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L'événement s'est déroulé en présence du délégué général pour l'armement, Joël Barre, du chef d'état-major de la marine nationale, l'amiral Christophe Prazuck, de son homologue grec, le vice-amiral Nikolaos Tsounis , et de Hervé Guillou, PDG de Naval Group. Les FDI sont des navires de combat de la classe 4 500 tonnes avec un équipage de 125 marins. Aptes à intervenir dans tous les domaines de la lutte en haute mer, elles intègrent de nombreuses innovations, parmi lesquelles le premier radar à panneaux fixes entièrement numérique au monde. Le programme FDI a été lancé en 2017. La loi de programmation militaire 2019-2025 prévoit que les deux premières FDI seront livrées à la Marine nationale d'ici à 2025. Cinq FDI seront en service au sein de la Marinenationale en 2030. Sur proposition de l'amiral Prazuck, la ministre des Armées a décidé que l'une d'entre elles portera le nom de l'amiral Louzeau, décédé récemment. Le programme FDI participe au renouvellement et au renforcement de la flotte de surface de la Marine nationale, conformément aux conclusions de la revue stratégique de 2017 qui prévoit 15 frégates de premier rang en 2030 : 8 frégates multi-missions (FREMM), 2 frégates de défense aérienne (FDA Horizon) et 5 frégates de défense et d'intervention (FDI). La première FDI a été commandée en avril 2017 par la Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) à l'industriel Naval Group associé à Thales et MBDA. Sa livraison à la Marine nationale est prévue fin 2023. Complémentaires des FREMM, les FDI sont des navires de combat d'un déplacement de la classe 4 500 tonnes, polyvalents, endurants, embarquant un équipage de 125 marins. Les FDI intègrent dès leur conception un concentré d'innovations : Elles peuvent intervenir dans tous les domaines de la lutte en haute mer: antinavire, antiaérien, anti-sous-marin. Aptes au contrôle de vastes espaces aéro-maritimes, elles sont aussi capables de se défendre contre les menaces asymétriques et de projeter un détachement des forces spéciales. Pour évoluer dans un monde de plus en plus digital, les FDI disposent nativement d'une protection contre la menace cyber et de deux centres numériques (Data Centers) qui regroupent les capacités de calculs de tous les senseurs et armements du bord. Parmi les équipements de nouvelle génération installés à bord on trouve un radar à quatre panneaux fixes permettant une veille permanente sur 360 degrés, fixés sur une m'ture unique, et des lanceurs capables de tirer plusieurs types de missiles antiaériens en fonction de la menace. Ce sont également les premières frégates à pouvoir embarquer simultanément un hélicoptère et un drone de la classe 700 kg. Conçues pour être évolutives, les FDI évolueront en standards de manière à s'adapter à l'évolution de la menace. Depuis la notification du marché par la DGA au printemps 2017, chaque jalon technique a été franchi dans les temps que ce soit pour la conception du navire ou pour le développement des innovations embarquées, gr'ce à un travail collaboratif en plateau réunissant la DGA, l'industrie et la Marine. *L'amiral Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h, connu pour avoir été à la tête de la « brigade Ronarc'h », brigade de fusiliers marins ayant participé à la défense héroïque de Dixmude en 1914, commandant supérieur de la Marine pour la zone des armées du Nord de 1916 à 1918, un des pères de la lutte anti-sous-marine, puis chef d'état-major de la Marine entre 1919 et 1920. https://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/actualite/florence-parly-ministre-des-armees-lance-la-fabrication-d-une-serie-de-nouvelles-fregates-a-lorient

ARMY HBP JV, Rochester, New York, was awarded a $176,241,523 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of Community Living Center and other renovations. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Canandaigua, New York, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 Veterans Administration medical facilities and major projects funds in the amount of $176,241,523 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0001). AIR FORCE Terma North America, Warner Robins, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum ceiling of $60,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for A-10 3D audio. This contract provides for up to 328 3D audio systems for the A-10. Work will be performed by a subcontractor in the U.S. and Denmark as indicated in the contract award and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2024. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $8,282,381 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8202-20-D-0005). General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $21,723,507 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price undefinitized contract modification (P00003) to previously awarded FA8620-18-C-2009 for the United Kingdom MQ-9B Protector program. This contract modification provides for the design, development, integration and component level testing of additional capabilities being added to the baseline program. Work will be performed at Poway, California, and is expect to be completed by Aug. 31, 2021. This modification involves 100% foreign military sales to the United Kingdom. Total cumulative face value of the contract is not-to-exceed $94,519,758. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $10,644,519 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Medium Altitude Unmanned Aircraft Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-18-C-2009). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a $13,404,000 modification (P00012) exercising the third one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-17-D-B003) with four one-year option periods for the advanced combat helmet pad suspension system. