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  2 décembre 2020 | Local, Naval

  Cutting-edge radar system for new frigates never used on warships, must be adapted

  New radar system can also be upgraded to work with ballistic missile defence CBC News · Posted: Dec 01, 2020 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: December 1 The Canadian navy's new frigates will get a cutting-edge radar system that has never before been installed on a warship — a recent decision that quietly ended a heated debate within the $60 billion warship program. The Lockheed Martin-built AN/SPY-7 radar will be installed on the new warships despite a furious back-room lobbying campaign by elements in the defence industry to convince DND to take a pass on the new system. It was a critical decision — one on which the federal government has been silent, apart from a few scattered social media posts, despite repeatedly promising to be more open and transparent about the multi-billion-dollar decisions it makes on shipbuilding. The choice of a radar system for the frigates has important implications for the military, as well as for the taxpayers who will foot the bill for Ottawa's $60 billion plan to build 15 new surface combat ships for the navy. The BMD option It also has significant political ramifications because Lockheed Martin's AN/SPY-7 radar is easy to upgrade to a ballistic missile defence system — a defence program successive Canadian governments have resisted joining. The contract to install the radar system on the new frigates was awarded in September by the warship's prime contractor, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., and acknowledged publicly by Lockheed Martin Canada earlier this month. Japan purchased a land-based version of the radar to serve as an early warning system for North Korean ballistic missile launches. That plan was rolled back earlier this year in response to fears that the missile batteries — located near the radar installations — would pose a hazard to densely-populated surrounding areas. At the moment, Canada and Spain are the only two countries planning to put the SPY-7 on their warships, although Japan has now also signalled it might equip some of its new warships with the technology. For more than three decades, Canadian governments of both political stripes have turned down U.S. overtures to join its ballistic missile defence (BMD) network. The issue became a diplomatic lightning rod the last time it was discussed over 15 years ago. The new frigates, including their radar systems, are being designed with BMD in mind in case a future government decides to get Canada involved. The potential for a new political brawl over BMD worries leading defence expert Dave Perry less than the technical and budget issues related to the federal government's choice of radar system. New system unproven, says expert In a statement, the Department of National Defence insisted that the cost of adapting the radar to the Canadian frigate design "will be covered as part of the ($140 million) long-lead contract" signed with Irving Shipbuilding in early 2019, after Lockheed Martin was selected to design the new ships. There is another concern, though. The fact that the AN/SPY-7 "has not been marinized and deployed on a ship at sea is significant," said Perry, a defence procurement expert and vice president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. "It means on the spectrum of developmental production, it is far closer to the purely developmental end of the spectrum than something that is deployed and has been proven on a couple of different navies around the world," he said. Lockheed Martin officials dispute that assessment, saying all of the components have been used on warships in one way or another, including the cabinets used to house the electronics. "The SPY-7 radar is not in development. It was designed for use as a maritime radar and is based on mature technology that has been thoroughly tested and is being adapted and scaled for a variety of customers in both land-based and at-sea applications," said Gary Fudge, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Canada Rotary and Mission Systems. The company officials concede it will take design work to integrate the system into the new Canadian frigates, but insist that would be true of any other new radar system. There are still risks, Perry said. Canada's struggles with new technology "Canada has a lot of problems bringing development technology into service," he said, pointing to auditor general reports on the procurement fiasco involving the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter and the 16-year quest to replace the air force's fixed-wing search plane. "Part of the problem is making sure you understand what it is you actually are buying," Perry added. "So if you are structuring a process to buy something off-the-shelf, you can buy something off-the-shelf. But we generally don't do that." DND said the AN/SPY-7 was pitched as part of Lockheed Martin's bid to design and manage the frigate program, and the navy needs the most up-to-date technology in warships that will be in service for decades. The system represents the "latest generation radar, with capability that surpasses other units fielded today," said DND spokesperson Jessica Lamirande in a media statement. Canada's new frigates could take part in ballistic missile defence — if Ottawa says yes Industry briefing questions Ottawa's choice of guns, defence systems for new frigates PBO pushes up cost estimate for Canada's frigate build by $8 billion DND was targeted by a furious behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign aimed at getting it to drop Lockheed Martin's radar system. An unsolicited defence industry slide deck presentation — obtained and published last year by CBC News — made the rounds within the government and landed on the desks of senior officials and military commanders. It described the AN/SPY-7 as "unproven technology" that will be "costly to support." Lockheed Martin officials pushed back against that assertion recently, saying that the new system will be easier to maintain, relies on existing components and — importantly — doesn't have to be switched off for maintenance work. Lockheed Martin officials were less clear on whether the overall system has yet to be fully certified for use on warships at sea. "SPY-7 technology has been declared Technical Readiness Level 7 by the U.S. government, meaning it has been tested in an operationally relevant environment," said Fudge. "SPY-7 for CSC takes advantage of investments across multiple shore and sea based programs as well as internal funding for its development and testing. Canada has agreed to pay for the CSC-specific requirements and integration of SPY-7 into the CSC platform, which is required for any radar selected." https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/frigate-radar-lockheed-martin-1.5822606

