December 3, 2023 | Local, Aerospace
Defense officials put technology at center of AUKUS summit
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his Australian and British counterparts in California to discuss the security pact
April 9, 2020 | Local, Security
Pandemic equipment snarls will rewrite Canada's definition of national security needs, say experts
When every country needs the same stuff to keep people safe, cost arguments seem less convincing
The mad scramble to secure protective medical equipment and ventilators in the midst of a global pandemic has given some of the people who work in the usually tedious world of government procurement an unwelcome excuse to say, "I told you so."
For years, there have been quiet but persistent demands coming out of the defence and acquisition sectors for successive federal governments to develop a list of "strategic industries" that do not have to rely on foreign supply chains — as insurance against the kind of procurement panic in play right now.
Those calls were largely ignored. Now, defence experts are saying the COVID-19 crisis is a costly wake-up call.
Canada needs — and has needed for almost two decades — a 21st century national security industrial plan that focuses on critical equipment and materials that should be produced at home, not abroad.
'Totally negligent'
"We've been totally negligent on that and it is something I have articulated over and over again," said Alan Williams, the former head of the procurement branch at the Department of National Defence.
"It's absolutely critical and if this doesn't wake us to that reality, I don't know what would."
Williams devoted a substantial portion of one of his books, Reinventing Canadian Defence Procurement: A View from the Inside, to the absence of a national security vision of Canadian industry.
"It frankly pisses me off because there's no reason for us not to have done that," he said.
"That should be the kind of thing ministers, the leaders of the country desperately want to do. And why we seem to have avoided that kind of strategic thinking ... It just boggles my mind. It's inexcusable."
'Key' industries geared toward trade, not tragedies
There was a faint glimmer of hope in the initial debate over the National Shipbuilding Strategy a decade ago, when the former Conservative government made a conscious decision to build future warships, Canadian Coast Guard and fisheries vessels in Canada, instead of outsourcing the work to other countries.
At least in the context of defence procurement, Canada does have what are known as "key industrial capabilities", including shipbuilding, the production of certain types of ammunition and the construction of a range of aerospace and maritime electronic systems.
Much of the work of those "key" domestic industries is, however, geared toward making high-end components for global supply chains. Critics have often said the policy focuses on high-tech innovation and business priorities, rather than hard-headed national security interests.
Other countries, Williams said, have carved out a space for national security interests in industrial policy by not allowing other countries to build certain pieces of equipment. The Japanese, for example, have retained the capability to assemble their own warplanes.
A shift in thinking
The COVID-19 crisis, which has uncovered a potentially deadly shortage of ventilators and protective equipment for medical professionals, will push the federal government into a radical re-evaluation of what we need to be able to build at home to protect the country.
In some respects, that work has already started.
Earlier this week, reflecting on the Trump administration's moves to restrict exports of protective equipment, Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed dismay over how the fate of so many Canadians had been taken out of the hands of the federal and provincial governments.
"I am just so, so disappointed right now," he said. "We have a great relationship with the U.S. and all of a sudden they pull these shenanigans. But as I said yesterday, we will never rely on any other country going forward."
Over the past two weeks, the federal government has announced plans to pour more than $2 billion into sourcing and acquiring protective medical equipment — masks, gowns, face shields, hand sanitizer — at home. On Tuesday, Ottawa unveiled a plan to get three Canadian companies to build 30,000 ventilators.
Health equipment may have been outside the normal definition of national security needs until just a few weeks ago — but the shifting geopolitical landscape offered another warning sign that was ignored, said procurement expert Dave Perry.
Leaning on China
"This is pointing out the flip side of our globalized world and globalized supply chains," said Perry, an analyst and vice president at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. "The cold, hard truth is that we're going to be relying on China for critical supplies."
When the coronavirus outbreak ramped up, federal officials should have been aware of the potential peril involved in relying on Chinese factories for so many critical items.
But in the absence of homegrown capability, Canada is at the mercy of panicked nations in the midst of panicked buying.
"The entire world is trying to put through orders from the same sets of factories we're trying to source from," Perry said.
"It might be accurate to criticize the Chinese for their response, but in the current context the government has to be cognizant of the impact on our potential ability to source stuff we really, really need right now from China — when there's not a lot of other options available in the short term and when the rest of the world is making the same phone calls."
One of the critical arguments against a homegrown national security industrial strategy has been the cost. It's an argument familiar from the shipbuilding context: taxpayers pay a premium when we task Canadian industry with delivering solutions, instead of turning to cheaper foreign manufacturers.
Elinor Sloan, a defence policy expert at Carleton University, said she believes the crisis will focus the public's attention on securing the critical industries and supplies the country needs in a global crisis.