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, with an Oct. 26, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded an $8,946,044 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N00019-20-F-0360) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-15-G-0026. This modification procures non-recurring engineering support for the integration of the AN/AAQ-24 on multiple Department of Defense aircraft platforms for the Army. The engineering effort includes platform integration of modernized survivability equipment, maintainability, interface improvements and software to effective utilize the AN/AAR-61(V)1 more effectively. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is expected to be completed in January 2021. Fiscal 2019 research development test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $4,914,276 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1997010/source/GovDelivery/

ARMY Frank X. Spencer Inc.,* El Paso, Texas, was awarded a $240,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for professional land survey architect-engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock, Arkansas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-20-D-6001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Combat Medical Systems LLC, Harrisburg, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $43,432,160 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical and surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 16 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no options. Location of performance is North Carolina, with an Oct. 23, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-20-D-0003). Creighton AB Inc., Reidsville, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $8,055,077 firm-fixed-price contract for men's trousers. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are North Carolina and New York, with an Oct. 23, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1211). (Awarded Oct. 23, 2019) NAVY General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $32,082,297 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2104 to exercise options for the accomplishment of reactor plant planning yard services for nuclear-powered submarines and support yard services for the Navy's moored training ships. This option exercise is for the accomplishment of reactor plant planning yard services for nuclear-powered submarines and support yard services for the Navy's moored training ships. General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. will furnish, fabricate, or acquire such materials, supplies and services as may be necessary to perform the functions of the planning yard for reactor plants and associated portions of the propulsion plants for nuclear powered submarines. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut (90%); and Charleston, South Carolina (10%), and is expected to be complete by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy); and other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $13,214,312 will be obligated at time of award and $5,514,432 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ViaSat Inc., Carlsbad, California, is awarded a $23,914,150 five-year, firm-fixed-price, long-term requirement contract for the repair support of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System, Low Volume Terminal for the Navy. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Work will be performed in Oostkamp, Belgium (50%); Carlsbad, California (37%); Palm Bay, Florida (9%); and Lynwood, Washington (4%). Work is expected to be completed by October 2024. Annual working capital funds (Navy) will be used and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. A delivery order in the amount of $3,930,305 will be obligated at the time of award. One company was solicited for this sole sourced requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-20-D-VK01). FreeAlliance.com LLC,* McLean, Virginia, is awarded a $15,299,578 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for advanced cyber support services in support of the Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group. Work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia. This one-year contract includes four one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $79,599,761. The period of performance of the base period is Nov. 1, 2019, through Oct. 31, 2020. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Oct. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $1 million will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $1 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0011, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Five offers were received and one was selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-20-C-3406). Bristol Design Build Services LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska, is a $14,435,000 firm-fixed-price task order N62473-20-F-4013 under a multiple award construction contract for the design and construction at Repair Building 618 at Naval Amphibious Base, Naval Base, Coronado, California. The work to be performed provides for a three-story unaccompanied housing facility and is being utilized for enlisted program sailors. Repair work includes addressing deteriorated exterior and interior facility systems and components such as fatigued concrete floors, walls and hallways, damaged ceiling tiles, rusted out doors and door casings, cracked concrete stairs, damaged/aging electrical systems and components, mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, lighting and faulty wet utility/plumbing systems. Work will be performed in Coronado, California, and is expected to be completed by May 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $14,435,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-17-D-4636). AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corp., Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $12,437,030 