Here’s why Canada’s defence industry is such an innovation powerhouse

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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

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  6 août 2019 | Local, Aérospatial

  DND looking at acquiring drones to replace those damaged in crashes earlier this year

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The Department of National Defence is looking at buying two more drones to replace those damaged in crashes earlier this year. Two of the Blackjack uninhabited aerial vehicles were damaged beyond economical repair on Jan. 31 and March 21. The damage occurred during training flights, one of which involved a collision with the recovery system. In late June there were articles in the U.S. defence press about Boeing subsidiary Insitu receiving new contracts for RQ-21A Blackjack small unhabituated aerial vehicles from the U.S. government and other countries including Canada. But the DND says the claims about Canada proceeding with a purchase are premature. Canada announced in 2016 that it was acquiring small uninhabited aerial system or SUAS (RQ-21A Blackjack) from the U.S. through a Foreign Military Sale. The federal government bought one complete system so far. That package includes four aircraft with one spare, which was delivered to the 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support) in CFB Gagetown. With the crashes earlier this work is underway at the DND on whether to proceed with replacing those aircraft. “We are assessing the possibility of making use of the provisions in this contract to purchase replacement aircraft, as two units were damaged beyond economical repair earlier this year,” explained DND spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande. Flight safety investigations are ongoing in order to determine cause and assess preventative measures, she added. Discussions are ongoing with the U.S. so costs and a timeline for replacements is not yet known. “We are also exploring the possibility of purchasing a second system, though internal discussions are still ongoing and no final decision has yet been made,” Lamirande said. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/dnd-looking-at-acquiring-drones-to-replace-those-damaged-in-crashes-earlier-this-year

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  14 janvier 2019 | Local, Terrestre

  Fires and rollovers plague Canadian Army's $600 million fleet of new armoured vehicles

  David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen he Canadian Army's new armoured vehicles have been plagued by rollovers and fires, the latest in a series of problems to affect the $600-million fleet. Since April 2014, there have been 10 incidents when Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles have tipped on to their sides, six where they have rolled over completely, and four where they have caught fire. Pat Finn, the assistant deputy minister in charge of procurement at the Department of National Defence, told Postmedia there have been no serious injuries as a result of the incidents. But the problems are not the first to hit the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles or TAPVs. The TAPV program has “experienced a number of significant technical issues, particularly affecting vehicle mobility,” then-defence minister Rob Nicholson was told in August 2014. There have been problems with the suspension, steering and other items on the vehicle, according to a briefing document released under the Access to Information law. The technical issues significantly delayed the test program for the vehicles, the document added. “These accumulating incidents, which relate to the vehicle's ability to travel distances on medium cross country terrain, led the project office to conclude the existing testing could no longer continue.” The Conservative government announced the TAPV contract in 2012 as part of its re-equipping of the Canadian Army. Canada bought 500 TAPVs from Textron, a U.S.-based defence firm, at a cost of $603 million. The TAPV is a wheeled combat vehicle that will conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, security, command and control, and armoured transport of personnel and equipment. Finn said as a result of the various incidents further quality assurance tests are being done. “It's kind of high off the ground so it can be more agile,” he explained about the vehicle. “(But) it brings with it a high centre of gravity.” “It may be it's about training and understanding the vehicle,” Finn added. None of the vehicles have been written off because of the incidents, according to the Canadian Army. “Upon review of the major TAPV incidents, it has been identified that the most common contributing factors of these incidents tends to be human error due to limited familiarity time operating the vehicles,” the army noted in an emailed statement to Postmedia. The army pointed out that investigations into the incidents did not reveal any design or mechanical faults. “Primary reports on the majority of these incidents (rollover and tip-overs) were attributed to a combination of factors, such as operator experience, the vehicle's high centre of gravity, weather conditions, and/or vehicle speed,” the email noted. The army did not provide any explanation for the four fires on the TAPVs. The army noted that it is considering limits on the speeds the vehicles can operate at as well as “rollover hazard mitigations” and “recommendations such as the use of new technology to enhance experience for new drivers and crew.” The army did not provide further details on those new technologies or initiatives. The TAPV project will cost taxpayers a total of $1.2 billion, which not only includes the vehicles but also includes the building of infrastructure to house them, as well as the purchase of ammunition and service support for the equipment. The initial problems with steering and other issues delayed the delivery of the vehicles. After those were dealt with, the army had to contend last year with concerns about brakes and the distance the vehicles needed to stop. The TAPV is a heavy vehicle and requires longer stopping distances at higher speeds than most new drivers are familiar with, noted DND spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier in July 2018. The fleet of TAPVs have been distributed across seven bases and 24 units throughout Canada. The Canadian army has said it expects to declare full operational capability by mid-2020, following training of all operators. TAPVs were first deployed in spring 2017 to assist communities affected by the flooding in Quebec. dpugliese@postmedia.com Twitter.com/davidpugliese https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/fires-and-rollovers-plague-canadian-armys-600-million-fleet-of-new-armoured-vehicles