January 7, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

Military expert suggests Canada may want to consider its own space force

MONTREAL — President Donald Trump's push to create a U.S. space force is being welcomed by military experts in Canada, and the executive director of one defence think tank says Canada should consider following suit.

"At some point we might like to think about a space force," Matthew Overton, executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, said in an interview. "Thinking about space as a separate entity in itself that deserves attention and expertise, I think is a good idea."

But it is not something that needs to be done immediately, he added, suggesting Canada should first develop a centre of excellence on space knowledge.

Last month, Trump took a first step toward a space force when he signed an order to create a U.S. Space Command, which pulls together space-related units from across military services into a co-ordinated, independent organization.

The move comes amid growing concerns that China and Russia are working on ways to disrupt, disable or even destroy U.S. satellites.

The U.S. air force has operated a space command since 1982, and its mission is "to provide resilient, defendable and affordable space capabilities for the air force." It also operates the mysterious X-37B space plane, known simply as its orbital test vehicle. The unmanned plane has already completed four clandestine missions, carrying classified payloads on long-duration flights.

Overton, who served in the Canadian Forces for 39 years, noted that Canada's Air Force already has a space component. It is led by Brigadier General Kevin Whale, Director General Space. Its mission, a spokesman said by email, is "to maintain space domain awareness, and to develop, deliver and assure space-based capabilities."

Overton said Trump's space force makes a lot of sense, but he expects there will be tension as the new entity gets down to work with other branches of the military. He gave the example of the GPS network, which is crucial for land, air and sea forces, but could become a space force responsibility.

"What is the relationship with other forces? How do you work out that dynamic?""

Wayne Ellis, who served in the Canadian military for 20 years, agrees that a U.S. space force is a good idea.

"I think there's enough activity and potential activity to concentrate resources in that domain, which probably merits a separation from the air force," Ellis, a past president of the Canadian Space Society, said in an interview.

"Perhaps now is a good opportunity to look at a totally separate branch — at least for the U.S."

He noted that Canadian military personnel have worked side by side with the U.S. military for decades. "A lot of these positions are actually space positions at various bases so, at some point, our posted personnel are going to be interacting with the U.S. space force as it gets set up," he added.

James Bezan, the Conservative defence critic, said he wants to see more details about the space capabilities Americans envision.

"For Canada, my sense is that we need to watch this and see how it evolves," he said. Before Canada considers creating its own space force, Bezan added, it should focus on making Norad — the bilateral North American Aerospace Defence Command — more effective.

"I would think that any co-operation that we do with the States as it relates to North American defence, as it relates to aerospace, should be part of the Norad discussions," he said.

Randall Garrison, the NDP defence critic, criticized Trump's plan to launch a sixth branch of the U.S. military.

"New Democrats are fundamentally opposed to the militarization of space and believe that space should only be used by all of humanity for peaceful purposes," he wrote in an email.

"New Democrats urge the government of Canada to uphold the principles of peaceful space exploration and to engage with our allies on a renewed call for the drafting of an international treaty aimed at the prevention of an arms race in space."

Overton pointed out that space has long been exploited for military purposes, and there's no way it can be avoided.

"Communications satellites, GPS and intelligence communications, you name it — all that is there," he said.

The office of the Minister of National Defence noted in a statement that "space-based capabilities have become essential to Canada's operations at home and abroad.

"That is why Canada's defence policy ... commits to investing in a range of space capabilities such as satellite communications, to help achieve global coverage, including the Arctic."

The statement goes on to say that "Canada will continue to promote the peaceful use of space and provide leadership in shaping international norms for responsible behaviour in space."

— With files from The Associated Press.

Peter Rakobowchuk, The Canadian Press

https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2019/01/05/military-expert-suggests-canada-may-want-to-consider-its-own-space-force-2

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July 11, 2023 | Local, Other Defence

Roadmap - Scaling the EFP Latvia Battle Group to Brigade
We, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and the Minister of National Defence of Canada, recognize our common interests in international peace and security, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to our shared values, the rules-based international order, and international cooperation. Against the backdrop of Russia’s brutal and illegal war in Ukraine and in response to Russia’s continued aggressive and destabilizing actions, Allies agreed at the 2022 Summit in Madrid that a more robust, multi-domain, and scalable force posture was required to deter and defend through a greater military presence in Europe, particularly along NATO’s Eastern Flank. At the Madrid Summit in June 2022, the Ministers of Defence for Canada and Latvia signed a Joint Declaration demonstrating our two countries’ commitment to bolstering the deterrence and defence of NATO’s Eastern Flank, enhancing the greater security of the Euro-Atlantic area. Russia continues to pose the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security. As such, we acknowledge the importance of NATO’s longer-term posture and are committed to its steadfast and swift implementation. This Roadmap outlines our joint plan to implement the commitments made at the Madrid Summit and through the Joint Declaration signed by Canada and Latvia. The implementation of this Roadmap will further strengthen NATO’s presence in Latvia and our ability, alongside troop-contributing Allies, to deter and respond to threats posed by Russia more rapidly and effectively. It will result in a significant increase in persistently deployed Allied forces in Latvia and will therefore contribute to our shared objective of protecting our populations and defending every inch of Allied territory. 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The goal of this phase will be to maintain readiness and demonstrate the Brigade’s capability in order to deter, and if necessary, defend against potential aggression. By 2026, Canada will complete the full implementation of persistently deployed Brigade capabilities to Latvia; The enhanced Forward Presence Brigade will deploy and exercise episodically to maintain readiness and demonstrate the Brigade’s capability; Rocket artillery systems will enter service in LNAF boosting enabling capabilities; Canada will have up to 2 200 persistently deployed Canadian Armed Forces members as part of the enhanced Forward Presence and supporting elements in Latvia, and will be prepared to deploy hundreds more as needed; Latvia will gradually increase capacity of military training area “Selonia” to accommodate Brigade-level exercises; and Latvia, as one of the Multinational Division – North Headquarters Framework Nations, will lead the development of Multinational Division – North as a fully resourced and enabled warfighting division. This Roadmap forms the foundation of a sustainable plan to realize the commitments made at the Madrid Summit in June 2022 and the Joint Declaration signed by Canada and Latvia. This Roadmap further demonstrates Canada’s and Latvia’s commitment to deterrence and defence, to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, and to the NATO Alliance and its Allies. We will continue to stand together in the face of aggression, and in solidarity against elements that threaten our individual and collective security. Signed at Camp Adazi on the 10th day of July in the year 2023 in three (3) copies in English, French, and Latvian. For the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia Ināra Mūrniece, Minister of Defence, Republic of Latvia For the Department of National Defence of Canada Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/07/roadmap---scaling-the-efp-latvia-battle-group-to-brigade.html
November 3, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