undefinitized contractual action contract for C-130-J support. The contract will provide long term sustainment (LTS) for France's C-130-J aircraft. Critical components of LTS support include program management support; spares, supply support services; support equipment; diminishing manufacturing sources, sustaining engineering services, sustaining engineering/technical services, field services representatives (FRS), logistics service representatives, contract field team, FSR deployment/travel, technical order updates; technical order print and distribution; country standard time compliance technical orders; depot maintenance; aircraft modifications; and data and configuration management programs. Work will be performed at Marietta, Georgia; and at French air bases, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 1, 2023. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition and is 100% foreign military sales. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $2,487,391 will be obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8553-20-C-0001). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1998102/source/GovDelivery/

October 24, 2019 - The steel-cutting ceremony of the first defence and intervention frigate (FDI) took place on the Naval Group site of Lorient. The ceremony was led in the presence of the Minister for Armed Forces, Florence Parly, the Head of the French Armament Directorate (DGA) Délégué général pour l'Armement, Joël Barre, the Chief of Staff of the French Navy Christophe Prazuck, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy Nikolaos Tsounis, many French officials and foreign delegations as well as Naval Group CEO, Hervé Guillou. The First of class will be delivered in 2023 and is part of a series of five vessels. Sylvain Perrier, Naval Group Director of the FDI program declared during this event: “Today, after the successful completion of the initial studies and development phases, we are proud, to reach this first industrial milestone. This ceremony is the first for this major program for which, the DGA will be in charge of prime contract management to the benefit of the French Navy. Thanks to this program, Naval Group will also keep on developing its international exposure. This program will increase to fifteen the number of first-rank frigates of the French Navy, as planned in the French military spending plan (LPM). We were able to uphold our commitment thanks to the collaborative work model we adopted with our client and to the mobilisation of state and industrial actors.” A digital multi-mission 4,500 tons-class frigate The FDI is a high sea vessel with a 4,500 tons class displacement. Multipurpose and resilient, she is capable of operating, alone or within a naval force, through all of types of warfare: antisurface, anti air, anti-submarine and allows for special forces projection. Strongly armed (Exocet MM40 B3C anti-surface missiles, Aster 15/30 anti-air missiles, MU90 antisubmarine torpedoes, artillery), the FDI is able to embark simultaneously a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) . She can also receive a Special Forces detachment with their two commando boats. The FDI will be the first French frigate natively protected against cyber threats, with a Data Centre accommodating a great part of the ship applications. The FDI introduces the concept of a dedicated system for asymmetric threats warfare, distinct from the operation room. Located behind the bridge, it will lead asymmetrical warfare against air and surface threats such as mini-UAVs or tricked boats. The FDIwhich gathers the best of French technology in a compact platform. She is a powerful and innovative frigate, designed for facing evolving threats. The design and production of the FDI build onthe experience of the FREMM program: Naval Group benefits from the operational feedback given by the French Navy. Key figures: – Displacement: 4,500 tons class – Length: 122 meters – Beam: 18 meters – Max. speed: 27 knots – Autonomy: 45 days – Accomodation: 125 + 28 passengers A large-scale industrial collaboration that particularly mobilises the Naval Group site of Lorient Five defence and intervention frigates (FDI) have been ordered in April 2017 by the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) to the benefit of the French Navy. The build of the first of class represents around one million hours of work for the teams of the Naval Group' site of Lorient. Furthermore, it contributes to the economic development of its suppliers and subcontractors, to local employment around Lorient but also to the other Naval Group sites that brought their specific know-how to the program. The conception and development studies also represent around one million hours of work for the entire series. Industrial key figures: – A 100% digital conception – zero paper plans – 1 million hours of production work for each unit of the series on the Naval Group' site of Lorient – 1 million hours of conception and development for the program – 400 subcontractors – 20 km of tubes and 300 km of cables for each FDI Many export opportunities The future frigate targets the intermediary tonnage ships segment for which there is an international demand. Thanks to its modularity, the ship can be configured to fulfil diverse missions depending on the expressed needs. Thus, with on the one hand the Gowind 2,500- tonnes corvette, on the other hand the 6,000-tonnes FREMM and now the FDI, Naval Group proposes a complete offer for strongly armed military ships. A Letter of Intention was signed on the 10th of October 2019 by the Greek Minister of Defence, Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos and the French Minister for Armed Forces, Florence Parly. This announcement is in line with the strategic cooperation between the two countries and will allow a close dialogue in order to bring the best answer to the needs of the Hellenic Navy Contact presse : Emmanuel GAUDEZ Tel. : +33 (0)1 40 59 55 69 Mob. : +33 (0)6 61 97 36 63 emmanuel.gaudez@naval-group.com Bérengère GOURAUD Tel. : +33 (0)1 40 59 56 44 Mob. : +33 (0)7 76 86 53 79 berengere.gouraud@naval-group.com Klara NADARADJANE Tel. : +33 (0)1 40 59 51 16 Mob. : +33 (0)6 45 03 11 92 priya-klara.nadaradjane@naval-group.com View source version on Naval Group: https://www.naval-group.com/en/news/naval-group-launches-the-construction-of-the-first-digital-frigate-for-the-french-navy/

