DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN
MV Asterix is now operating with HMCS Regina in Middle Eastern waters as part of a Canadian-led coalition task force.
The Asterix, a commercial ship converted by Davie shipyards in Quebec and leased to the federal government to perform a military supply role, has been going almost non-stop since it was launched. It has refueled both Canadian and allied warships.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said there is no need for a second such interim supply ship and the head of the Royal Canadian Navy, Vice Admiral Ron Lloyd, says he is happy with having the Asterix as the force's only supply ship until 2023 when the first of two Joint Support Ships, to be built at Seaspan in Vancouver, is expected to be ready.
Davie, however, has offered to convert a second such ship, MV Obelix, to the same capabilities of Asterix and lease it to the government.
At one point the navy had three of its own supply ships supporting its vessels.
Information recently tabled in Parliament indicates that even though Asterix has been going full-tilt over the last year, there was still a requirement for Canadian warships to receive fuel and provisions from supply vessels operated by foreign navies or for Canadian ships to head to port to receive fuel and supplies.
Here are the details from Parliament:
The Asterix is also at the heart of federal government's case against Vice Admiral Mark Norman. Norman has been accused by the RCMP of warning Davie that Liberal cabinet ministers wanted to derail the Asterix project.
That development leaked out to the news media and the resulting embarrassment was one of the factors that forced the Liberal government to back down on its plans and Asterix proceeded. Norman has denied any wrongdoing.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had twice predicted that Norman would eventually wind up in court, prompting concerns of political interference and concerns the Liberal government is punishing the officer.
Norman's lawyers are in pre-trial trying to get documents they argue are needed so the officer can defend himself. Norman's trial is scheduled for August.
March 30, 2022 | Local, Aerospace
Negotiations could begin as early as this week between the Canadian government and Lockheed Martin for the acquisition of 88 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets.
March 29, 2019 | Local, Naval
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Industry representatives have been talking about the possibility that the Type 26 design will need to be altered significantly to meet Canadian requirements. There have been suggestions that the length of the ship will have to be increased by 10 metres to better accommodate a Canadian crew size. Questions about such a possibility were even raised by MPs at a Commons defence committee meeting last month. But the Department of National Defence says there's nothing to such claims. DND spokeswoman Ashley Lemire points out that Lockheed Martin's proposal, based on the BAE Type 26, meets the requirements outlined in the Canadian government's request for proposal. “Therefore, there is no need to lengthen the proposed design to meet Canada's requirements,” she said. DND procurement chief Pat Finn also faced similar questions from Conservative MPs during the Commons defence committee meeting last month. The Conservatives raised concerns about about whether the Type 26 had the speed or size to meet Canadian requirements. MPs also asked questions about whether the cost of the Canadian Surface Combatant program was increasing from $60 billion-$65 billion to $77 billion. Finn said there are no issues on speed or size for the Type 26. “The requirement for the Canadian Surface Combatant set standards for speed, berths, etc., so there's no cost increase to the bid because of speed or berth,” Finn explained to MPs. “There's been no documentation prepared and nothing has come across my desk that says there's a cost increase to $77 billion.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/no-need-to-lengthen-type-26-warship-to-meet-canadas-needs-says-dnd
June 7, 2023 | Local, Aerospace, C4ISR
New funding and prizes will be available for innovators at all developmental stages of counter-drone technology through the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) challenge, launching this summer. Do you have a creative concept for this challenge, but need some funding to kick-start or continue your development? Do you have an innovative prototype that will soon be ready to demonstrate to the Canadian Armed Forces? In summer 2023, the IDEaS program will seek submissions for: New game-changing CUAS concepts that IDEaS will be funding for development with up to $2.5 million per innovator and up to $11 million in total available, and; CUAS prototypes that are ready to test and demonstrate at our 2024 CUAS Sandbox. May 27 to June 21, 2024, in Suffield, Alberta. Now with $2 million of total Sandbox prizes being awarded, with $1 million for first place, $500,000 for second place, and $250,000 for third place. Open to all CUAS technologies and concepts, with specific interest in kinetic, laser, microwave, and other hard-kill solutions. This concurrent approach of both lower readiness level concept development and higher level Sandbox demonstrations permits innovative solutions at any stage of development to apply and be eligible for potential funding. Further details and confirmation of funding amounts will be released with the call for applications in summer 2023. Subject to confirmation, applications will close in early October 2023 with innovator selections in November 2023! Visit the IDEaS website Sandboxes page to learn about our past 2019 CUAS and the 2022 CUAS Sandboxes. The IDEaS team