November 16, 2018 | Local, C4ISR, Security

Russian aggression and cyber-warfare key issues for Canada to confront: Sajjan

HALIFAX — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Russia's disruptive behaviour on the world stage is a key concern for Canada.

Sajjan made the remark Friday at the opening of the Halifax International Security Forum, a three-day event that has attracted security experts and politicians from around the world.

The minister cited Russia's annexation of Crimea and its aggressive posture toward neighbouring Georgia as examples of a worrisome trend.

"The disruptive nature that Russia has taken, it goes against the rules-based order that we're used to," he told a news conference at a downtown hotel.

He said the recent commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions.

"It's even more important now that nations act in a responsible manner; that we do not provoke," he said.

"Unfortunately, because of the actions that Russia has taken, we do need to make sure we send a strong message of deterrence, and with NATO we are doing that."

Canada has taken a particular interest in confronting Russia's use of so-called hybrid warfare, which blends conventional warfare and cyber-warfare to destabilize democracies, Sajjan said.

Peter Van Praagh, president of the Halifax International Security Forum, said Russia's internal struggles have had an impact on the rest of the world.

"Russia is a great country historically, but Russia is also a failing country, simultaneously," Van Praagh told reporters.

"Russia is struggling with both of those things going on at the same time."

On Saturday, a panel of experts will take part in a discussion titled: "Beijing's Cravings, Kremlin's Gremlins: Freedom's Foes."

"Russia doesn't have the same advanced tools that Canada and NATO has," Van Praagh said. "Russia is using different tools to exert influence ... We can't allow Russia or any other country to interfere in the operations of domestic democracies."

The conference, which has attracted 300 delegates from 70 countries, is being held in conjunction with a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Van Praagh also cited the end of the First World War 100 years ago, saying delegates to the conference will be keeping that key event in mind.

"Looking at 1918 through the prism of 100 years is a good reminder of the cost of war," he said. "It is also a reminder of our responsibility to protect our democracy. The work of democracy is never quite complete."

It's the fourth time Sajjan has attended the security conference as defence minister.

He said other key issues that require delegates' attention include the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, ongoing political changes on the Korean peninsula and Canada's renewed role as an international peacekeeper.

"For a decade, (the forum) has been the place to discuss global defence and security issues that define our times," he said.

Among those invited to speak at the forum is U.S. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dunford is the highest-ranking military officer in the United States and an adviser to President Donald Trump.

The delegates to the forum are almost exclusively from democratic regimes.

Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press

https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2018/11/16/russian-aggression-and-cyber-warfare-key-issues-for-canada-to-confront-sajjan

On the same subject

January 28, 2019 | Local, Naval

Storied Coast Guard ship can’t be fixed, shipyard says, highlighting yet again, Canada’s shipbuilding problem
By David Akin A Quebec shipyard hopeful of getting more federal work has condemned a storied Coast Guard ship as beyond repair, declining to bid on a lucrative contract to overhaul the 56-year-old CCGS Hudson on the grounds that it “presents a serious and real threat to the safety of life at sea.” In a letter delivered Tuesday to officials with Public Services and Procurement Canada, Davie CEO Jared Newcombe said his company, based in Lévis, Que., would not bid on the contract to upgrade the Hudson as Davie believes the vessel to be beyond repair. A copy of that letter was provided to Global News. The federal government was trying to squeeze another few years of service out of the Hudson which, having been commissioned in 1963, is the oldest ship in the Coast Guard's fleet. Bidding on the life-extension contract, expected to be worth about $20 million, ended this week. It is the latest headache to bedevil a federal shipbuilding process that has been rife with delays. Davie's remarkable letter — procurement experts cannot recall a bidder ever recommending scrapping a major vessel when offered a chance to upgrade it — underscores the difficulties successive federal governments have had in updating an aging Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy fleet. “The Coast Guard ships are in serious need of replacement now,” said David Perry, a defence procurement expert and senior analyst at the Ottawa-based think tank, the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. The average service of a Coast Guard ship is about 36 years. Canada's Maritime peers typically replace their Coast Guard vessels within 30 years of service. The Harper government announced in 2007 that the Hudson was to be replaced by 2012 and the contract to replace her was awarded to Vancouver's Seaspan shipyard. But that project is mired in delays and it is not clear when there will be a replacement. There is not yet a confirmed date for construction to start while the projected budget of $331 million to build the Hudson's replacement is under review. The Hudson did have a $4-million refit in Hamilton, Ont., in 2016, and has had more work done on it since it returned to its East Coast port in Dartmouth, N.S., in 2017. But Davie told the government that, in its view, the Hudson has now reached the end of the line. “The level of degradation to the hull, fuel tanks, onboard systems and other structural elements presents a serious and real threat to the safety of life at sea as well as the environment,” Newcombe wrote. Newcombe said his company had to consider its own liability should it have won the current life extension contract, “as well as ethical, repetitional and environmental considerations.” Full article: https://globalnews.ca/news/4884924/coast-guard-ship-cant-be-fixed-canada-shipbuilding-problem/
December 3, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

