Canada gets green light to buy King Air surveillance aircraft

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  31 mars 2020 | Local, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

  Canadian military on notice to provide logistic support, help vulnerable populations in wake of COVID-19

  Canada's top general says the military is in the process of determining what forces would be required to assist federal and provincial governments in responding to the novel coronavirus and that response will be geared to supporting vulnerable populations and providing logistics support. There has been no official call yet for the use of military forces from federal, provincial or territorial governments. But Canadian Forces planners are preparing for such a request. “Our tasks will be geared to support Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal governments and agencies in their efforts to suppress the disease, to support vulnerable populations and to provide logistical and general support to communities,” Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance noted in a statement released Friday on social media. “To do this we are now in the process of identifying the forces required, including our incredibly valuable Primary Reserves and Canadian Rangers. These forces will be organized down to individual level into task forces able to deploy by sea, road or air to where they are needed.” More information will come in the next week, Vance said. But defence sources tell this newspaper that the response if needed will, among other areas, focus on providing support to remote Indigenous communities. Such communities have limited resources, particularly in the area of health and medical capabilities. The Canadian Forces has an extensive logistics capability with its fleet of vehicles and aircraft. It can also set up mobile shelters and medical facilities. Vance noted that many military personnel volunteer in their communities but such work must now be restricted to first responder duties since they are required to be ready for Canadian Forces duties at short notice. “When it's time, we will marshal forces, conduct reconnaissance and deploy as, where and when required,” he added. In his message to military personnel and their families, Vance also announced that the Canadian Forces will go ahead with its annual process of shifting personnel around the country for promotions and new jobs, albeit at a reduced level. The annual military posting season comes at a time when federal government officials are advising Canadians to stay at home and practice physical distancing in an effort to reduce the number of cases of COVID-19. “It is our intention to execute as many of the planned postings as is responsible and reasonable to do,” Vance explained. He noted that the overall number of moves will be reduced significantly and they must be vetted and approved by senior leaders as operationally essential. The busiest time for postings and relocations from one community to another is during what is known as the “Active Posting Season” or APS, according to the Canadian Forces. During APS, about 5,000 to 6,000 members receive their posting messages, usually during the spring and most of the movement is carried out in the summer. Vance said the active posting season will be lengthened to conclude by Dec. 31. In addition, Vance warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting normal administration procedures for the Canadian Armed Forces or CAF. “To reduce the administrative risks and to preserve our strength as recruiting has almost ceased, transition out of the CAF and retirements may be voluntarily delayed,” he warned. “Those who are releasing voluntarily but wish to remain in the CAF are welcome to do so and appropriate terms of service will be offered. Those wishing to continue with transition may do so, but you must expect significant delays and disruptions.” Vance also encouraged former military personnel to rejoin the Canadian Forces. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-military-on-notice-to-provide-logistic-support-help-vulnerable-populations-in-wake-of-covid-19/

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  7 mai 2019 | Local, Aérospatial

  Trump administration claims Ottawa's jet procurement plan is unfair to F-35, says report