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  7 janvier 2019 | Local, Aérospatial, Sécurité

  UAVs remain a persistent problem around Canadian airports

  by Ken Pole Transport Canada data on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flown in or near controlled airspace in 2018 show that this remains a persistent problem, even as the federal government continues to work on updated regulations. Interim regulations in effect since last May prohibit UAVs inside controlled or restricted airspace, and require them to be flown at least 5.6 kilometres away from any area where aircraft take off or land. These regulations also require unmanned aircraft to be at least 1.9 kilometres away from heliports. UAVs must be flown only during daylight hours, always in line of sight, below 90 metres above ground level (AGL), and at least 30 to 76 metres from vehicles, vessels and the public. The only exception is for operations from a field or an event approved by the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada. Last summer, Transport Canada initiated two pilot projects involving emergency responders and several private companies which operate UAVs beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) in an attempt to collect safety information to help regulators understand the challenge. “Transport Canada has indicated that they have now completed a few operational tests and will continue their trials,” wrote aviation lawyer Auriol Marasco, a partner in the Toronto law firm Blake, Cassells & Graydon, in a Jan. 3 website article. “The industry is anxiously awaiting the results as they will provide key indications as to how the BVLOS operations will be regulated.” Marasco also said Transport will be releasing updated regulations for UAV operations within visual line-of-sight (VLOS). Updated rules were expected by the end of December, but a Transport Canada spokesperson told Skies in a Jan. 4 email that the department “continues to work on getting the final regulations published . . . as soon as possible in 2019.” Meanwhile, the department's Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS) for last year–which could be amended as any year-end reports are incorporated–includes at least 123 reports involving UAVs not in compliance with the regulations. In some cases, the UAV was close enough for pilots to identify the make, model, and even estimate its weight. All major scheduled and charter carriers have filed reports about encounters at various altitudes, some within close proximity to runways. In June, the crew of an Air Inuit Boeing 737 on final approach 3.7 kilometres from Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport reported an orange UAV at some 360 metres AGL. At the same airport three months earlier, the tower advised an aircraft taking off that there was a UAV approximately 900 metres from the runway threshold at about 200 metres AGL. Quebec accounted for “only” eight CADORS reports in 2018. Given their traffic volumes, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta topped the list with 48, 37 and 16 reports, respectively. One of the B.C. reports came from the crew of an Air Canada Airbus A321 on final approach to Vancouver International Airport. Descending downwind, they reported a UAV “whizzing by” at approximately 7,000 feet AGL. In another notable incident, the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC) reported a UAV some 200 feet above the floatplane docks as a Seair Seaplanes aircraft was taxiing out for departure. The only other detail provided in the CADORS was that “the UAV operator was located and counselled by a VHFC representative” and that the UAV had been landed. Reports were filed by commercial, corporate, private and military fixed-wing and helicopter pilots as well as members of the public. In most cases, the CADORS notes “no impact on operations.” However, that wasn't the case last February with a Cessna 172S registered to B.C.-based Chinook Helicopters. On a training flight from Abbotsford to Chilliwack, as it turned on right base to Chilliwack, the pilot reported that the leading edge of his left wing had been struck by an unknown object. He landed without further incident and police were advised. No UAV debris was found but blue paint was evident on the Cessna's damaged area. It was a situation that clearly could have been much worse. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/uavs-remain-a-persistent-problem-around-canadian-airports

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  17 juin 2019 | Local, Naval