Summary The global naval vessels and surface combatants market is valued at US$36. 7 billion in 2019, and will grow at a CAGR of 1. 97%, to reach a value of US$44. 6 billion by 2029. New York, Oct. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "The Global Naval Vessels And Surface Combatants Market 2019-2029" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p02275942/?utm_source=GNW The cumulative market for global naval vessels and surface combatants is anticipated to value US$429.8 billion over the forecast period. The demand for naval vessels is anticipated to be driven by high levels of expenditure by emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region including India and China. The North American region supported by US Navy's multi-year procurement programs, is expected to maintain its leading position globally, exhibiting a steady pace of growth over the forecast period. The global naval vessels and surface combatants market is expected to be led by North America with revenue share of 41.9%. Cumulatively, North America is projected to spend US$180.3 billion on naval vessels and surface combatants over the forecast period. In 2019, regional expenditure is expected to value US$15.1 billion and increase to US$19.0 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 2.32%. Asia-Pacific will follow North America and is expected to account for 26.2% revenue share of the global naval vessels and surface combatants market over the forecast period. Europe is anticipated to be the third-largest market globally with a revenue share of 22.2% over the forecast period, driven by the naval expansion and capability enhancement initiatives undertaken by various countries in the region. With a share of 5.5%, the market for naval vessels and surface combatants in the Middle East is projected to be the fourth largest globally. Frigates is expected to be the largest segment in the naval vessels and surface combatants market during the forecast period. Driven by several high-value procurement programs worldwide including the US Navy's FFG(X) program, Canadian Navy's ‘Canadian Surface Combatant' program, Saudi Navy's Multi-Mission Surface Combatant program, Australian Navy's SEA 5000 (Hunter-class) program and French Navy's Intermediate Frigate (FTI) program among others; the Frigates segment is expected to account for a 28.7% revenue share of the total market over the forecast period. Destroyers segment will follow Frigates segment with 19.6% market share. With 15.1% share, Amphibious Ships segment is anticipated to hold the third position in the global market. The growing demand for Amphibious Ships is primarily attributed to the ongoing initiatives of naval forces to develop relevant sealift capabilities. Light Combat Vessels and Corvettes segments to account for respective shares of 11.8% and 9.3%. Aircraft Carriers will account for a decent share of 8.6% over the next decade. The remaining share of 6.9% will be held by Auxiliary Vessels segment. The report "The Global Naval Vessels And Surface Combatants Market 2019-2029", offers a detailed analysis of the industry, with market size forecasts covering the next ten years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for naval vessels, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants. In-depth analysis provides - - Market size and drivers: detailed analysis during 2019-2029, including highlights of the demand drivers and growth stimulators.It also provides a snapshot of the spending and modernization patterns of different regions around the world - Recent developments and industry challenges: insights into technological developments and a detailed analysis of the changing preferences of naval vessels and surface combatants segments around the world. It also provides trends of the changing industry structure and the challenges faced by industry participants - Regional highlights: study of the key markets in each region, providing an analysis of the key segments of the market that are expected to be in demand - Major programs: details of the key programs in each segment, which are expected to be executed during 2019-2029 - Competitive landscape and strategic insights: analysis of the competitive landscape of the global market. It provides an overview of key players, together with information regarding key alliances, strategic initiatives and financial analysis Companies mentioned: General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Austal, Naval Group, Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), Lockheed Martin, Fincantieri SpA, BAE Systems, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd and Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding Scope - The global naval vessels and surface combatants market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.97% over the forecast period. - The market consists of seven categories: frigates, destroyers, amphibious ships, light combat vessels, corvettes, aircraft carriers, and auxiliary vessels. - North America will dominate the sector with a share of 26%, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe. The frigates segment is expected to be the leading segment during the forecast period. Reasons