canada ‘not on course’ to hit 2% defence spending pledge: U.S. official

  BY AMANDA CONNOLLY AND KERRI BREEN The top U.S. official in Ottawa says in his country's view, Canada is not likely to hit the defence spending targets it has promised. Richard Mills, the U.S. Embassy's chargé d'affaires, said while there have been positive spending steps by the Canadian government, the view south of the border is that Canada will fall short in hitting its promised investment of two per cent of GDP on defence. “We were very pleased with some of the defence spending that's occurred under this government, including some effort to buy new frigates, some new airplanes,” he said in an interview with The West Block's Mercedes Stephenson. “But to be quite honest with you, Mercedes, the Canadian government is not on course to meet two per cent by 2024. In fact, they probably will reach a peak — in our estimate, around 1.4 per cent — in 2024 and then decline rapidly.” Canada, along with other NATO members, agreed in 2014 to increase spending on defence to the tune of two per cent of GDP by 2024. But according to NATO estimates from November, just nine of out of 29 member nations have met the goal. U.S. President Donald Trump has aggressively pushed allies to meet those promises since his election in 2016. And in November, Global News learned that the U.S. took the unusual step of sending a diplomatic letter criticizing Canadian military spending. Canada's prime minister and defence minister, however, have pointed out that a plan has been established to dramatically increase defence investment. In 2017, Ottawa announced it would boost the annual defence budget to almost $33 billion within a decade, an increase of 70 per cent. “The relationship with Canada and the U.S., the defence relationship, I think, is even stronger now, because they see a tangible plan that we have created,” Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said on an episode of The West Block that aired on Nov. 24. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also insisted that there are other ways to measure the value of a country's military contributions and frequently cites the steep costs Canadian soldiers and peacekeepers have paid on allied missions around the world. Canada currently sits at 1.31 per cent in terms of how much of its GDP goes towards defence spending. That's up from about 1 per cent in 2014. Mills said the U.S. views hitting the two per cent target — or at least getting close — as crucial in order for Canada to be taken seriously. “This is important because our common security requires common burden sharing and we want to see our Canadian friends and Canada have a voice in international relations, have a strong voice because we share the same outlook,” he said. “But to be listened to, there has to be something behind you and that requires investment in the military.” Mills is currently the highest-ranking official at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. Kelly Craft, the previous ambassador to Canada, was tapped to represent the U.S. at the United Nations last year. On Tuesday, the White House said Trump would nominate Dr. Aldona Wos to serve as the new ambassador. https://globalnews.ca/news/6556192/canada-2-defence-spending-pledge/

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  August 13, 2018 | Local, Naval

  Quebec's Davie shipyard wins $610M contract to convert icebreakers for coast guard

  Jean-Yves Duclos, who represents the Quebec City region made announcement Friday The federal government has signed a $610-million contract to acquire and convert three icebreakers to renew the Canadian Coast Guard's aging fleet. Federal Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, who represents the Quebec City region made the announcement at the Davie shipyard in Lévis, which will be doing the work. The coast guard fleet lacks the capacity to perform its icebreaking duties. The Canadian Coast Guard ship Terry Fox, launched in 1993, is the newest icebreaker in the fleet. The contract is expected to result in the creation of 200 new jobs over the next two years, according to Davie spokesperson Frédérik Boisvert. Last year, when Davie was working on conversion of the Asterix and finishing two ferries, Davie employed 1,500 workers, Boisvert said. Many of them were laid off once the projects were completed. In June, the Liberal government concluded a deal with Davie to purchase three icebreakers, but there was no price tag attached to the project at the time. Negotiations to acquire the vessels were launched in January after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau abruptly announced the plan in a Radio-Canada interview in Quebec City. That marked the beginning of a seven-month negotiating process between the government and Davie. Fraser noted that the usual time it takes to negotiate a shipbuilding contract with the government is eight years, praising the work of negotiators for the government and Davie. MacKinnon confirmed that Ottawa sped up the process for the icebreaker deal. Full Article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/ottawa-will-allow-quebec-s-davie-shipyard-to-bid-on-national-shipbuilding-plan-contracts-1.4780836