Nouvelles

by Eric Dumigan Under blue skies, the team wowed thousands in a special one-day edition of Aero Gatineau-Ottawa. The Red Arrows, who last performed in North America more than a decade ago, are conducting an 11-week North American tour that “aims to promote the best of British and deepen partnerships with close friends and allies.” The contingent includes 108 people, 12 Red Arrows Hawk T1 aircraft and one Atlas A400M RAF transport aircraft. In their 55th season, the Red Arrows will travel coast to coast across North America, conducting aerobatic displays, flypasts and ground engagements. The Red Arrows use a mix of red, white and blue smoke during their performances to enhance visual presentation. Eric Dumigan Photo The team's leader, Martin Pert, leads the nine-plane formation in a series of manoeuvres with formations that salute the 50th anniversary of the Apollo mission; the Concorde, the world's only supersonic commercial aircraft; the Second World War Lancaster bomber; and the Tornado, a multi-roll strike aircraft that was retired from the RAF in 2019. The team uses red, white and blue smoke to enhance its visual presentation. The Red Arrows were formed in 1965 and have performed over 5,000 displays in 57 countries around the world. The Folland Gnat was replaced in 1980 with their current aircraft, the BAE Systems Hawk T1 trainer. The Hawk is a standard military two-seat advanced trainer with a tweaked engine to allow for faster response times. The Red Arrows performed a flypast in Halifax this past weekend and will perform in Toronto on Labour Day weekend, and in Victoria and Vancouver between September 24 and 27. Aero Gatineau-Ottawa will host a full airshow from Sept. 6 to 8, featuring the U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II Demo Team. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/red-arrows-rock-gatineau-ottawa/

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is seemingly doing more industry events these past few years than in the past, and the next six months will see up six events scheduled. The upcoming events are: September 16 – 20: CSA 2019 Fall Industry days – Canadian industry stakeholders will have the opportunity to explore the Lunar Gateway Program and meet with international primes to discuss potential partnerships at CSA Headquarters in Saint-Hubert. QC. More information released coming soon. October 17 – 18: CSA International Industry Days – Canadian industry will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of German and Brazilian space industries, governments and military at CSA Headquarters in Saint-Hubert, QC. More information released coming soon. October 21 – 25: International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2019 – Satellite Canada Innovation Network Inc. (SatCan) is leading the Canada Pavilion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress 2019 being held in Washington, DC. Over 4,000 people are expected as the Americans put on a show for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission. February 2020: Investment Space 2020 – The inaugural InvestmentSpace event last February was very successful so the CSA is planning the next edition for February 2020. Exact dates and location TBC. The CSA is also planning possible delegations to Australia and Japan depending on industry interest. Australia: GEO Ministerial, 4-9 November 2019, Canberra Last year, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) that establishes a cooperative framework for joint activities, exchange of expertise, greater cooperation in the areas of research and development, academic exchange and industry collaboration. In line with the agreement, the CSA is considering a mission to Australia on the margins of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) Ministerial Summit and Industry Track (detailed information attached) in Canberra. This could take various forms, including 1) Outreach Program and 2) Booth where you can exhibit your products. In addition, GEO events may provide opportunities to network with potential Asian partners and with the Digital Africa Initiative. If there is enough interest, the CSA could work with Trade Commissioner Service in Australia to develop an outreach program, including meetings with Australia Space Agency senior officials and B2Bs with Australian companies. Expo space (Canada Booth) during GEO week could be arranged if there is enough interest from the Canadian space industry. For 2019 the GEO Secretariat is introducing a new Associate Member category designed to encourage industry's participation in GEO. Associate Members would be invited to participate in GEO Plenaries, thus providing insights into the data and information needs of the GEO community to potentially inform investments and gain access to market opportunities in the GEO member states. Canada's lead for GEO, Environment and Climate Change Canada, would have to provide Canadian companies with a Letter of Support to become an Associate Member (the CSA could facilitate this process). Would you be interested in participating in this mission? YES/NO Would you be interested in participating in a Canadian booth at the Expo? YES/NO Would you be interested in becoming a GEO Associate Member? YES/NO Japan: Option 1 – CSA-led Mission and attendance to DSEI, 18-19 November 2019, Chiba and Tokyo This potential mission could be co-organized between CSA and Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), and would include participation to the DSEI and access to Canadian Pavilion organized by CADSI . DSEI Japan would be an important defence event and will bring together participants from the global defence and security sector, as well as the Japanese defence community to explore partnerships, innovative projects and share knowledge. The CSA could work with Trade Commissioner Service Tokyo to develop an additional space-focused outreach program to include site visits and meetings with senior JAXA officials and Japanese industry sector organisations, on the margins of DSEI event. Would you be interested to participate in this mission? YES/NO Would you be interested to be part of CADSI Canadian Pavilion during DSEI event: YES/NO Japan: Option 2 – CSA-led Stand Alone Mission (end of January – early February 2020), Tokyo The CSA could develop a space-focused outreach program with the Trade Commissioner Service to include site visits and meetings with senior JAXA officials and Japanese industry sector organisations; the approximate duration of this mission would be 1 week. Would you be interested to participate in this mission? YES/NO If interested in the Australia or Japan opportunities, the CSA was looking for responses to these questions by last Friday emailed to asc.relationsindustrie-industryrelations.csa@canada.ca. As well they were asking you to include specific areas of interest (your interested in) to ensure that outreach programs and meetings with foreign government officials are relevant to your needs. http://spaceq.ca/canadian-space-agency-prepares-for-busy-six-month-of-industry-events/

