Back to news

April 26, 2018 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR

Royal Canadian Navy getting new miniature maritime drone this summer- Update on defence industry news and contracts

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN

Here is defence industry news from my article in the latest issue of Esprit de Corps magazine:

MDA, a Maxar Technologies company, signed a contract worth around $8 million to provide the Department of National Defence with what is being called a Maritime Miniature Unmanned Aircraft Systems (MMUAS). The contract also includes services to support training, resource and equipment development activities and development and validation of naval tactics and new capability development, according to the firm.

MDA's solution is based on the Puma AE (All Environment) unmanned aircraft built by Aeroviroment.The photo above courtesy of the U.S. Navy shows the Puma AE. The Puma has the ability to carry additional payloads as required for specific missions. The MMUAS is the first UAS project that will see the RCN operate and maintain its own capability and provide a sustainable shipborne, near real-time, Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) ISR capability with an expected introduction to the fleet in the summer of 2018 onboard Kingston-class ships.

The Puma AE is operated from the same control station as the Raven UAS which has been provided by MDA to the Canadian Army since 2013.

In addition, MDA, also announced it has signed a contract with an unnamed international customer for the provision of turnkey, unmanned aircraft system surveillance services. The contract includes options for additional years. MDA's UAS service will use a fleet of Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 rotary-wing unmanned aircraft to provide surveillance information. MDA will be responsible for all aspects of the service including acquisition of all the systems and required infrastructure, training, airworthiness, logistics, supply chain, maintenance and all flight operations, the firm noted.

The S-100 aircraft is a vertical takeoff and landing UAS, which does not require a prepared area or supporting launch or recovery equipment. It operates day and night and is a very capable platform for a wide range of different surveillance payloads to meet a broad set of mission requirements.

MDA's UAS service will equip the S-100 fleet with L3 WESCAM MX-10 EO/IR payloads. The MX-10 is a high-performance, multi-sensor multi-spectral imaging system for tactical surveillance missions. It carries multiple sensors including both high-definition day modes and night infrared modes. The MX-10 is currently operational for twelve nations worldwide on the S-100.

Pratt & Whitney Canada has signed a 12-year Fleet Management Program agreement with Specialist Aviation Services for 24 PW210A engines powering 12 Leonardo AW169 helicopters.

The program has been specifically tailored to SAS's needs and helps reduce operating costs and simplifies fleet operations management, according to Pratt and Whitney.

Operating primarily in the United Kingdom, SAS provides support to emergency services and other major organizations that rely on aircraft to support their operations. SAS is one of the fleet leaders on the AW169 program.

Rheinmetall has won the first request for proposals for preliminary studies relating to European Union defence research financed by the EU's European Defence Union. Under a project known as “Generic Open Soldier Systems Reference Architecture”, or GOSSRA, the European Commission has put the Düsseldorf-based tech group in charge of a consortium consisting of partners from nine different EU member states.
Under the GOSSRA project, studies will be conducted into developing an open reference architecture as the basis of EU-wide standardized soldier systems. This includes electronics, voice and data communication, software solutions, man-machine interfaces, sensors and effectors.

Rheinmetall makes the German Bundeswehr's IdZ-ES soldier system as well as the Canadian military's Argus system.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/royal-canadian-navy-getting-new-miniature-maritime-drone-this-summer-update-on-defence-industry-news-and-contracts

On the same subject

  • OPPORTUNITY: US Army xTech International - Energy Water Synthetic Biology - DEADLINE APRIL 15TH

    April 7, 2022 | Local, Land

    OPPORTUNITY: US Army xTech International - Energy Water Synthetic Biology - DEADLINE APRIL 15TH