NATO Pitch Event and Deadline Reminder for Current IDEaS Calls for Proposals // Événement de présentation de l'OTAN et rappel des dates limites pour les appels de propositions IDEeS en cours
NATO Pitch Event; Reminder deadlines for 5G and CDIS Beam Me Up nets the top Made in Canada Prize at the NATO Innovation Challenge Congratulations to Beam Me Up, winner of the Made in Canada prize in the Fall 2021 NATO Innovation Challenge! The team put together a stellar performance and won a special cash prize from IDEaS. The NATO Innovation Challenge Fall 2021 Pitch Day recorded video is now available on Youtube. Deadlines for 5G, Corrosion Detection in Ships Fast Approaching 5G: The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) are seeking innovative solutions via the Faster, Stronger, More Secure: Advancing 5G capabilities and concepts for defence and security challenge. Deadline to apply is 2:00 PM (Eastern Time), Tuesday, December 7, 2021. Corrosion detection: DND/CAF is also looking for functional solutions to rapidly and easily detect and inform the operators and engineers of all corrosion in a vessel while it is in operational use. Solutions will do so in a non-destructive manner that does not rely on human visual inspection or the removal of equipment. See the Corrosion detection in ships page for details. Deadline to apply is 2:00 PM (Eastern Time), Thursday, December 16, 2021 Défi de l'innovation de l'OTAN; Rappel des dates limites pour les défis 5G et CDIS Beam Me Up remporte le prix Fabriqué au Canada au Défi de l'innovation de l'OTAN Félicitations à Beam Me Up, lauréat du prix Fabriqué au Canada lors du Défi de l'innovation de l'OTAN de l'automne 2021! L'équipe a réalisé une performance exceptionnelle et a remporté un prix spécial en argent d'IDEeS. La vidéo de la journée de présentation du Défi de l'innovation de l'OTAN de l'automne 2021 est désormais disponible pour être visionnée dans son intégralité sur Youtube. (disponible en anglais seulement) Les dates limites pour les défis 5G et la détection de la corrosion à bord des navires approchent à grands pas 5G : Le ministère de la Défense nationale et les Forces armées canadiennes (MDN/FAC) recherchent des avancées technologiques pour les capacités 5G pour les défis de défense et de sécurité via le défi Plus rapide, plus fort, plus sécurisé : avancer les capacités et les concepts 5G pour la défense et la sécurité. La date limite pour postuler est 14h00 (HNE), le mardi 7 décembre 2021. Détection de la corrosion : Le MDN/FAC recherche également des solutions fonctionnelles pour détecter et informer rapidement et facilement les opérateurs et les ingénieurs de toute corrosion dans un navire pendant son utilisation opérationnelle. Les solutions le feront d'une manière non destructive qui ne repose pas sur une inspection visuelle humaine ou sur le retrait de l'équipement. Voir la page Détection de la corrosion à bord des navires pour plus de détails. La date limite pour postuler est 14h00 (HNE), le jeudi 16 décembre 2021.
December 30, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

Canadian surveillance satellite system now operational
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