Rotor Maxx Support Limited (RMS) is the successful bidder on the Canadian CH-124 Sea King (Sikorsky SH-3) competitive sales process. RMS recognizes what the aircraft need in order to have a viable future and will be upgrading/modernizing them in order to improve flight safety, increase performance and enhance operational reliability before making them available to both military and non-military customers. Already a world leader in all aspects of support for the S61/H-3 series helicopter, RMS is well prepared for the work that lies ahead. The 15 CH-124s will complement RMS's current fleet of eight civilian S61s and allow for expansion of its existing aircraft leasing/sale and total aircraft support (TAS) programs. The acquisition includes a significant inventory of parts, tooling and equipment which, when added to RMS's already comprehensive stock, will contribute extensively to the TAS program included with each aircraft delivery. RMS recognizes that many Canadian companies have equipment, systems and modifications already available or nearing availability to the global aerospace market that could be applied to their modernization program and looks forward to working with any company whose participation adds Canadian content to the finished product. The S61/H-3 has been, and continues to be, exceedingly popular with both military and civilian operations worldwide, so not surprisingly, RMS is already receiving interest from eligible foreign parties. While contact information for all departments can be found on the RMS website, enquiries regarding the CH-124 program (including employment opportunities) should be directed to RMS's CEO, Mike Wiggins. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/rotor-maxx-support-ltd-acquires-canadian-ch-124-sea-kings/

The Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo (ADSE) has wrapped its ninth annual successful conference and trade show, marking the first major gathering of Canada's aerospace sector since the release of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada's (AIAC) industry-led Vision 2025 report. “ADSE 2019 once again attracted a broad cross-section of aerospace, defence and security industry representatives, from across Canada and around the world, with interests in ensuring Canada remains a leader in an increasingly fierce competitive global economy,” said Jim Quick, president and CEO of AIAC. “Their continued collaboration and input are vital as we move ahead with the six key priorities identified during the months of cross-country consultations that informed our report, Charting a New Course.” The six priorities are: Building the most skilled and talented workforce in the world; Ensuring small and medium-sized aerospace businesses thrive and grow; Using innovation to capture new opportunities, including carbon-neutral flight and unmanned vehicles; Investing to maintain Canada's status as a world-class regulator; Leveraging Canada's role at the forefront of space; Maximizing defence procurement and government partnerships to drive new industrial growth. ADSE 2019 featured an impressive line-up of speakers as well as industry exhibits, keynote speeches, panels and workshops, together with numerous B2B and networking opportunities. High-profile presenters included: Carla Qualtrough, Canadian minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility Harjit Sajjan, minister of National Defence Bruce Ralston, B.C. minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology Dave Curtis, executive chair, Longview Aviation Capital Lorraine Ben, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Canada Bob Cantwell, managing director, Boeing Canada and Boeing Vancouver Florian Sodtke, Heat of Combat Air Systems Marketing, Airbus Defence and Space ADSE is a world-class aerospace exhibition. It is Western Canada's largest aerospace event and the only Canadian expo linked to a major international airshow. Hosted by AIAC (Pacific division) it occurs each August in Abbotsford, B.C., in conjunction with the Abbotsford International Airshow. AIAC and AIAC Pacific wish to extend special thanks to ADSE's nearly 30 sponsors in 2019 — especially presenting partners Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Province of British Columbia, and platinum partners the City of Abbotsford, Cascade Aerospace, KF Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin — for their generous and ongoing support, without which ADSE would not be possible. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/aerospace-defence-and-security-expo-adse-marks-next-phase-of-vision-2025/

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The next phase of the purchase of new surveillance aircraft for Canadian special forces is expected to begin soon with the request for bids for long-term maintenance of the planes. Canadian special forces will receive three new surveillance aircraft from the U.S. with the planes expected to arrive in 2022. A request for bids from Canadian firms to provide in-service support is to be released by the end of the summer. The purchase of the aircraft has raised questions about why the cost is substantially more than what the U.S. Air Force spends to buy the same or similar aircraft. The three Beechcraft King Air planes, to be based at CFB Trenton in Ontario, will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cell phone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada. The agreement for the aircraft was finalized on April 26 with the U.S. government. Three aircraft and equipment will be delivered in the spring of 2022, the Canadian Forces noted. The agreement signed with the U.S. government is for $188 million (CAN). The U.S. Air Force lists the cost of the MC-12W surveillance aircraft as $17 million each or around $23 million Canadian. That includes communications/sensors and modification of the aircraft for that equipment. So three aircraft should cost in total about $70 million Canadian. At first it was unclear why Canada was paying more than double what the U.S. spends on the same planes. But the Department of National Defence now says the extra cost includes more powerful engines and a modernized cockpit. “As such, the cost for this new variant of the aircraft is higher than previous models,” the DND added in a statement. Also included in the overall agreement is two years of field service support and a technical data package which will enable the Canadian government to solicit bids from domestic firms to maintain the planes, according to the DND. No breakdown of the various costs was provided. The DND also noted that the initial outlay for the aircraft provides the “greatest benefit to Canada's industrial base.” It pointed out that it consulted with industry and determined buying from the U.S. was the best approach. Canadian industry officials, however, have disputed that claim. Various Canadian firms responded to the federal government's initial request for information in August 2013, highlighting that they could provide the aircraft needed by the Canadian Forces as well as integrate whatever equipment was selected or required by Canadian special forces. But the procurement was changed to have the aircraft purchased directly from the U.S. government and using U.S. firms. Attempts by Canadian companies to get an explanation about the change in direction were rebuffed, industry officials say. But the DND says Canadian firms will be providing the maintenance support for the aircraft. The federal government will solicit bids for the in-service support contract which will have the potential to cover a 23-year period. “The value of potential maintenance contracts is not yet known,” according to the DND. A draft request for proposals for the in-service support portion has been released with a final RFP expected sometime in the summer. No specific date was provided. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/next-phase-of-canadian-special-forces-aircraft-project-soon-to-begin

