Personnel shortage challenging Air Force's plan to introduce F-35, other equipment

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  April 7, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Supporting defence innovation – Innovative Solutions Canada launches new defence challenges | Soutenir l'innovation en matière de défense – Solutions innovatrices Canada lance de nouveaux défis en matière de défense

  Supporting defence innovation – Innovative Solutions Canada launches new defence challenges Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) recently launched six new Calls for Proposals in its defence testing stream. ISC is seeking pre-commercial innovative prototypes that can be tested in real life settings and address a variety of defence priorities within the Government of Canada. The Testing Stream aims to procure, test and evaluate innovative late stage pre-commercial prototypes in the following areas: • Digital Enablers and Cybersecurity • UAS and Drone-related infrastructure • Enhanced Warfighting • Training and in-Service support • Enhanced Soldier systems • Smart Sustain and Fleet Optimization The purpose of this call for proposals is to create pools of pre-qualified innovations that Canada may select from to address a broad range of the Government of Canada organizations' requirements. Check the Innovative Solutions Canada web site for eligibility requirements and apply by 14:00 April 22, 2022. Soutenir l'innovation en matière de défense – Solutions innovatrices Canada lance de nouveaux défis en matière de défense Solutions innovatrices Canada (SIC) a récemment lancé six nouveaux appels à propositions dans le cadre de son volet mises à l'essai en défense. SIC est à la recherche de prototypes novateurs pré-commerciaux qui peuvent être testés en situation réelle et qui répondent à diverses priorités de défense du gouvernement du Canada. Le volet mise à l'essais vise à acquérir, à tester et à évaluer des prototypes novateurs pré-commerciaux de stade avancé dans les domaines suivants : • Outils numériques habitants et cybersécurité • Infrastructure liée aux systèmes de surveillance aérienne sans pilote et aux drones • Amélioration de la conduite de la guerre • Formation et soutien en service • Systèmes du soldat améliorés • Soutien intelligent et optimisation de la flotte Le but de cet appel à propositions est de créer des bassins d'innovations préqualifiées parmi lesquelles le Canada pourra choisir afin de répondre à un large éventail de besoins des organisations du gouvernement du Canada. Consultez le site Web de Solutions innovatrices Canada pour connaître les conditions d'admissibilité et présentez votre application d'ici 14h00 le 22 avril 2022.

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  September 4, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  Sweden’s Saab undecided on whether it will participate in Canadian fighter-jet competition

  THE CANADIAN PRESS Days after Airbus Defence and Space pulled out of the $19-billion race to replace Canada's aging fighter jets, the only European firm still eligible to compete says it has not decided whether it will. Saab Canada president Simon Carroll says the Swedish firm is interested in entering its Gripen jet against its two remaining competitors, both of which are from the United States: Boeing's Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin's F-35. However, Mr. Carroll told The Canadian Press on Tuesday that his company is still analyzing the competition's nitty-gritty details – including a security requirement that forced out two other European jet makers. All bidders are required to explain by Sept. 20 how they plan to ensure their planes can integrate with the top-secret Canada-U.S. intelligence network known as “Two Eyes,” which is used to co-ordinate the defence of North America. But in announcing its withdrawal from the competition on Friday, Airbus said meeting the requirement would place “too significant of a cost” on non-U.S. aircraft. French firm Dassault cited the same requirement when it pulled its Rafale jet in November. “We are still looking at that security assessment side of things from the Two-Eyes perspective,” Mr. Carroll said. “We don't see any major issues with it as this point in time. Having said that, we're still reviewing everything through the whole [request for proposals] at this point in time and we will reserve the right to make our judgment on whether or not we provide a bid.” Airbus also raised concerns about changes to a long-standing policy that requires bidders on military contracts to legally commit to invest as much money in Canadian products and operations as they get out of contracts they win. Bidders can now instead establish “industrial targets,” lay out a plan for achieving those targets and sign non-binding agreements promising to make all efforts to achieve them. Such bids do suffer penalties when the bids are scored, but are not rejected outright. That change followed U.S. complaints the previous policy violated an agreement Canada signed in 2006 to become one of nine partner countries in developing the F-35. The agreement says companies in the partner countries will compete for work associated with purchases of the planes. While Saab has previously raised its own concerns about the change, saying it would shortchange Canadian taxpayers and industry, Mr. Carroll said it was “not a hurdle” and that “we think we have a very good offering for what we can offer in Canada.” Even participating in the competition is not a cheap proposition for fighter-jet makers; while Carroll would not speak to the potential cost to Saab, analysts have previously pegged the cost in the millions of dollars. While companies are expected to submit their plans to meet the Two Eyes security requirement on Sept. 20, the government has said it will provide feedback and let bidders amend their submissions. Final bids aren't expected until next winter, with a formal contract signed in 2022. The first plane won't arrive until at least 2025. Successive federal government have been working to replace Canada's CF-18s for more than a decade. Mr. Carroll praised the government for being transparent as it has worked for years to launch the competition, which followed an aborted attempt between 2010 and 2012 to buy F-35s without a competition. “We're supportive of the government processes and what they've done moving forward,” he said. “The transparency from the government has been very good. They've given ample opportunity for us to review documents. They've been very open in saying that these are the dates and these are the times.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-swedens-saab-undecided-on-whether-it-will-participate-in-canadian/

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  February 22, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  Approved suppliers for Canada’s new fighter jet

  Publication of the names of entities forming the Suppliers on the Suppliers List This notice is provided in accordance with article 4.2 of the Suppliers List Invitation to publish the names of the entities forming the Suppliers on the Suppliers List. Gouvernement de la République Française - Dassault Aviation (with Thales DMS France SAS and Safran Aircraft Engines) United States Government - Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company) United States Government - The Boeing Company Swedish Government - SAAB AB (publ) - Aeronautics Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Airbus Defense and Space GmbH https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-NGF-002-26574