No guarantees of work for Canadian firms on F-35 deal, but government hopes for global maintenance contracts

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  18 avril 2023 | Local, Autre défense

  OPPORTUNITY: Meet with US DoD Foreign Comparative Testing Program at CANSEC 2023

  The Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) and the Trade Commissioner Service would like to make Canada’s defence industry aware of an opportunity to meet with the US Department of Defense Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program at CANSEC 2023! We ask that you share this message with your colleagues, contacts, and clients who may benefit from the FCT Program.   Interested firms should complete the attached Product Sheet and return to via email to LCdr Alain Gilbert - alain.gilbert@forces.gc.ca – (with a CC to Trade Commissioner Bobby Tate – Robert.tate@interational.gc.ca) by Friday, May 12th.   The FCT program scans for vendors in non-US countries that have innovative technologies that speak to the US DoD’s 14 Critical Technology Areas. Please note that the Critical Technology Areas have been updated for 2023:   o          Biotechnology o          Quantum Science o          Future Generation Wireless Technology (FutureG) o          Advanced Materials o          Trusted AI and Autonomy o          Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems o          Microelectronics o          Space Technology o          Renewable Energy and Storage o          Advanced computing and Software o          Human-Machine Interfaces o          Directed Energy o          Hypersonic o          Integrated Sensing and Cyber   The USD(R&E) Technology Vision for an Era of Competition provides additional context. It can be found here: https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/usdre_strategic_vision_critical_tech_areas.pdf   DoD will also consider technologies that satisfy urgent operational needs on a relevant fielding schedule and/or technologies that provide significant life cycle savings. In short, they’re looking for technology that does an existing capability better, cheaper, or faster!   For more information, an overview presentation on the FCT program can be found here: https://ac.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/fct_overview_presentation_approved_7_14_2020.pdf   Companies who submit a product template may have the opportunity to meet with the FCT program during the CANSEC exposition  (31 May – 1 June 2023).  The expo will be held at the EY Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. Again, interested firms should complete the attached FCT Product Sheet, and send it to LCdr Alain Gilbert, A/Defence Cooperation Attaché at alain.gilbert@forces.gc.ca with a CC to Bobby Tate at Robert.tate@international.gc.ca   We hope you consider this opportunity to learn more about the U.S. Department of Defense’s FCT program.   Questions may be addressed to LCdr Alain Gilbert, Assistant Defence Cooperation Attaché at alain.gilbert@forces.gc.ca and Mr. Bobby Tate, Trade Commissioner, Defense, Security, and Aerospace, at robert.tate@international.gc.ca

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  19 novembre 2019 | Local, Aérospatial

  RCAF participates in highest-level simulated mission circling the globe

  by Bill Brown From Sept. 9 to 20, 2019, personnel from Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) Aurora CP-140 fleet participated Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag (CVF) 19-4, which is led by the United States Air Force (USAF). More than 450 joint and coalition warfighters, located at 23 sites and on three different continents, participated. Canadian participants used the Aurora procedure crew trainer (PCT) mission simulator located in 404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron's Thorney Island Simulation Centre at 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S., to participate in the virtual exercise. Using distributed mission training (DMT) architecture, the PCT was connected to dozens of combat missions and flight simulators throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. The exercise was hosted by the 705th Combat Training Squadron (CTS) at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. “Coalition Virtual Flag is an opportunity for our coalition and joint partners to get together. It's a theatre-level exercise that we can practice our tactics, techniques and procedures,” explained the United States Air Force's LCol Angela Messing, commander of 705th CTS. “It takes place in the virtual and simulated world with environment generators that replicate the exact threats that we're facing.” Canadian planning for the annual complex, joint warfare simulation started almost a year ago, with 404 Squadron's modeling and simulation experts working closely with the Royal Canadian Navy's Distributed Mission Operations Centre, the RCAF Aerospace Warfare Centre's modelling and simulation co-ordination team, and modelling and simulation planners Distributed Mission Operations Center at Kirtland Air Force Base. 404 Squadron and 405 Long Range Patrol Squadron provided two crews to complete the five missions. Crew planning took place over several days, and included preparing for authentic anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare tasks. The Aurora crews faced a multi-threat, open conflict simulation scenario, and worked alongside allies from the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag represents the highest level of training that can be achieved through simulation. The crews must fight together or fail together. Miscommunication on and off their own aircraft can have deadly results, with friendly units engaged by opposing force weapons systems. The Aurora is a very capable surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft and, using its advanced sensors, has abundant tactical information to share with supported fighting forces. Adding to the opportunity of exercising in a coalition DMT environment, crews conducted tactics development and confirmation for two tactical electronic warfare instructor course mentors. With the centre of excellence residing in 404 Squadron's Simulation Flight, the CP-140 fleet will continue to advance its simulation training capabilities. Several small-scale monthly DMT exercises are planned with the Navy's Distributed Mission Operations Centre and ships' combat teams over the coming months. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/rcaf-participates-in-highest-level-simulated-mission-circling-the-globe

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  29 juin 2020 | Local, Aérospatial

  Boeing renews its public pitch to replace Canada's CF-18 fleet

  Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Jun 25, 2020 5:03 PM ET | Last Updated: June 26 One of the companies bidding to sell Canada a new fleet of fighter jets made a public pitch today highlighting its long-standing, cross-country economic relationships and history of delivering high-paying aerospace jobs. The presentation by Boeing executives and an independent research firm arrives against a background of a pandemic-ravaged economy and a looming federal deadline to submit bids to replace the air force's aging CF-18 fleet. The aerospace giant, headquartered in Chicago, Ill., is one of three companies that will hand in their final submissions at the end of July with the aim of delivering new jets by 2025. The other two are Lockheed Martin — with its F-35 stealth jet — and Saab, which will offer up the latest version of its Gripen fighter. Boeing plans to pitch its Super Hornet fighter. The most up-to-date version of the jet, known as the Block 3, was delivered recently to the U.S. Navy for use on aircraft carriers. In its presentation, the company estimates the value of its direct economic activity in Canada — both commercial and defence — at $2.3 billion, resulting in 11,000 jobs across the country. The independent report estimates that when indirect spending is taken into account, the U.S. multinational contributes $5.3 billion and 20,700 jobs to Canada's economy. Boeing's decision to make its case publicly is significant in part because federal finances are reeling under the weight of an anticipated $252 billion deficit and staggering levels of unemployment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Defence spending tends to suffer whenever federal governments — regardless of their political stripes — grapple with high deficits. There has been bad blood between the Liberal government and Boeing ever since the U.S. company led the charge against Quebec aerospace manufacturer Bombardier in a trade complaint over passenger jets. The disagreement led to the federal government cancelling a planned sole-source order for a handful of Super Hornets as an interim arrangement while the replacement competition continued. The U.S. Navy, one of Boeing's biggest customers for fighter jets, recently said it wanted to begin focusing on a replacement for the Super Hornet, which was designed and entered service in the early 2000s. Jim Barnes, a senior Boeing executive, told a conference call of reporters on Thursday that there is no planned retirement date for the Super Hornet. He claimed the warplane offers the most economical solution for Canada in terms of the cost of flying and operating fighter aircraft. He said he foresaw the fighter being in service with the U.S. Navy for "decades to come." The company's argument was recently given a boost when Germany decided to buy 45 Super Hornets as a replacement for its Tornado fighters. The deadline for final submissions in Canada's competition is now July 31, after it was pushed back on at least two occasions. Barnes said Boeing is ready to submit and will meet the deadline. He acknowledged the company asked for the latest extension because of the pandemic. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/boeing-jet-fighters-cf18-1.5627353