to buy - Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the global naval vessels and surface combatants market over the next ten years - Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for different naval vessels and surface combatants segments in the top spending countries across the world and identify the opportunities offered by each of them - Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others - Identify the major channels that are driving the global naval vessels and surface combatants market, providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion - Channelize resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the defense ministries of different countries within the global naval vessels and surface combatants market - Make correct business decisions based on thorough analysis of the total competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of the top naval vessels and surface combatants providers around the world which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever available. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02275942/?utm_source=GNW https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-naval-vessels-surface-combatants-134956689.html

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN As the Trudeau government focuses on its survival and seeking political support from potential allies like the NDP or the Greens, key defence issues could be put on the back burner or become part of any backroom quid pro quo. Dealing with health care, affordable housing, pipelines, the environment and healing rifts with Alberta and Saskatchewan are expected to be just some of the top issues facing the minority Liberal government. Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance has been telling headquarters staff in Ottawa that with the world becoming more dangerous he expects a steady flow of funding for the Canadian Forces to continue. That, however, isn't a given. Some of the Liberal's election promises come with a steep cost, including the $6 billion needed to be set aside for the first four years of a pharmacare program and a plan to improve access to medical services. Defence and security issues were barely mentioned during the federal election campaign, even though billions of dollars in equipment purchases will need to be approved by the government in the coming years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau backed away Wednesday from forming a coalition with one of the opposition parties, but he did emphasis collaborating with the other party leaders on various issues. That could open the potential to work together on certain defence files. The Liberals have talked about using more Canadian military resources to deal with climate-related disasters and to provide help to poorer nations dealing with the effects of climate change. Those are initiatives both the Greens and the NDP could get behind as they mirror proposals from those parties. The NDP has also stated it wants a fair competition for new fighter jets and to keep the multi-billion dollar shipbuilding procurement on schedule. The Green Party more generally has supported a well-equipped Canadian military but hasn't gone into details. Bloc leader Yves François Blanchet has said his priority is not sovereignty but to promote Quebec interests. That includes a push to see Davie Shipbuilding in Levis, Que., named as the third yard under the federal shipbuilding strategy. The Bloc's wishes coincide with the Liberal's efforts to steer more shipbuilding work toward Davie. The politics of a minority government could also come into play on the project to acquire a future fighter jet. Although the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter is now seen as the leading candidate, an aerospace union is raising warnings that the selection of that plane could mean large-scale job losses in Quebec. In early September the Machinists Union complained that the Liberal government bowed to pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to change rules to keep the F-35 in the procurement race but at the expense of other firms offering guaranteed work for Canada's aerospace sector. The union is worried that if Canada were to purchase the F-35 then most of the long-term maintenance would be done in the U.S. That, noted the labour organization, would put in jeopardy the 600 jobs at L-3 Harris in Montreal that are linked to maintaining the Royal Canadian Air Force's current CF-18 fleet. “We will follow the situation closely and demand that manufacturing and maintenance activities of the next fighter aircraft take place in Quebec,” said David Chartrand, the Quebec co-ordinator of the Machinists Union. Any loss of 600 jobs in Quebec is bound to get the attention of the Bloc Québécois and cause problems for the Liberals. Trudeau also said Wednesday he would swear in a new gender-balanced cabinet on Nov. 20. Trudeau will be in need of experienced ministers in various high-profile cabinet positions, so there is a strong possibility Harjit Sajjan, who served as defence minister, and Carla Qualtrough, the procurement minister, might end up in new portfolios. There have been suggestions at National Defence headquarters that Liberal MP Karen McCrimmon, a retired air force officer who won re-election in Kanata-Carleton, could be a potential candidate for the defence portfolio. McCrimmon, a former lieutenant colonel, was the first woman in Canada to qualify as an air navigator and the first to command an air force squadron. Such a choice would meet Trudeau's needs for a female cabinet member with experience in the portfolio. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/analysis-defence-issues-could-be-on-the-back-burner-as-minority-liberal-government-focuses-on-survival

