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OTTAWA, Ontario, and MIRABEL, Quebec, Dec. 13, 2018 – Lockheed Martin Canada and L3 MAS announced today they have joined forces to offer a military aircrew training solution for the Department of National Defence Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) project. The FAcT project will deliver a relevant, flexible, responsive, and effective aircrew training program for military pilots, Air Combat Systems Officers and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators to meet the future requirements of the Canadian Armed Forces. Leveraging Lockheed Martin Corporation's global experience in designing, delivering, and operating full-spectrum training solutions, including those in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia, Lockheed Martin Canada is prepared to deliver a Canadian solution to train the next generation of Canadian Armed Forces aircrew. “Lockheed Martin Canada is excited about the opportunity to team with L3 MAS to offer a fully integrated, innovative and low-risk solution for the Royal Canadian Air Force future aircrew training requirements,” said Charles Bouchard, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Canada. “Lockheed Martin is a world leader in providing leading-edge ‘full schoolhouse' aircrew training solutions, and we look forward to working with the Government of Canada to offer the right solution for Canada's next generation of aircrew.” L3 MAS, as the premier In-Service Support (ISS) integrator for the RCAF, will offer its proven fleet management, logistics and maintenance capabilities in support of all training assets to ensure optimum performance, flexibility and value for money for the Government of Canada. “L3 MAS is delighted to team with Lockheed Martin Canada to help deliver an advanced, world-class, integrated training system to future generations of RCAF aircrew,” said Jacques Comtois, vice president and general manager of L3 MAS. “L3 MAS will leverage our proven fleet management and ISS capabilities across many of the RCAF's major fleets to ensure maximum asset availability and best value.” Lockheed Martin was selected as a qualified supplier for the FAcT project in December 2018. The Lockheed Martin Canada-L3 MAS team will be supported by a wide range of Canadian companies. About Lockheed Martin Canada Lockheed Martin Canada, headquartered in Ottawa, is the Canadian-based arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company employing 100,000 people worldwide. Lockheed Martin Canada has been Canada's trusted defence partner for nearly 80 years specializing in the development, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The company employs approximately 1,000 employees at major facilities in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Victoria, working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and commercial sectors. About L3 MAS L3 MAS, a division within L3's ISR Systems business segment, is Canada's leading In-Service Support (ISS) integrator. L3 MAS delivers innovative and integrated solutions that span the full spectrum of ISS. This includes fleet management, annual maintenance planning and optimization; Life-Cycle Material Management (LCMM); Integrated Logistics Support (ILS); Electronic Information Environments (EIE); systems engineering; material management; configuration management; publications; and data management. L3 MAS is also known for its design, prototyping, manufacture, repair and overhaul, and certification of aerospace components. The company is headquartered in Mirabel, Quebec, and employs 800 people at operating centres across Canada. To learn more about L3 MAS, please visit the company's website at www.L3T.com/MAS. https://www.lockheedmartin.ca/ca/news/2016/lockheed-martin-canada-and-l3-mas-join-forces-to-pursue-the-roya.html

QUEBEC, Dec. 7 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Quebec's National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion in support of the Federal government's reform or 'refresh' of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The motion called upon the federal government to endorse the House of Commons and Senate's recommendations to proceed immediately with the construction at Davie Shipbuilding of a second Resolve-Class Naval Support Ship as well as a new fleet of icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. During 2017, the Federal government conducted a review of the National Shipbuilding Strategy in order to reform the failed strategy and begin to deliver ships for Canada in a timely and cost-effective manner. The Quebec marine industry workers and suppliers are now awaiting the widely anticipated policy refresh. James Davies, President of Davie Shipbuilding commented, "The first Resolve-Class Naval Support Ship, Asterix, has performed flawlessly at full capacity since she was delivered in January 2018. In order to ensure the success of the government's defence policy - Strong, Secure and Engaged - as well as the navy's Leadmark 2050 plan, we need to begin the construction of a second ship without delay. I also wish to highlight the outstanding leadership of the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier Mr. Donald Martel in this matter of primary importance for the newly elected Quebec government, as well as the role of the Magdalen Islands MNA, Joël Arseneau, in supporting the motion aimed at including Quebec in the Shipbuilding Strategy." Jacques Letourneau, President