"The trade-off, as we know, is that it can be more costly to build or produce at home," she said. "This crisis may engender a perspective among the public that the extra cost is worth it."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pandemic-covid-coronavirus-procurement-masks-ventilators-1.5525373
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October 21, 2020 | Local, Naval, C4ISR
Canada ensures continued support for Halifax-class radar systems
From: National Defence Canada's Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates are the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Making sure that these ships have and maintain modern equipment is key to ensuring our navy can continue its important work. Canada's Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates are the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Making sure that these ships have and maintain modern equipment is key to ensuring our navy can continue its important work. Today, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan announced an in-service support contract with Thales Canada, of Ottawa, Ontario, to support the SMART-S MK2 radar system used on Canada's Halifax-class frigates, starting in fall 2020. Valued at $4.6 million (including taxes), this contract will provide critical engineering, in-service support, and repair and overhaul services to ensure the radar remains operationally capable of detecting the location and range of possible air and surface threats up to 250 km away. The SMART-S MK2 radar is the primary tactical radar used on the Halifax-class frigates, and was installed as part of the Halifax-class Modernization Project. It is a medium-to-long-range 3-D radar that provides air and surface surveillance capabilities to the RCN's Halifax-class frigates. Keeping our Halifax-class frigates operational and at the height of modern technology is critical for maintaining the combat readiness of the RCN until the arrival of the Canadian Surface Combatant ships. Quotes “The continued support of the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigates is an important aspect of Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. The Halifax-class frigates are considered to be the backbone of the RCN. As maritime threats continue to evolve, this investment in equipment will provide our people in uniform with the tools they need, to continue protecting Canadians and supporting peace and security missions at home and abroad.” “We are providing the members in uniform with the equipment they need to carry out their important work. This in-service support contract is another example of our commitment to provide the Royal Canadian Navy with the technology it needs to continue protecting and serving Canadians.” The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement “Investing in our local industry is now more important than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic. By supporting companies like Thales here in the National Capital Region, our government is continuing to grow local Ottawa-based industry, while also providing the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces with the resources they need.” Anita Vandenbeld, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence Quick facts Halifax-class frigates monitor and control Canadian waters, defend Canada's sovereignty, facilitate large-scale search and rescue activities, and provide emergency assistance when needed. The frigates operate with and integrate into the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and coalitions of allied states in support of international peace and security operations. Introduced into service in the 1990s, the Canadian-built Halifax-class frigates were recently modernized to remain operationally effective and relevant until the Canadian Surface Combatants enter into service. This contract will provide in-service support and repair and will overhaul parts for the SMART-S MK2 radar for one year, beginning this fall. There is also an option for an additional four, one-year extensions, in order to maintain support during the transition to future in-service support contracts. Should all options be exercised, the entire contract has a potential value of up to $19 million (including taxes). This contract is fully compliant with the Government of Canada's Sustainment Initiative, which helps us ensure performance, value for money, flexibility, and economic benefits. This in-service support contract for the radar is an interim measure that will ensure services until a new contract for the Halifax-class Combat System has been awarded and a transition has been completed in 2021. This future in-service support contract will combine five current contracts for the frigate's combat systems under one long-term contract managed by a single prime contractor, helping to ensure continued service and best value. Through the Halifax-class Modernization Project, the Government of Canada successfully modernized the RCN's fleet of 12 frigates to ensure they continue to meet evolving operational needs. Valued at $4.3 billion, this project provided state-of-the-art upgrades, including a new combat management system, new radar capability, new electronic warfare systems, and upgraded communications and missile systems. Final delivery was on November 30, 2016, with full operational capability achieved by January 31, 2018. https://www.miragenews.com/canada-ensures-continued-support-for-halifax-class-radar-systems/
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February 6, 2018 | Local, C4ISR
L3 WESCAM launches smarter imaging and processing technologies
SINGAPORE, February 6, 2018 – L3 WESCAM announced today that it has created smarter, more technologically advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) systems by incorporating highperforming imaging and processing technologies into its MX™-Series product line. These new technologies will enable MX operators to conduct missions with enhanced image processing and greater visual capabilities than ever before. “Today's environments are more complex, and missions need to be executed with more assurance,” said Paul Jennison, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for L3 WESCAM. “L3's newly incorporated smart technologies provide a portfolio of capabilities that will help operators succeed though a combination of ease-of-use and robust performance.” Newly launched imaging technologies include the addition of higher-sensitivity cameras that offer advanced imaging capabilities across a much wider range of illumination conditions, thereby advancing operator capabilities in low-visibility and no-visibility environments. Advancements to L3's MX image processing technologies include WESCAM's embedded Advanced Video Engine (WAVE) and a newly embedded Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). L3 WESCAM's new Automated Video Tracker (AVT) and embedded Moving Target Indicator (MTI) technologies are supported by this new architecture and provide automatic target acquisition of multiple targets with significantly improved target lock performance in challenging mission scenarios. L3's significant investment in its image processing technologies has made the MX product line smarter, as the WAVE's architecture supports future growth and allows for the rapid deployment of future image processing techniques. L3 has more than 40 years of experience in the design and delivery of stabilized imaging and targeting solutions. Systems range in size from 8 to 25 inches in diameter, portray clear sighting capabilities across the visible and infrared spectrums, and operate with outstanding stabilization and leading range performance. https://www.wescam.com/wp-content/uploads/L3-WESCAM_Launches_Smarter_More_Accurate_Imaging_Processing_Technologies.pdf