Thales to provide seven more GM200 MM/C radars for Dutch Army

On the same subject

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  February 15, 2021 | Local, Land

  Canada’s main small arms manufacturer sold to Czech firm

  David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen Publishing date: Feb 14, 2021 • 21 hours ago • 1 minute read Canada's main small arms manufacturer which provides firearms to the Canadian military has been purchased by a Czech firm. Czech firearms company Ceska Zbrojovka will acquire Colt in the U.S. as well as its subsidiary Colt Canada, based in Kitchener, ON. The deal is expected to be completed by the summer. Colt Canada, with around 100 employees, is Canada's Small Arms Strategic Source and Centre of Excellence. It is included in what the federal government calls the Munitions Supply Program, which sees contracts directed to Colt Canada to maintain its expertise. Department of National Defence officials acknowledge that taxpayers pay a premium to have the guns manufactured in Canada through the sole-source deals. The Czech firm has around 1,650 workers in the Czech Republic, United States and Germany. In a statement it noted that the acquisition of Colt “will acquire significant production capacity in the United States and Canada and substantially expand its global customer base.” National Defence spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin said Sunday that the department has been informed of the pending sale of Colt Canada. “While we do not expect an impact on our existing contracts, we are still assessing the situation,” she noted. Public Services and Procurement Canada couldn't provide comment because its media relations office is closed on the weekends. However, last year, that department noted the value of Canada having its own small arms capability. “With Colt Canada as the strategic source of supply and centre of excellence for small arms, the Government of Canada has the ability to produce small arms domestically, ensuring the development of a viable and internationally competitive industry that gives Canada long-term industrial and economic benefits,” the department noted in an email. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadas-main-small-arms-manufacturer-sold-to-czech-firm

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  January 28, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  U.S., Canadian fighter planes scramble to escort Russian jets near North American coastline

  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The North American Aerospace Defence Command says two F-22 and two CF-18 fighter jets identified two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Military authorities say U.S. Air Force and Canadian fighter jets were scrambled to escort two Russian bombers that were travelling near the North American coastline. The North American Aerospace Defence Command says two F-22 and two CF-18 fighter jets identified two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers. The Russian planes were said to be entering an area patrolled by the Royal Canadian Air Force on Saturday morning. There were no reports of conflict between the Russian and the U.S. and Canadian jets. NORAD says it uses radar, satellites and fighter aircraft to patrol the skies and monitor aircraft entering U.S. or Canadian airspace. General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, the NORAD commander, said in a statement that “NORAD's top priority is defending Canada and the United States. “Our ability to protect our nations starts with successfully detecting, tracking, and positively identifying aircraft of interest approaching U.S. and Canadian airspace,” O'Shaughnessy said. https://montrealgazette.com/news/us-canadian-fighter-planes-scramble-to-escort-russian-jets

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  January 21, 2019 | Local, Land

  Tens of millions paid out due to bungled Canadian Forces procurement, but government says details are secret

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The case dates back to 2016 when the Canadian International Trade Tribunal ruled that the process which awarded a truck contact to Mack Defense of the U.S. was flawed Taxpayers are on the hook for potentially tens of millions of dollars after federal bureaucrats bungled the purchase of trucks for the Canadian Forces and now must make good on the lost profits for a U.S. firm. But Public Services and Procurement Canada, which oversaw the flawed defence procurement, has declined to provide details on just how much the penalties will cost the public. Defence industry representatives, however, say the penalty being paid to the U.S. company, Oshkosh, could be as high as $60 million as it has to account for lost profit on the $834-million contract as well as other expenses the firm incurred. The case dates back to 2016 when the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) ruled that the process, which awarded the truck contact to Mack Defense of the U.S., was flawed. The CITT supported the concerns of Mack's rival, Oshkosh, that there were significant issues with the evaluation of the vehicles. As a result, the tribunal called on Public Services and Procurement Canada to conduct a new evaluation of the trucks being purchased for the Canadian Forces. The CITT recommended that Oshkosh be compensated for its lost opportunity to profit But instead, the department continued with the process to buy the Mack trucks and went to federal court in 2017 to challenge the tribunal's ruling. It recently abandoned that appeal. It was revealed by the tribunal that Public Services and Procurement Canada had failed to keep many key records to support its claim that the Mack trucks met the requirements for the Canadian military. “The CITT recommended that Oshkosh be compensated for its lost opportunity to profit,” the department noted in a response to Postmedia about the settlement it reached with the firm. The department, however, declined to provide details, claiming that the payout is confidential. It did not explain why the penalties that taxpayers must shoulder should be considered secret. “This matter is now closed,” according to the department's statement. The Conservative government announced in 2015 that Mack Defense had won the $834-million contract to provide the 1,500 standard military pattern trucks as well as in-service support for the vehicles. “Truck deliveries are ongoing and expected to be completed during spring 2020,” Public Services and Procurement Canada noted. It stated that the Mack trucks meet the required standards. Oshkosh said in a statement to Postmedia that it was pleased with the financial settlement that resulted from its challenge heard by the trade tribunal. “Oshkosh cannot comment further on the details of this confidential settlement,” noted Alexandra Hittle of Oshkosh Defense. The program to purchase the trucks was originally announced in 2006 by the Conservatives but the acquisition was dogged by problems. The vehicles were supposed to be delivered in 2008 and the project was considered a priority because the vehicles they were to replace had become a safety hazard, with faulty brakes and excessive rust. But in 2012 the Conservative government temporarily shut down the project after learning that the Department of National Defence increased the cost of the project by $300 million but hadn't received permission from government to do that. The government had approved an original budget of $430 million but department and military officials began adding more capabilities to what they wanted in the vehicles, bumping the estimated cost up. DND officials continued on with the acquisition without going back to Treasury Board for approval for the extra money, angering the Conservative government. Delivery of the Mack trucks began last year and have continued to various bases throughout Canada. Earlier this month Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan highlighted the delivery of some of the trucks to a base in Quebec, noting that, “through our defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, we are providing the women and men of our Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment they need to do their jobs.” Sajjan did not mention that the trucks were ordered under the Conservative government. dpugliese@postmedia.com https://ottawacitizen.com/news/canada/tens-of-millions-paid-out-due-to-bungled-canadian-forces-procurement-but-government-says-details-are-secret