of the CSN added, "A shipbuilding strategy which leaves out 50% of Canada'sshipbuilding capacity will never be a 'national' one and it certainly will never be a successful one, as time has shown. Seven years, no ships and billions wasted. . Richard Tremblay, Vice-President of the Chantier Davie Canada Suppliers' Association stated, "The Emerson Report (2016) is clear: The Navy and Coast Guard ships are having to be decommissioned faster than they can be replaced. Although the current government inherited this mess, it is now their responsibility to fix it and the 879 Davie Shipbuilding suppliers in Quebec stand ready to help them." NOTE TO EDITORS: About Davie Davie and Federal Fleet Services are part of the Inocea group. While Davie focuses on shipbuilding, Federal Fleet concentrates on obtaining contracts and on vessel rental. Davie is Canada's largest and most experienced shipyard. It is also the highest capacity shipyard in Canada, with 50% of the country's total capacity. Over the last six years, Davie generated more than 2.7 G$ in economic impact in Canada and employed, up until recently, directly and indirectly, over 3 000 Canadians, including 1 400 at the Lévis shipyard, in the province of Quebec. For over a century, Davie has been in charge of the construction and the repair of each major vessel class. Today, Davie is a leader in the icebreaking, LNG and dynamic positioning technology fields, as well as in naval and other crucial shipbuilding domains. Davie is an ISO 9001:2015 (quality assurance) and ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management) certified company. The first replenishment ship built by Davie, the Asterix, was the first naval vessel to join the ranks of Green Marine, the most important environmental certification voluntary program for North America's marine industry. SOURCE Davie Shipbuilding For further information: Frederik Boisvert, Vice President, Public Affairs, Chantier Davie, Cell phone: +1-418-455-2759; François L'Écuyer, CSN Communications Director, Tel: +1-514-949-8973, francois.lecuyer@csn.qc.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/quebecs-national-assembly-unanimously-adopts-a-motion-in-support-of-the-federal-governments-refresh-of-the-national-shipbuilding-strategy-702203571.html

Tristin Hopper The Canadian Army brought 20 pistols to an Arkansas shooting competition. Before events had even officially kicked off, 15 of those pistols had jammed so badly during the warmup they couldn't be used. “It was so bad, the guys coming off (the range) were handing over their (remaining five) pistols to the next team because they couldn't trust the others,” said Ken Pole, who wrote about the incident for a feature in Canadian Army Today. On average, Pole found that the Canadians' handguns has jammed once every 62 shots. Their British competitors, by contrast, squeezed off 5,620 rounds without a hitch. This is all pretty standard for the Browning Hi-Power, the 74-year-old pistol still carried as the primary sidearm of the Canadian Armed Forces. Unlike most pistols carried by G7 militaries, Brownings have a tendency to rattle and soldiers have been advised not to fully load the pistol because it will wear out the springs. When a Canadian soldier is deployed to a war zone such as Afghanistan or Mali, they're issued with whatever Browning Hi-Power is deemed to be least likely to give out. That's why some have joked that if they're ever forced to use their sidearm in combat, they'd be better off throwing it than shooting it. “If you give me a choice of a sharp stick or a Browning, I'll ... sadly take the Browning but will look fondly at the stick,” Bob Kinch, a former competitive marksman with the Canadian Armed Forces, wrote in a September Quora post. Like many times when the Canadian military tries to buy something, however, the quest to replace the Browning is now held up in a years-long procurement limbo. A 2016 statement by the Department of National Defence estimated that soldiers wouldn't be able to get their hands on new pistols until at least 2026. Canada's Hi-Powers are so desperately obsolete, however, that the army has been forced to greenlight a stopgap program to buy up some working pistols in the meantime. Known as the “Army Interim Pistol Program,” it will buy about 7,000 sidearms to immediate plug what the army is calling its “current pistol capability gaps.” Full article: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadas-wwii-era-pistols-dangerously-unreliable-but-the-quest-to-find-a-replacement-drags-on

Project could lead to a new polar radar system to monitor the Canadian north CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 4, 2018 /CNW/ -- Raytheon Canada Limited (RCL), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN), will design, build and install two over-the-horizon radar sites in Canada's polar region to determine what effects, if any, the Aurora Borealis has on target detection along the Canadian north. These two contracts, totaling $30 million, resulted from a competitive solicitation posted on BuyandSell.gc.ca by Public Services & Procurement Canada on behalf of the Department of National Defence. These contracts will enable Defence Research and Development Canada to conduct a feasibility study of using sky-wave Over-The-Horizon Radar technology, in the arctic, to determine the effect of the Aurora Borealis on target detection beyond line-of-site. Working with Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services, RCL