AIR FORCE Raytheon Co., Dulles, Virginia, has been awarded a $128,450,262 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Mobile Sensors operations and maintenance. This contract provides for non-personal services for operations and maintenance services that will ensure the availability of the Cobra King and Gray Star's radar facility to collect on 100% of the tasked data collection opportunities that pass through its field of view with the necessary support provided 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Work will be performed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, and locations overseas and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2021. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $22,722,616 are being obligated at the time of award. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Detachment 2, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA7022-17-D-0001). Mesotech International, Sacramento, California, has been awarded a ceiling of $17,462,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Fixed Base Weather Observation System (FMQ-23) program. This contract provides for new FMQ-23 system purchases and contractor logistics support. Work will be performed at Sacramento, California, and is expected to be complete by October 2025. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $129,286 will be obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-20-D-0003). NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded an $18,253,921 modification (P00003) to a firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N00019-19-F-0272) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) in support of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. This order procures material kits and retrofit labor to incorporate the Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) 4.0 configuration into one retrofit ground segment and fully fund the IFC 4.0 retrofit install labor for aircraft B10. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (41.2%); Palmdale, California (30.7%); Waco, Texas (9.9%); Salt Lake City, Utah (2.9%); Newtown, North Dakota (2.5%) Verona, Wisconsin (1.6%); Sterling, Virginia (1.5%); Irvine, California (1%); San Clemente, California (0.7%); and various locations inside and outside the continental U.S. (7.9% and 0.1%, respectively). Work is expected to be completed in February 2021. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $18,253,921 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY Advanced Structural Technologies Inc.,* Oxnard, California, was awarded a $17,643,500 firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for manufacture and supply of M1 Abrams tank aluminum road wheel inserts. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Oxnard, California, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 21, 2021. Fiscal 2020 Army working capital funds in the amount of $17,643,500 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911RQ-20-D-0001). Pontchartrain Partners LLC,* New Orleans, Louisiana, was awarded a $12,221,180 firm-fixed-price contract for emergency erosion repairs. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Texas City, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 14, 2020. Fiscal 2018 flood control and coastal emergencies, civil works funds in the amount of $12,221,180 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-20-C-0002). TAC Environmental LLC,* Toledo, Ohio, was awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for environmental architect engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 20, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-D-0002). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $9,899,267 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for pneumatic tire wheel assemblies. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with an Oct. 21, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D-0002). Standard Bent Glass, East Butler, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $9,077,715 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for transparent armor vehicular windows. This was a competitive acquisition with two offers received. This is a three-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is Pennsylvania, with an Oct. 20, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-20-D-0002). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1994358/source/GovDelivery/

By Olena Goncharova. EDMONTON, Canada — As Canadians head to the polls on Oct. 21, the Ukrainian government may be wondering how a potential change in leadership could alter relations with Kyiv's closest overseas ally. Among the numerous parties represented on ballots across the country, there are six with enough legitimacy and reach to take part in nationally televised debates, and only three — the Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic parties — which will almost certainly garner the overwhelming majority of votes. And the real contest comes down to only two: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party and Andrew Scheer's Conservative Party, which have been exchanging leads or tied for almost the entirety of the parliamentary campaign. While the candidates are competing on an array of issues ranging from climate change to economic policy, this time foreign policy has played an even more substantial role than usual in how the parties have defined themselves. The 2019 campaign is different from previous ones due to an increasingly dangerous international environment and uncertainty over U.S.