    The Trade Commissioner Service would like to make industry aware of the US Army's xTechInternational Competition, which provides a forum for eligible international small businesses to engage with the Army, earn prize money and investigate funding opportunities to tackle Army challenges across three key technology areas: Energy; Water; and Synthetic Biology. Responses are due by APRIL 15, 2022 in the form of a 3 page white paper and option 3 minute video. See full details on the xTech website here: https://www.arl.army.mil/xtechsearch/competitions/xtechinternational.html The registration/submission page may be found here: https://usg.valideval.com/teams/xtech_International/signup Problem Statements · Topic 1: Electric Power and Energy Technologies o Challenge: As new and future Army systems are planned for expeditionary operations; developers are focusing on electric power to decrease the reliance on fossil fuels and to alleviate supply line issues. The DoD is seeking technologies to facilitate future electric systems that can operate in varied conditions. Of particular interest are the following energy technologies for expeditionary operations: § Critical Infrastructure energy technologies to support high demand for electric power on the battlefield, such as tactical battlefield recharging capability for onboard vehicle batteries. § High Energy Battery Technology, greater than 400Wh/kg, to keep up with the demand for high density energy storage with long life cycle and fast charging capabilities (>=4C rate with limited degradation), across a wide operational temperature range (-46 to +71 Celsius, per MIL-PRF-32565). § Technologies for Improving Battery Safety that can reduce safety risks posed by thermal runaway of high energy density battery systems. § Open-Source Lithium ion 6T Battery Management System (BMS) & Case design that meets Army standards, which the Army can then provide to battery manufacturers, to reduce battery manufacturers' challenges to developing Army compliant lithium-ion 6T batteries. This also enables the Army to swiftly adopt of new and emerging battery cell technologies in the Lithium-ion 6T space. · Topic 2: Water Technologies o Challenge: Expeditionary forces are operating in locations where local water sources may contain microbial, chemical, or heavy metal contamination and supply lines are unreliable to deliver timely supplies. The DoD is seeking technologies to produce potable water in real-time using a scalable solution with minimal logistical requirements, in order to support enduring operations. Of particular interest are the following water technologies for expeditionary operations: § Technologies for the extraction of water from atmosphere or non-traditional water sources. § Removal of microbiological, chemical, and heavy metals on an individual scale. § Real time water sensors to support individual Soldier field purification efforts by ensuring the efficacy of the water purification device in real time and identifying contaminants in indigenous water sources. · Topic 3: SynBio Technologies o Challenge: Synthetic biology is enabling us to better harness nature to produce leap-ahead materials that we cannot make efficiently in any other way. Cell culture methods that have been the workhorse for industrial use often require very controlled process conditions and can have various limitations on the types/complexity of product produced. We want to harness biosynthesis methods beyond that paradigm to realize more efficient on-demand production of biochemicals/biomaterials anywhere in the world or fabrication of multifunctional protective materials (e.g., self-cleaning armor with integrated sensing, eye protection, tunable RF antenna and camouflage properties), and we are interested in any advancements that have been made in characterizing novel organism capabilities and steps towards engineering them. Such novel organisms could include, but not be limited to: extremophiles or typical eukaryotes (e.g., microalgae/diatoms, insect cells). Examples of potential interest areas include: § Extremophile novel biochemical pathways tuned for selective synthesis, recovery, separation, and/or remediation of high value elements/materials (e.g., production of novel energetic materials; remediation of energetics; recovery and separation/processing of rare earth and other high-value elements). § Open cultures (instead of expensive sterile systems) that support using non-sterile nutrients by non-experts in minimal protective gear. § Expanding the breadth of elements that organisms can utilize to make novel materials or precursor materials that can be converted into novel materials (e.g., as is done in polymer-derived ceramics). § Synthesis of biohybrid/multifunctional materials, toward next generation military-grade materials/coatings that cannot be affordably/feasibly fabricated in any other way [e.g., eye and sensor protection, camouflaging or concealing materials, complex multifunctional fiber materials (integrated strength/sensing/RF emission/decontamination/optical properties)]; novel energetic material production with micro/nanopackaging; structural or adhesive materials; or reinforced materials with enhanced degradation/erosion characteristics. § Human performance applications such as living sensors for harsh environments, encapsulated skin-biotics for UV/nuclear radiation protection, responsive textile-attached antimicrobials Eligibility The entities allowed to participate in this competition must be international SME businesses. SME businesses are defined as those with

  • Overview of Quantum 2030

    March 27, 2023 | Local, C4ISR

    Overview of Quantum 2030

    The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) Quantum Science and Technology Strategy Implementation Plan, known as Quantum 2030, is a roadmap to ensuring DND/CAF is better prepared for the disruptive potential of quantum technologies for defence and security over the next seven years. Examples of the military potential of quantum technologies include positioning, navigation and timing where Global Positioning Systems (GPS) don’t work; sensors to detect chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats; secure communication and code-breaking; and advanced materials and medical research. Research and development into emerging technologies and countermeasures will ensure DND/CAF is prepared to be an early adopter, work with allies and stay ahead of potential adversaries.   The implementation plan includes five calls to action for DND/CAF: Identify who is expected to use quantum technologies within DND/CAF; Train personnel for a base level of understanding of quantum, known as quantum literacy; Harmonize quantum investments across DND/CAF; Access state-of-the-art technology through innovation programs; and, Engage industry and academia. Quantum 2030 identifies four promising quantum technologies with defence and security applications and lays out a seven-year plan to develop prototypes ready to be tested in the field by the year 2030. Quantum-enhanced radar Quantum-enhanced light detection and ranging (LiDAR) Quantum algorithms for defence and security Quantum networking The seven-year plan is divided into three phases including recruiting and training personnel, scientific development, and field testing and demonstrations. Quantum 2030 builds on the DND/CAF Quantum Science and Technology Strategy, which was published in January 2021, and aligns with the Government of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, released in January 2023. Related links: DND / CAF Quantum Science and Technology Strategy National Quantum Strategy https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/overview-quantum-2030.html

  • Watchdog probing military police work in case of soldier who attempted to kill her children | CBC News

    October 30, 2023 | Local, Aerospace

    Watchdog probing military police work in case of soldier who attempted to kill her children | CBC News

    Canada's military police watchdog plans to probe how investigators handled the case of an Edmonton-based soldier who was found guilty earlier this year of trying to kill herself and her three children by setting her house on fire in 2015.

All news