September 26, 2022 | Local, Aerospace
The government announced in 2016 it was purchasing 16 C-295 aircraft for fixed-wing search and rescue, but the first planes won’t be operating until 2025 or 2026.
January 7, 2022 | Local, Aerospace
Canadians will at long last have a better idea this year which fighter jet the Liberal government intends to buy for the air force. The selection decision, however, is expected to have more significance than simply a choice between two shining, new, expensive aircraft: the F-35 or the Gripen-E.
November 8, 2018 | Local, Naval
OTTAWA, Nov. 8, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is making our oceans healthier, cleaner and safer than ever, thanks to the $1.5 billion Oceans Protections Plan. The Canadian Coast Guard's two new Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CSSVs) will support the ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of mariners in Canada as they serve as the platform for the Canadian Hydrographic Service's Channel Survey Program. The program collects information about channel conditions and water depth of the St. Lawrence waterway to assist in safe navigation. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard has accepted two new CSSVs, called the CCGS Jean Bourdon and CCGS Helen Irene Battle, into the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. Under the Coast Guard's ship-naming policy, Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels are named after Canadian scientists, hydrographers, and explorers who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. In this case, Jean Bourdon carried out the first hydrographic studies of the St. Lawrence River, and Helen Irene Battle was an award-winning scientist and first woman in Canada to earn a PhD in marine biology. Both were important citizens whose contributions helped shape Canada. These new CSSVs were made in Canada by Kanter Marine of St. Thomas, Ontario, as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. These vessels will enhance the capability of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as well as other departments and agencies, to monitor and observe marine and environmental conditions. In addition, the new CSSVs will be able to assist with a number of activities related to search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement, emergency response, and natural disasters, as well as supporting ecosystems and fisheries science in the region. Quote "This investment by the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy is a priority of the federal government. The new Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels will enable the Canadian Hydrographic Service to collect important data, while contributing to the safety of mariners through safe and efficient navigation on the St. Lawrence." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Quick Facts The Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CSSV), built by Kanter Marine of St. Thomas, ON, are a catamaran design of 11.95m in length. They will have a maximum speed in excess of 20kts and have a crew of four. The home port for the new CSSVs will be in Mont-Joli, Quebec; however, they will operate within the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Isle-aux-Coudres. The new CSSV class reflects the advancements and new standards existing in the field of hydrographic surveys, such as multi-beam sonars, highly accurate positioning systems and modern data acquisition and processing technologies. The new CSSVs will allow hydrographic surveys to be conducted with better accuracy while reducing data gathering time. They will also be able to assist with a number of activities related to search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement, emergency response, natural disasters as well as supporting ecosystems and fisheries science in the region. These two new vessels will replace the two current Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CCGS F.C.G. Smith and CCGS GC 03) operational in the St. Lawrence waterway, which have been in operation for an average of 37.5 years and are nearing the end of their lifespan. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-accepts-new-vessels-for-the-canadian-coast-guard-700059911.html
June 3, 2019 | Local, Naval
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The CANSEC 2019 defence trade show in Ottawa has wrapped up, and while much of the focus and talk was on new fighter jets, the naval side of procurement didn't escape notice. A number of firms have recent contracts or technology advancements, as outlined in this article in Esprit de Corps magazine. ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH recently announced successful SeaSpider sea trials that were done in co-operation with the German Bundeswehr Technical Center for ships and naval weapons, maritime technology and research. The SeaSpider is the world's first dedicated Anti-Torpedo Torpedo. Trials in the Baltic Sea were conducted on a WTD 71 multipurpose vessel, according to the company. Those involved the full “sensor to shooter” chain with Torpedo Detection, Classification and Localisation, or TDCL sonar, being successfully demonstrated with the third generation SeaSpider prototype with its above water launcher. At the test range both a Mk37 torpedo derived AUV and torpedoes of the DM2A3 type served as the threats. Those were detected and localized with passive and active TDCL and the data was used to cue the SeaSpider launch. SeaSpider acquired the threats and homed in into closest point of approach, the firm noted. The successful “intercept” was verified by acoustic and optical means. Saab's Sea Giraffe AMB naval radar will be used for the Royal Canadian Navy's Joint Support Ships. Saab will do the work on the project both in Sweden and Halifax. Deliveries of the radars are to take place between 2020 and 2022. Seaspan Shipyards has awarded MAN Energy Solutions Canada of Vancouver, BC, a contract valued at $55 million for work on the Royal Canadian Navy's new Joint Support Ships or JSS. MAN is one of several major systems integrators that Seaspan is working with in order to meet its commitments under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the firm noted. Under this contract MAN will provide propulsion and power generation components for the JSS. This will include two MAN 12V32/44CR (Common Rail) propulsion engines equipped with environmental protection SCR technology, reduction gears, propulsion shafts, propellers, ship service diesel generator sets, and an emergency diesel generator set. Work on these components will take place in Europe at MAN's manufacturing facilities. Work taking place in Canada will include MAN providing the integration for these systems, training, testing, and support during the harbour acceptance trials and the JSS sea acceptance trials, according to Seaspan. MDA, a Maxar company, announced that it has signed a $4 million contract with Lockheed Martin Canada. That deal is for the initial phase of design work for the Canadian Surface Combatant ship's Electronic Warfare system. The Águas Azuis Consortium, formed by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and Atech, was selected by the Brazilian Navy for the construction of four defence ships in the Tamandaré Corvettes Class Program as preferred bidder. With thyssenkrupp Marine Systems' leadership and its naval systems expertise, the Águas Azuis Consortium companies will now form a specific purpose company for the implementation phase of the program, the firms noted. Atech, an Embraer Group company, will be the supplier of the Combat Management System and Integrated Platform Management System of the Tamandaré Class corvettes. It will be involved in the transfer of technology in cooperation with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, a subsidiary of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and L3 MAPPS. Embraer Defense & Security will integrate sensors and weaponry into the combat system. Kognitiv Spark of Fredericton, NB will be providing the Royal Canadian Navy with the opportunity to test a Mixed Reality Remote Assistant Support system as part of a project that aims to improve maintenance and repairs aboard naval vessels. The system can be used by RCN marine technicians and weapons engineering technicians to ensure that RCN ships remain at a high-level of readiness for both routine training and operational deployments, according to the firm The project hopes to validate technology adopted from Kognitiv Spark, whose software is designed for use with the Microsoft HoloLens. The software leverages Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence to improve efficiencies with ship operations including repairs, maintenance and knowledge transfer, the firm added. For remote maintenance, a subject-matter expert using this system can see what the HoloLens wearer sees from anywhere in the world. The expert can provide guidance using real-time voice and video, interactive 3D holograms and content, and live IoT data. Alternatively, the technician can use locally stored data to assist with routine tasks when a remote expert is not available. The holographic support is designed to improve decision making by facilitating decisive action and reducing errors by providing clarity and certainty of comprehension. Kognitiv Spark says it was awarded the contract due in part to its reputation from ongoing work with the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/naval-contracts-and-technology-developments-on-display-at-cansec-2019