-Canadian relations. But no matter the election outcome, there is unlikely to be any significant change from Canada's current political stance vis-a-vis Ukraine, experts believe. The ruling Liberals put “democracy, human rights, international law, and environmental protection” at the heart of their foreign policy. In their campaign, they are calling for the establishment of the Canadian Center for Peace, Order, and Good Government, which will lend expertise and assistance to those seeking to build peace and advance justice. They also call for a continued increase in Canada's international development assistance every year until 2030 and want to ratchet up the Magnitsky sanctions regime on foreign human rights offenders. However, the Liberals do not have any specific points geared towards Ukraine. The Conservatives' promises are more detailed. They want to cut 25 percent of all foreign aid spending, strengthen ties with Japan, India, and Israel and deepen their commitment to Canada's democratic alliances — NATO and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Under the Liberal government, international assistance in 2018 stood at $6.1 billion and accounted for almost 1.8 percent of federal budget spending. And $57 million of that aid went to Ukraine. In its campaign, the Conservative Party has promised to refocus aid away from middle-income and higher-income countries, a category which would seem to include Ukraine. However, Scheer says a Conservative government would increase military and other aid to Ukraine. Other Conservative platform positions include supplying the Ukrainian military with lethal defensive weapons, restoring the practice of sharing RADARSAT-2 imagery with the Ukrainian army and providing additional humanitarian assistance to support internally displaced people. Fen Hampson, an international affairs expert and professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, says both candidates “are and have been strongly pro-Ukraine” and will continue to apply sanctions against Russia and provide economic assistance to Kyiv. In fact, the biggest risk to Canadian support for Ukraine is likely connected not to which party is victorious, but to the absence of a winning party. “If we have a minority government as many are now predicting, which is to say neither party wins a majority in parliament and has to work with other parties, this may mean a government that is focused on internal as opposed to international issues,” Hampson said in a written comment to the Kyiv Post. “That could have an impact on the government's ability to do things proactively, including in foreign policy.” Other experts interviewed by the Kyiv Post share Hampson's take. Andrew Rasiulis, a former director of military training and co-operation at the Department of National Defence and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, agrees that the two parties have “pretty much the identical position on the issue of Ukraine.” Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky shifted the world's focus toward Ukraine by calling for peace in Donbas and opening negotiations with Russia in the so-called Normandy format peace talks. Canada might have a specific role to play in it, Rasiulis argues, but the new Canadian government will be very cautious in this realm. “They would not want Canada to be caught outside the game, because if there is a Normandy format summit — possibly in November — Canada has a choice to make,” Rasiulis told the Kyiv Post. “We can either be on the sidelines and won't talk to the Russians unless they leave Donbas and return Crimea. But on the other hand, if there are negotiations, then Canada could play a role in terms of offering a peacekeeping force. That force hasn't been discussed yet but I believe it will come up.” Rasiulis believes that if Ukraine implements the Steinmeier Formula as a potential way to reinvigorate negotiations with Russia over the war, which has killed more than 13,000 people in eastern Ukraine, Canada can offer its peacekeeping force to help secure the Russia-Ukraine border during local elections in Donbas and convince Russia that “this force can be objective.” Read More: What is the ‘Steinmeier Formula' and why are so many Ukrainians against it? Over the past four years of the Trudeau government, Canada's armed forces have been present in Ukraine as part of Operation Unifier, which runs until 2022. About 200 Canadian troops working in six-month cycles have trained over 13,000 members of Ukrainian security forces to date. Though Canada is not a major military power, its troops are efficient and well-trained and “have passed on some of their knowledge to those engaged in security issues” and the war in Donbas, argues David R. Marples, a historian and professor at the University of Alberta. Liberal Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland — who is of Ukrainian ancestry on her mother's side — has also been a consistent and outspoken supporter of Ukraine, and is banned from entering the Russian Federation as a result. “It seems clear, therefore, that Ukrainians will not be worse off if Trudeau and the Liberals are granted a second term in office,” Marples said. The historian stresses that the Conservative government's policies might be a bit harder to predict. “Though Scheer is unlikely to make any conciliatory moves toward Russia, the bigger question is whether Ukraine is on his horizon at all, insofar (as) his major focus is on China — he has demanded a much stiffer response to the recent actions of the Chinese government, which have included the arrest of three Canadian businessmen,” Marples said. “On the other hand, he has expressed concern about the lack of unity among NATO allies, with an implicit sideswipe at President Donald J. Trump and his nebulous policies and apparent kinship with dictators.” Moreover, Scheer is close to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was a fervent opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Though the extent of Harper's influence in a future Conservative government is unclear, he has often appeared alongside Scheer at public events,” Marples told the Kyiv Post. “For Harper, the priority was dealing with Russia — which he often equated with Communism — rather than China. Scheer appears more reticent, even distant from such an ideological stance.” https://www.kyivpost.com/world/what-can-ukraine-expect-from-canadas-federal-election.html?cn-reloaded=1