  Murray Brewster · CBC News The Trump administration fired two warning shots last year over the Liberal government's long-delayed plan to replace Canada's CF-18 fighters, saying the procurement process discriminates against the Lockheed-Martin-built F-35 stealth jet, according to a new academic report. The study by a researcher at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) cites leaked Pentagon letters written last summer and late fall to officials at Public Services and Procurement Canada. The report, released Monday, largely blames the Liberal government for the delays in the procurement, while making only a passing reference to the inability of the former Conservative government to deliver on the same program. The report's major revelation involves the leaked letters — which are expected to inflame the debate over the nearly decade-long on-again, off-again plan to replace the air force's 1980s-vintage CF-18s with modern warplanes. The source of the Pentagon's irritation is a federal government policy that insists defence manufacturers deliver specific industrial benefits to Canadian companies. Canada accused of angling for better deal That's not how the F-35 program is structured. Countries that participated in the development of the stealth jet — as Canada did — pay an annual fee to remain part of the program, which gives domestic aerospace companies in those countries the right to bid on F-35 work. The U.S. undersecretary for defence acquisition and sustainment wrote to Canada's assistant deputy minister of defence procurement in Public Services and Procurement Canada last summer to complain about the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policy. Ellen Lord warned the policy runs contrary to the F-35 participation agreement and accused Canada of trying to leverage a better deal than its allies. "This text basically stated that Canada had signed the [Memorandum of Understanding] clearly understanding these provisions and could not now try to renegotiate a better deal," said the Aug. 31, 2018 letter, leaked to MLI researcher Richard Shimooka. Lord went on to say the current procurement process "would be fundamentally and structurally prejudicial to any F-35 bid." The point was hammered home when former U.S. Vice-Admiral Mathias Winter, in charge of the Joint Program Office overseeing F-35 development, wrote to Canada's head of future fighter development at Public Services. After reviewing the federal government's draft request for proposals, Winter wrote that the F-35 would not be able to participate given the way the system is structured now. "Fundamentally, the F-35 program is different from Foreign Military Sales or Direct Commercial sales procurements," said the Dec. 18, 2018 letter. "The current [Future Fighter Capability Program] does not allow the F-35 to participate in a fair and open competition that recognizes the special nature and distinct advantages of the partnership." Lockheed-Martin is one of four manufacturers that plan to bid on the fighter jet replacement program. Several defence and defence industry sources told CBC News in a story published last month that the full tender was expected to be released at the end of May, with final bids to be delivered by the end of the year. There is considerable uncertainty about the timeline, however, because of questions and disputes about the project's industrial expectations. "A delay is inevitable," said one defence industry source on Monday. With the release of the letters, the institute's analysis peels back the curtain on perhaps the most contentious of the disputes: how to reconcile the existing F-35 benefits package with the federal government's standard procurement model. Lockheed-Martin would not confirm whether the issues raised in the letters remain active concerns, but sources within both the defence industry and the federal government say there is an ongoing dialogue. The U.S. defence giant, in a statement, said it did not commission the report but acknowledged it had provided "factual information to several think tanks in Canada" about its various programs. The company said the structure of the F-35 program means it is the U.S. defence department that does all of the talking. "We continue to provide our feedback to the U.S. government, which leads all government-to-government discussions related to the Canadian fighter replacement competition," said Cindy Tessier, head of communications for Lockheed Martin Canada. She touted the $1.25 billion in contracts already awarded to Canadian companies because of the F-35 program and said the potential is there for more work once the fighter aircraft reaches full production in a few years. "As a valued current partner on the program, Canadian industry has the opportunity to produce and sustain components and systems to a fleet that is expected to grow to more than 4,000 aircraft," she said. A spokeswoman for Public Services Minister Carla Qualtrough did not address the Pentagon letters directly, but did say the government has engaged in continuous dialogue with potential bidders as it sought feedback on the proposed tender. "The approach is inherently designed to encourage continuous supplier engagement," said Ashley Michnowski. "We do this so that suppliers are able to make informed business decisions. "Our government has been hard working to address as much of the supplier feedback as possible to ensure a level playing field and a fair and open competition with as many eligible suppliers as possible." The process is not yet complete, although it is nearing its conclusion and a final request for proposals will be issued soon, she added. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-administration-claims-ottawa-s-jet-procurement-plan-is-unfair-to-f-35-says-report-1.5125009

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  24 avril 2022 | Local, Aérospatial

  L3Harris remporte un contrat de 482 millions $ US (609 M$ CA) auprès de l'Aviation royale canadienne pour le prolongement du soutien des CF-18