Saab and Mitacs to grow Canadian innovation links
The partnership establishes the means to drive innovation by providing Saab access to the precise Canadian postsecondary expertise and know-how required to advance their R&D activities in Canada. Mitacs will match highly qualified research experts from Canadian academic institutes to advance Saab's next generation technologies, and Saab will provide industry guidance and other in-kind resources, while both will share the financial cost to support these applied research and innovation internships. “Saab works closely with universities around the world in fostering the academic research that can ultimately end up at the heart of our long range radars that can see stealth aircraft or helping to deliver the benefits of digitalization into airports. The MoU with Mitacs gives us the chance to extend that approach to Canada's universities, and we look forward to exploring new technologies and areas of research across Canada,” said Jonas Hjelm, Senior vice-president and Saab's head of business area Aeronautics. At a macro level, participating students and the selected projects will boost innovation by advancing Saab's development agenda with wider economic benefits in job creation and further industrialization of the research. At the intern level, the work will facilitate skills development and work-integrated learning as together Saab and Mitacs advance the mutually beneficial goals. “Mitacs is proud to partner with Saab and connect them with talent to advance business goals through research and development. Canadian student researchers drive innovation and benefit from working with Saab and applying their skills to advance aviation technologies. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for investing in R&D,” said John Hepburn, CEO and scientific director, Mitacs. This MOU arises from Saab's Industrial and Technological Benefit commitments that Saab has made as part of its bid for the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) and is subject to Saab's selection for that program. Saab has submitted an offer of 88 Gripen E fighters for the Canadian FFCP with a comprehensive ITB offer involving the Gripen for Canada Team (https://www.saab.com/markets/canada/gripen-for-canada) https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/saab-and-mitacs-to-grow-canadian-innovation-links/
April 5, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

Boeing Secures Services Contract for Canada's Chinooks
Five-year performance-based logistics contract to provide lifecycle support for Royal Canadian Air Force's fleet of CH-147F Chinooks The follow-on contract covers full system logistics, engineering support, supply chain, data analytics and training services OTTAWA, Ontario, April 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and the Canadian government have agreed to an amendment to an existing performance-based logistics (PBL) contract. Under the $313 million fixed-price amendment, Boeing will continue to provide full system logistics, engineering support, supply chain, data analytics and training services to the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) fleet of 15 CH-147F Chinooks through 2023. Operating under a 20-year performance-based sustainment and training contract since 2013, the RCAF reviews its Chinook fleet support requirements every five years. "We look forward to continuing our support of the Royal Canadian Air Force and its effort to reduce maintenance costs through this long-term agreement," said Turbo Sjogren, vice president of International Government Services, Boeing Global Services. "PBLs have a proven track record of increasing system availability, decreasing maintenance cycles through the use of predictive maintenance tools, and reducing overall ownership costs." Unlike traditional contracts based on payment for specific parts and services, under a PBL agreement, the customer pays for a support package with an agreed-to level of readiness, which can lower costs while increasing mission-capability rates. Boeing supports PBL contracts with customers around the world and across multiple platforms, including the Chinook. Through this contract, Boeing will also continue to work with companies across Canada in support of the country's Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy, which supports long-term opportunities for the Canadian aerospace industry and workforce. Currently, Boeing works with nearly 560 Canadian suppliers, and the company employs approximately 2,000 highly skilled workers throughout the country. Boeing Global Services, headquartered in the Dallas area, was formed by integrating the services capabilities of the government, space and commercial sectors into a single, customer-focused business. Operating as a third business unit of Boeing, Global Services provides agile, cost-competitive services to commercial and government customers worldwide. Contact Ken Mercer Boeing Global Services Office: +1 312-544-2229 Mobile: +1 312-218-9377 Kenneth.b.mercer@boeing.com http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2018-04-03-Boeing-Secures-Services-Contract-for-Canadas-Chinooks

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