Defence takes a fifth of the federal budget and has often been a target for deficit cutters Murray Brewster The Conservatives have pledged to "protect" the budget of the Department of National Defence even as they work to eliminate the federal deficit. In their election platform, the Tories said they would find $5 billion in savings by cutting operational expenses, but were not clear on precisely what that meant, other than to say it would not affect services to Canadians. The Liberals, through their two-year-old defence policy, committed to increase defence spending by 70 per cent to $32 billion annually by 2024-25 — a program that would unfold at precisely the same time a potential Conservative government intends to cut expenditures.​​ The Liberals have also set in motion plans to buy two of the military's biggest-ticket items — new fighter jets and navy frigates. Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said Wednesday his party would stick with those purchases, but would be more efficient. "We are committed to the funding allocated to the Department of National Defence," he said during a campaign stop in in southwestern Ontario. "We will not do what the Liberals did, which is waste hundreds of millions of dollars stopping and starting the procurement process." The Conservatives have pledged to depoliticize the process of buying military equipment and have complained about the Liberal government's delivery timelines and decisions, including the plan to purchase used Australian F-18s to supplement the existing fighter jet force until a decision is made on brand-new warplanes. Says money wasted "They have wasted so much money when it comes to procurement," Scheer said, adding that Conservatives would "protect the budgets of National Defence [and] we're going to ensure that the money that's allocated to National Defence is spent wisely." At least two experts wonder how the Conservatives can live up to that pledge in light of the fact the Defence Department is the single biggest discretionary expense on the federal balance sheet and the last two times Conservatives — or Liberals — tried to balance the budget, military spending took major hits. Under the government of former prime minister Stephen Harper, the defence budget was cut by $2.1 billion annually and the department racked up sizeable chunks of lapsed spending, money that was appropriated by Parliament, but not spent. The reduction took place after the Afghan war and the department faced concurrent spending cuts through the Conservative strategy review and deficit reduction action plan. Both Liberal and Conservative governments in the 1990s cut defence spending and postponed buying new equipment, most notably new maritime helicopters, which only came into service in the last few years Defence spending an obvious target "Balancing a federal budget without looking at defence spending is extraordinarily difficult, to impossible," said Dave Perry, an analyst and expert in defence spending at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. "Defence spending accounts for one-fifth of the federal budget." And even if the Conservatives did look for savings, a change to the accounting structure at Defence leaves little room for them to recoup much money by cancelling or postponing equipment purchases. Reducing the size of the military or the civil service was something previous governments did, but Perry said those kinds of cuts "take two years or more" to make their way through the system. Kevin Page, the former parliamentary budget officer and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, said much of what all of the parties are proposing — and their ability to deliver — is contingent on the kind of Parliament that is elected on Monday. CANADA VOTES How much will the defence file matter to voters? PBO pushes up cost estimate for Canada's frigate build by $8 billion In a minority government scenario, the Conservatives might find themselves struggling to deliver savings outside of the Defence Department, he suggested. Would need majority "If elected, I would assume the Conservatives would need a majority government to push through the savings on direct program spending – infrastructure, wage bills, other operations, corporate and development assistance," Page said. The Liberal record on defence spending is up for debate. An internal DND slide presentation, obtained by CBC News, lays out projections for the department going to up to the 2036-37 fiscal year. Faced with extraordinary pressure from the Trump administration to meet NATO's goal of earmarking two per cent of gross domestic product for military spending, the Liberal government committed to a 70 per cent increase by 2024-25. The Feb. 25, 2019 slide presentation shows that spending will peak in 2026-27 and begin to fall again in the preceding decade. Used Australian fighter jets could cost $1.1B: Parliamentary budget officer The document also shows that, for two years running, the Liberals have not spent as much as they planned on new equipment. While $12.7 billion was set aside in their plan between 2017-19 for new military gear, the Trudeau government only asked Parliament for permission to spend $8.34 billion — leaving $4.4 billion still in the treasury. The slide presentation said part of the reason is that some existing projects came in under budget, but in one-third of the instances the spending delay was because the Defence Department — or the federal government in general — could not get the projects organized. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-defence-spending-1.5323618