will build two test sites to gauge how the Northern Lights may impact operations. Should those tests prove successful, Canada may decide to build additional radar sites to monitor its increasingly accessible arctic waterways. "Raytheon built and operates a similar radar system in the U.S. which has been key to defending America's borders," said David Appel, director for mission systems at Raytheon IIS. "A full over-the-horizon radar will monitor the arctic, as those waters have become more accessible to shipping traffic." Raytheon also will work with local companies to design and build the system. "We will be working with Canadian suppliers to secure the Canadian north," said Terry Manion, RCL vice president and general manager. "We understand the environment and can provide crucial technologies which may lead to significant long term economic growth." About Raytheon Canada Limited Raytheon Canada Limited (RCL) is a subsidiary of Raytheon Company. RCL is a leader in high technology solutions, engineering services, surveillance and navigation systems including air traffic control radars, highway traffic management systems, maritime surveillance radars and systems, and precision optics. About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25 billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Follow us on Twitter. Media Contact Chris Johnson +1-571-250-3418 Chris.Johnson@raytheon.com SOURCE Raytheon Company https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/raytheon-building-canadian-radar-to-test-effects-of-aurora-borealis-701865451.html

David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen and Tyler Dawson DND officials said there had been consultation about the move with local politicians. 'It's totally not true,' said local MP David Yurdiga The federal government will create a new centre of excellence in Ottawa to support aircraft testing, but it will come at the cost of relocating staff and shutting down existing military facilities in Alberta. The move affects the Canadian military's Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, or AETE, which has been at Cold Lake, Alta. since 1971. Under the new plan AETE would be relocated to the international airport in Ottawa and partnered with the National Research Council Flight Research Laboratory and Transport Canada Aircraft Services Directorate to create a centre of excellence for flight testing and evaluation. The move would affect almost one-third of the unit, which employs 166 military personnel and 22 public servants. The remaining two-thirds would be reassigned to other air force functions, said Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier. Moving AETE will save $14 million a year and free up space for the arrival of more fighter jets at Cold Lake. Canada is in the process of purchasing used fighter aircraft from Australia and the federal government has committed to buying 88 new jets to replace the existing fleet of CF-18s. “This partnership will streamline our flight testing and evaluation capability, while ensuring sufficient space is available for the arrival of additional fighter aircraft in Cold Lake,” Le Bouthillier said. The move, however, is not sitting well with local politicians. David Yurdiga, the Conservative MP for the area, said he'd heard about the move on Monday when it was raised at the House Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts. DND officials briefing the committee said there had been consultation about the move with local politicians. “It's totally not true,” said Yurdiga. Craig Copeland, the mayor of Cold Lake, said the city hasn't yet received a briefing from officials in Ottawa. “It's been sort of verbally mentioned over the years that there would be a re-org,” he explained. “We're hoping to get somebody to brief us.” Details about the exact number of jobs that will be moved from Alberta are still not clear. It is not known how many of the air force personnel who will be reassigned to new jobs would continue to operate from Cold Lake. Yurdiga said the loss of jobs would hit the community hard but he added that defence minister Harjit Sajjan had assured him there would be a “net benefit” to the community. “Cold Lake can't afford to lose even one position,” Yurdiga said. “There are so many unanswered questions and uncertainty is what the community is facing,” he added. Copeland said he had heard an estimate of 50 jobs being lost. That would be a real blow to the area, already suffering from depressed oil prices, and with a home foreclosure rate, he said, of around 10 per cent. “That is concerning to me,” Copeland said. “On the one hand it's tough to see people leave our community but on the other hands, we are hopeful — and expecting — that the Canadian military's going to be investing (locally) for the new fighter jet program.” AETE currently occupies the second-largest and newest hangar at Cold Lake, which will be repurposed for other air force needs, including the new fighter program. The final details of the move are still being worked on, including costs, Le Bouthillier said. DND is in ongoing discussions with the Ottawa International Airport Authority regarding the location of the new centre, he added. The costs for relocating AETE are included in the $470 million the Liberal government has set aside for buying the used Australian F-18 fighter jets, and would not take place before summer 2021. The Cold Lake location was primarily selected for AETE because of the large evaluation