State Dept. Approves Possible SM-2 Block IIC Missile Sale to Canada

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  14 novembre 2018 | Local, Aérospatial

  L3 MAS REMPORTE D'AUTRES CONTRATS INTERNATIONAUX SUR DES FLOTTES D'AVIONS F/A-18

  MIRABEL, Québec, 13 novembre 2018 – L3 MAS a aujourd'hui annoncé l'obtention de deux contrats à titre de fournisseur de soutien en service pour le compte d'exploitants de flottes d'avions F/A-18 internationaux. RUAG Aviation a récemment accordé à L3 MAS un contrat de modification préventive de la structure des ailes centrales, à des emplacements jugés à priorité élevée, sur les avions F/A-18 des Forces aériennes suisses (FAS). Ces modifications s'inscrivent dans le programme de remise en état structurale (SRP2) des F/A-18 et font partie de la stratégie visant à s'assurer que la flotte d'avions atteigne en toute sécurité sa durée de vie prévue. L3 MAS a aussi été choisie par l'entreprise Vertex Aerospace LLC, dont le siège social est au Mississippi, afin de réaliser des modifications et des réparations de troisième échelon sur trois avions F/A-18 de la NASA basés au centre de recherche Armstrong Flight Research Center (ARFC) de la Edwards Air Force Base, en Californie. L3 MAS effectuera tous les travaux sur les avions dans ses installations de Mirabel. « Nous sommes ravis de continuer à développer nos relations avec RUAG Aviation, le plus important fournisseur des FAS, et de compter la NASA (par l'intermédiaire de Vertex Aerospace LLC) parmi nos nombreux clients internationaux exploitants des flottes de F/A-18. Ces contrats constituent une preuve indéniable de la confiance que témoigne la communauté internationale de F/A-18 envers L3 MAS en tant que Centre d'excellence en avions de chasse », a affirmé Jacques Comtois, vice-président et directeur général de L3 MAS. « Notre entreprise bénéficie de compétences uniques et éprouvées, d'outils ainsi que d'un personnel expérimenté qui nous permettent d'offrir des services de classe mondiale et une valeur ajoutée aux exploitants d'avions de chasse. » L3 MAS est un chef de file mondial dans le développement et la mise en oeuvre de solutions structurales pour les F/A-18, ayant déjà exécuté des programmes structuraux majeurs pour l'Aviation royale canadienne et la Royal Australian Air Force, et assistant d'autres opérateurs dont les FAS, la Finnish Air Force, la US Navy et la NASA. À propos de L3 MAS L3 MAS, une division du segment d'affaires L3 ISR Systems, est le plus important intégrateur canadien de soutien en service (SES). L3 MAS offre des solutions innovatrices et intégrées qui couvrent l'éventail complet des activités de SES, notamment la gestion de flotte et la planification de la maintenance annuelle et son optimisation, la gestion du cycle de vie du matériel (GCVM), le soutien logistique intégré, les environnements d'information électroniques, l'ingénierie de systèmes, la gestion du matériel, la gestion de la configuration, les publications et la gestion de données. De plus, L3 MAS est reconnue pour ses activités de conception, de prototypage, de fabrication, de réparation et révision et de certification de composants aéronautiques. Le siège social de l'entreprise est situé à Mirabel, au Québec. Plus de 800 personnes sont employées dans les divers centres d'exploitation à travers le Canada. Pour en apprendre davantage sur L3 MAS, visitez le site Internet de l'entreprise au www.L3T.com/mas. À propos de L3 Technologies L3 Technologies est un chef de file novateur et agile qui fournit des systèmes globaux de RSR et des systèmes de communication en réseau et d'électronique destinés aux clients des secteurs militaire, de la sécurité intérieure et de l'aviation commerciale. L3, dont le siège social se trouve à New York, compte environ 31 000 employés à travers le monde et conçoit des technologies de défense et des solutions commerciales avancées en matière de formation des pilotes, de sécurité aérienne, de vision nocturne et d'EO/IR, d'armes, de systèmes maritimes et d'espace. L'entreprise a enregistré des ventes de 9,6 milliards de dollars en 2017. Pour en apprendre davantage sur L3, visitez le site Internet de l'entreprise au www.L3T.com. https://www.aeromontreal.ca/L3MAS-remporte-contrats-internationaux-F18.html

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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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  31 décembre 2018 | Local, Sécurité

  Chief of the Defence Staff says natural disasters pose ‘significant threat’ to Canadians

  By Amanda Connolly National Online Journalist Global News There are not many military threats that directly loom over Canadians as the country heads into the new year. But of those that do, one of the most significant is the increased frequency of major natural disasters. In a year-end interview with the West Block‘s Mercedes Stephenson, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said while there are a number of threats that are evolving and taking shape, one of the most concrete ones the military is facing right now comes from Mother Nature herself. “There are very few large military threats to Canada,” he said. “There are certainly threats that are evolving right now that can reach Canada, be they missiles or threats against our cybersecurity, threats to our oceans and to our shores. We face a significant threat almost every year now with natural disasters, forest fires and floods and so on that affect Canadians. So in our role to defend Canada and protect Canadians, that's been significant.” The military gets called in to help with the response to natural disasters when those disasters overwhelm provincial authorities, which have the first responsibility to respond when things like floods, forest fires or ice storms hit. Military responses to natural disasters happen under what's known as Operation Lentus. In 2018, the military deployed to six natural disasters after provincial authorities in all cases determined the scale of the damage was too much for them to handle alone. Those disasters included the winter storms in Eastern Quebec and the Iles-de-la-Madeleine in November, sending hundreds of soldiers and transport aircraft to assist with evacuations from the B.C. and Manitoba forest fires and deploying to take on the heavy spring flooding in B.C., New Brunswick and on the Kashechewan First Nation. Forest fires and severe flooding saw the military also respond to six disasters last year. Both represent sharp increases compared to years past as climate change continues to cause more extremes that result in the droughts, storms and thaws behind things like dangerous forest fires and floods. In 2016, for example, the military only deployed once: to the devastating Fort McMurray wildfires. They deployed twice in 2015, four times in 2014, once in 2013, three times in 2011 and once in 2010. In addition to continuing to deploy to missions overseas, the added demands on responding to disasters at home mean the military will need to increase recruitment or start to feel the strain, Vance said. And in an uncertain world, the circumstances around those missions continues to evolve. Most recently, Russia attacked three Ukrainian naval vessels passing through the shared territorial waters of the Kerch Strait. Dozens of Ukrainian sailors on those ships were detained by the Russians as prisoners of war. Vance said while that kind of aggression from Russia doesn't directly impact Canadians deployed in the ongoing training mission in Ukraine, it does factor into considerations of what they are ultimately going to be able to achieve. “It raised the stakes somewhat,” he said. “It hasn't affected this mission Operation UNIFIER at this juncture, but it doesn't point to a peaceful and ultimate resolution of Ukraine that we'd like to see.” The 24 detained Ukrainian sailors have yet to be released. © 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. https://globalnews.ca/news/4785907/jonathan-vance-canadian-forces-natural-disasters/