  Points clés :  Témoigne des capacités et de l'expertise de L3Harris en matière de soutien en service de premier choix  Confirme la position de L3Harris en tant que seul centre d'excellence au Canada pour les avions de chasse  Souligne un partenariat canadien fructueux de 35 ans pour la flotte d'avions CF-18 MIRABEL (Québec), le 21 avril 2022 — L3Harris Technologies (NYSE : LHX) a remporté un contrat basé sur la performance d'une durée de 4 ans avec années d'option et d'une valeur de 482 millions $ US (609 millions $ CA), renouvelant le soutien en service pour la flotte d'avions de chasse CF-18 Hornet exploitée par l'Aviation royale canadienne (ARC) jusqu'au retrait de service de la flotte prévu en 2032. Dans le cadre du processus d'analyse de rentabilisation de soutien, les quatre fondements de l'initiative de soutien, soit la performance, la rentabilité, la flexibilité et les avantages économiques, ont été les moteurs de l'élaboration d'une solution optimisée et bien adaptée. Gr'ce à ce renouvellement de contrat, L3Harris continuera d'assurer les activités liées à la gestion de la flotte et du programme, à la maintenance, à l'ingénierie, à la gestion du matériel, aux publications électroniques, au soutien logistique intégré, à la gestion de données et au soutien pour les logiciels opérationnels. Ces activités se dérouleront aux installations de L3Harris à Mirabel, ainsi qu'aux bases des Forces canadiennes (BFC) de Cold Lake et de Bagotville. « Ce contrat témoigne du fait que L3Harris est l'unique centre d'excellence au Canada pour les avions de chasse, en plus d'être une preuve de notre efficacité et de notre engagement constants envers l'orientation client, une exécution sans faille et un partenariat à long terme avec l'ARC », a déclaré Ugo Paniconi, directeur général de MAS, L3Harris. Récemment, L3Harris a souligné 35 ans de soutien en service pour les CF-18, notamment d'importants travaux de prolongation de la durée de vie structurale et de modernisation des systèmes leur permettant de demeurer fonctionnels au plan opérationnel et accroissant la valeur de l'investissement du Canada pour ces aéronefs. Le contrat, basé sur la performance, apportera flexibilité, avantages économiques et valeur dans le cadre de l'Initiative de soutien du Canada. L3Harris a créé des centaines d'emplois de haute technologie au Québec gr'ce aux contrats de soutien pour l'avion F/A-18 avec le Canada, l'Australie, la Suisse, la Finlande, l'Espagne et les États-Unis. La division de Mirabel de L3Harris compte plus de 1 150 employés au pays et est l'un des principaux intégrateurs de soutien en service du ministère de la Défense nationale. À propos de L3Harris Technologies L3Harris Technologies, une entreprise multinationale flexible et novatrice du secteur des technologies aérospatiales et de la défense, propose des solutions complètes qui répondent aux besoins des missions de haute importance de nos clients. Elle offre des technologies de défense et commerciales de pointe dans les domaines aérospatial, aéronautique, terrestre, maritime et cybernétique. L3Harris a un chiffre d'affaires annuel de plus de 17 milliards de dollars et 47 000 employés, avec des clients dans plus de 100 pays. L3Harris.com. Déclarations prospectives Le présent communiqué de presse contient des déclarations prospectives fondées sur des attentes, des hypothèses et des estimations actuelles de la direction relatives au rendement et à la conjoncture économique futurs. Ces déclarations sont énoncées sous réserve des règles d'exonération (safe harbor provisions) prévues à l'article 27A de la Securities Act, loi américaine de 1933 et à l'article 21E de la Securities Exchange Act, loi américaine de 1934. L'entreprise met en garde les investisseurs du fait que toute déclaration prospective est soumise à des risques et à des incertitudes, si bien que les résultats réels et futurs sont susceptibles de différer de façon significative de ceux exprimés ou sous-entendus dans ces déclarations prospectives. Les énoncés concernant la valeur ou la valeur prévue des commandes, contrats ou programmes sont des déclarations prospectives soumises à des risques et à des incertitudes. L3Harris décline toute intention ou obligation de mettre à jour ou de réviser ses déclarations prospectives consécutivement à l'obtention de nouveaux renseignements ou à de nouveaux événements ou pour tout autre motif. Personnes-ressources : Marcella Thompson Systèmes de mission intégrés Marcella.Thompson@L3Harris.com 214-430-8872 Jim Burke Relations avec les médias Jim.Burke@L3Harris.com 321-727-9131