  Le Canada prend le commandement du 2e Groupe maritime permanent OTAN

  De : Défense Communiqué de presse Ottawa, le 17 juin 2019. – Défense nationale/Forces armées canadiennes Le commodore Josée Kurtz, des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC), a pris officiellement le commandement du 2e Groupe maritime permanent OTAN (SNMG2) lors d'une cérémonie de passation de commandement tenue à Souda Bay de l'île de Crête, en Grèce, le samedi 15 juin. Le commodore Josée Kurtz a pris le commandement du commodore Boudewijn Boots, de la Marine royale néerlandaise. Ce déploiement fait partie de l'opération REASSURANCE, et la contribution du Canada aux opérations régionales de sécurité maritime menées à l'appui des mesures d'assurance de l'OTAN dans la région méditerranéenne et en mer Noire. Le Canada continue de répondre à l'appel et de contribuer de façon significative à la paix et à la sécurité internationales. En tant que membre fondateur de l'OTAN, le Canada a fait preuve d'un leadership actif et continuera de le faire dans le cadre de sa politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement. Citations « L'affectation du commodore Josée Kurtz pour diriger ce groupe maritime de l'OTAN témoigne du professionnalisme et du leadership des Forces armées canadiennes, et de leur ferme engagement envers l'OTAN et leurs alliés. Nos militaires sont un symbole visible de l'engagement du Canada envers la sécurité et la coopération internationales dans la région et dans le monde. » —Lieutenant-général Mike Rouleau, commandant, Commandement des opérations interarmées du Canada « C'est un honneur et un privilège de prendre le commandement du 2e Groupe maritime permanent OTAN. J'ai h'te de travailler avec les marins hautement qualifiés et professionnels des pays membres de l'OTAN au cours des six prochains mois, pour relever les défis de cette mission et renforcer la stabilité mondiale et régionale, tous ensemble. » —Commodore Josée Kurtz, commandant, 2e Groupe maritime permanent OTAN Faits en bref Le Navire canadien de Sa Majesté (NSCM) Toronto participe à un déploiement au sein de la Force opérationnelle maritime dans le cadre de l'opération REASSURANCE. Il est maintenant le navire amiral du 2e Groupe maritime permanent OTAN (SNMG2). Le SNMG2 est l'une des quatre forces maritimes multinationales à haut niveau de préparation et est composées de navires de pays alliés. Ces navires sont à la disposition de l'OTAN en permanence pour effectuer t'ches, allant des exercices à des missions opérationnelles. Ils fournissent à l'OTAN une capacité maritime continue et contribuent à établir la présence de l'Alliance, à faire preuve de solidarité, à effectuer des visites diplomatiques et à améliorer l'interopérabilité des forces navales alliées. Ils constituent également une force maritime toujours prête à soutenir la Force opérationnelle interarmées à très haut niveau de préparation de l'OTAN. Depuis l'affectation du commodore Kurtz, le Canada dirige maintenant trois activités de l'OTAN à l'échelle mondiale. Depuis juin 2017, les FAC dirigent en Lettonie un robuste groupement tactique multinational de l'OTAN soumis à des rotations, en tant que l'un des quatre pays-cadre assurant la présence avancée renforcée de l'Alliance dans les États baltes et en Pologne. Depuis novembre 2018, le Canada dirige également la mission de l'OTAN en Irak (NMI), qui vise à créer les conditions nécessaires à la mise en place d'institutions et de structures de sécurité efficaces et durables dans ce pays. Le commodore Josée Kurtz est une leader exceptionnelle et un excellent modèle à suivre et son affectation témoigne du leadership du Canada et de son engagement ferme envers l'Alliance. Cette affectation à un poste de commandement multinational fait suite au récent commandement de la Force opérationnelle multinationale 150 par le Canada, de décembre 2018 à avril 2019. La Marine royale du Canada (MRC) apporte d'importantes contributions à la sécurité et à la stabilité dans le monde, et est une force de combat agile qui peut être déployée rapidement et employée avec souplesse. Partenaires compétents et inébranlables, ses marins et ses navires ont une solide réputation et sont toujours prêts à aider, à diriger et à combattre. https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/nouvelles/2019/06/le-canada-prend-le-commandement-du-2egroupe-maritime-permanent-otan.html