range nearby and its favourable climate for flight testing. AETE employs test pilots, flight test engineers, qualified systems evaluators, specialist engineers, and technologists. Postmedia first revealed the proposal to move AETE in April 2016. The plan first started under the Conservative government but the Liberals continued with the relocation initiative. At the time the Canadian Forces said it would still use the bombing ranges associated with the Cold Lake installation but other test work could be moved. At the time, the military told defence industry representatives the remote Cold Lake location made it challenging to attract or retain people and that relocating could save money. https://nationalpost.com/news/so-many-unanswered-questions-feds-to-move-military-aircraft-testing-from-alberta-to-ottawa-but-locals-say-theyre-in-the-dark

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The Royal Canadian Air Force will be operating the first nine aircraft from its new fleet of fighter jets starting in 2026, Department of National Defence officials say. But at least one member of parliament questions whether the federal government will be able to meet its timetable to replace the CF-18 fighter fleet with advanced aircraft. MPs on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts received more details on Monday about the Liberal government's plan to buy 88 new fighter jets. Aircraft expected in the competition include Lockheed Martin's F-35, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab's Gripen and the Boeing Super Hornet. Pat Finn, assistant deputy minister for materiel at the DND, told MPS that the formal request for proposals will go out in the spring of 2019. Negotiations would be held in 2021 and a contract awarded in 2022. “We have tried to be very judicious and not have too risky a schedule to try to achieve some of that,” Finn explained to MPs. “But from the bids until the signing of the contract is where we've given ourselves two years for the competitive dialogue, the final negotiations and the various approvals we need to get, signing the contract in 2022.” The first aircraft would be delivered in 2025. Finn said this schedule has been shared with all the potential bidders and “they're comfortable with that approach.” Jody Thomas, the DND deputy minister, told MPs that the plan is to “achieve initial operating capability by 2026 with nine advanced fighters ready to fulfill the NORAD mission.” But one committee member, Conservative MP Pat Kelly, was wary of whether the aircraft acquisition would proceed as scheduled. The plan, he told Finn, doesn't leave a lot of margin for error. Everything would have to run like clockwork to meet the timetable and Kelly questioned if that would even be possible given the track record of defence procurement over the years. “We just don't have time in this for the kinds of delays and the kinds of failures of procurement that we have seen in other programs,” Kelly said. “I shudder to think of what many Canadians listening to this hearing might think about. What has the potential to go wrong to get to 2025? I'm going to leave it at that.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/first-nine-new-rcaf-fighter-jets-to-be-operating-in-2026-but-conservative-mp-has-his-doubts

December 7, 2018 – Greenwood, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Through Canada's Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is greening defence infrastructure and taking action against climate change. The Department of National Defence (DND) is expanding the use of energy performance contracts to improve the energy efficiency of our military infrastructure and provide our personnel with modern and green facilities in which to work and train. On behalf of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, Member of Parliament for West Nova Colin Fraser, today marked the award of an energy performance contract at 14 Wing Greenwood. The $20.5-million project will see 102 buildings upgraded with energy efficiency measures including new LED lighting and efficient ventilation systems. The wing's central heating plant will also be upgraded to a cleaner natural gas fuel source. These upgrades are expected to lower annual energy costs at the wing by about $900,000, or 13 percent, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by close to 7,500 tonnes per year. DND has a number of energy performance contracts in various stages of development and implementation at bases across Canada. Through these contracts, a company is contracted to pay for and carry out an energy retrofit project at a base or wing. The money saved in energy costs is then used to pay the company back over a five- to 15-year period, which minimizes the up-front costs to the taxpayer, and guarantees that the upgrades produce savings. Quotes “These energy performance contracts represent the great work underway across Canada to make our Defence infrastructure more sustainable and energy efficient. This work benefits our personnel by modernizing the places where they work and train, while significantly lowering our carbon emissions to help us achieve a greener future for all Canadians.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister “I am thrilled to see this green energy project move forward for Base Greenwood. This $20.5-million investment will create economic opportunities for surrounding communities, while demonstrating that greener, more sustainable government operations is as good for the economy as it is for the environment.” Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova Quick facts The contract for energy upgrades and retrofits at 14 Wing Greenwood was awarded to MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd. Similar contracts are in development for Bagotville, Shilo, Alert, Comox, Borden, Trenton, Kingston, Gagetown, Halifax, Montreal, Saint-Jean and Goose Bay. In addition to Greenwood, projects are underway at Valcartier, Esquimalt, and Petawawa. The project is expected to lower 14 Wing's annual GHG emissions by 7,500 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 1,600 cars off the road. As stated in Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, DND is improving its infrastructure to achieve a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from 2005 levels) by 2030. Implementing new energy performance contracts at bases and wings across Canada supports the government's low-carbon goal and new emissions reduction target of 80 percent by 2050. The broader Defence Energy and Environment Strategy bolsters DND's capacity to green its operations and adapt to climate change impacts by integrating adaptation measures, including energy performance contracts, into its policies and practices. Defence Construction Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada are DND's partners in procuring the services of energy services companies to modernize and green defence infrastructure. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/12/energy-efficiency-contract-awarded-for-14-wing-greenwood.html

Simthetiq has been awarded a new contract under the CASE SEM contract from the Canadian Department on National Defence (NDN) to grow the Canadian Armed Forces's (CAF) access to additional simulation entity models from their interoperable 3D Model Library. Simthetiq was selected in 2016 for the unique benefits offered by their X1 library, such as the ability to publish to multiple simulation formats, accessto source files and the capacity to further enhance the 3D models with crucial functionalities such as material encoding for sensor/thermal simulation. Vincent Cloutier, CEO of Simthetiq said “We are extremely proud of our continuing role as a supplier to the Canadian DND. We are looking forward to supporting the growing needs of existing and new CAF customers as well as expanding the use of Simthetiq's library by other allied nations.” http://www.canadiandefencereview.com/news?news/2584

December 6, 2018 - Gatineau, Quebec - Public Services and Procurement Canada The Government of Canada is committed to getting the Canadian Coast Guard the equipment it needs to keep Canadian waterways safe and provide meaningful economic opportunities for Canadian shipyards. On behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, Public Services and Procurement Canada is acquiring eight new high-endurance search and rescue (SAR) lifeboats from Chantier Naval Forillon of Gaspé, Quebec, and Hike Metal Products of Wheatley, Ontario. Chantier Naval Forillon and Hike Metal Products were already producing six SAR lifeboats each under existing contracts signed in 2015. Under the amended contracts, each shipyard will build four additional lifeboats at a total cost of $61,757,896. These contracts were awarded under the small vessel component of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and will help maintain well-paying, middle-class jobs at both shipyards. With the ability to operate up to 100 nautical miles from shore, these new high-endurance SAR lifeboats are enhancing the Coast Guard's search and rescue capabilities. Vessels from this class are named after bays in Canada and are being built under the Federal Infrastructure Initiative, the Fleet Renewal Plan and Oceans Protection Plan. Quotes “Our government is providing the women and men of the Canadian Coast Guard with the modern equipment they need through the National Shipbuilding Strategy. At the same time, we are creating good middle class jobs and strong business opportunities for the Canadian marine sector.” The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility “Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy and Oceans Protection Plan, we are providing members of the Canadian Coast Guard the equipment they need to keep Canadian waters and those who use them safe. The addition of these new lifeboats will also create more jobs for Canadians and enhance the Coast Guard's capacity as a leader in maritime safety.” The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Quick facts Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspé, Quebec, won a $45.8-million contract in July 2015 to build six vessels. This contract created 25 new jobs, as well as sustaining approximately 35 jobs. Hike Metal Products in Wheatley, Ontario, won a $43.4-million contract in July 2015 to build six vessels. This contract created and sustained 45 jobs. To date, four new high-endurance SAR lifeboats have been delivered to the Coast Guard. SAR lifeboat stations are operated by highly-trained Canadian Coast Guard personnel, who are well-equipped to respond to marine incidents in near-shore areas. Under the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, seven new lifeboat stations are being built, contributing to safer waters and coasts across Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-services-procurement/news/2018/12/government-of-canada-to-invest-in-eight-search-and-rescue-lifeboats-for-canadian-coast-guard.html