By Murray Brewster Military leaders from the U.S. and Canada have come to an agreement on the nuts and bolts retooling of Norad, CBC News has learned. It is a milestone that could end up pitting the next government in Ottawa against both the Trump administration and perhaps even northern Indigenous communities at home. Now over six decades old, the bi-national air and maritime defence command — and its associated airfields, radar stations and satellite network — has been in need of a major overhaul in the face of emerging threats, such as North Korean ballistic missiles and rapidly advancing cruise missile technology. Word of the understanding comes as two Canadian CF-18s and two American F-22 Raptors intercepted two Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers, which pressed close to North American airspace, on Thursday. The agreement of "what's in and what's out" of the new North American Aerospace Defence Command was struck a few months ago, said a defence source in Ottawa, who was granted anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. Separately, the Canadian general who is the deputy commander of Norad confirmed the two countries are on the same page when it comes to the new framework needed to defend the continent, but cautioned there is still a lot of work and negotiation ahead over capabilities and what is affordable. "We have established the operational requirements," Lt.-Gen. Christopher Coates in an interview with CBC News. A bi-national panel is examining the specifications and make recommendations to both the Pentagon and the Department of National Defence in Ottawa. Eventually, Coates said, each government will have to "determine whether or not those capabilities will be provided — or some other option" will be pursued. And that is where things could potentially get messy, according to defence experts. James Fergusson, of the University of Manitoba, one of the pre-eminent researchers on Norad, said the price tag will be substantial. Replacing the North Warning System chain of radar stations, alone, could cost as much as $11 billion, he said. The Liberal government has made much of saying its defence plans are fully costed, but it deliberately did not include the calculation for Norad modernization in its policy. There will have to be some negotiation with Washington, even though the cost sharing formula (60-40 split between the U.S. and Canada) has long been established. Steve Saideman, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa, said he can't see any Canadian government being anxious to open negotiations with the Trump administration, regardless of how long standing the arrangements might be. U.S. President Donald Trump has long complained American allies do not pay their fair share of costs for the NATO alliance, and Saideman said it is not beyond the realm of possibility that government-to-government technical negotiations over Norad could devolve. Fergusson disagreed. If they argue over money, he said, it will likely involve environmental cleanup costs related to the existing, remote north warning radar stations. When Norad abandoned its first chain of early warning sites — known as the DEW line — in 1993, the cleanup took 21 years and Canada was stuck with the $575 million bill. More problematic, as far as Fergusson is concerned, is whether Norad's proposed new capabilities will affect northern indigenous communities, which — unlike the past — will rightfully expect to be consulted and have a say over what the military does with the land. "When they [the Canadian and U.S. military] go up there in Northern Canada, now, they can't simply ignore the Indigenous people," said Fergusson, "And that's a political issue." https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/norad-canada-us-military-1.5240855

QUEBEC CITY and MONTREAL, Aug. 6, 2019 /CNW/ -- Planbox, a leading provider of cloud-based AI-Powered Agile Innovation Management solutions, today announced its partnership with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). A versatile, multipurpose and combat-capable naval force, the RCN will trial Planbox's AI-powered cloud-based agile innovation management solution as part of its innovation program. "Through the PSPC Built in Canada Innovation Program, the RCN has partnered with Montreal-based Planbox to trial their innovation management solution. As a matching agency for this technology, access to this tool will support the RCN's focus on becoming a more agile, digitally-enabled organization," said Rear-Admiral Casper Donovan of the Director General Future Ship Capability. Planbox will provide an innovation management platform through which the RCN's innovation program can gather insights from defined external data sources, and centralize key information in relation to specific problems it is solving, allowing it to accordingly leverage its technology experts to develop the appropriate solutions. "Working with the Royal Canadian Navy has been an incredible experience as we have enabled them to strategically map out their innovation portfolio and define their targets," said Arthur Liberian, Senior Innovation Advisor at Planbox. "We have helped them significantly in their pursuit for tangible innovation results by giving them the ability to view strategic information about their innovation portfolio on demand, allowing them to identify their most impactful opportunities." The RCN intends to use Planbox's powerful crowdsourcing capabilities to develop, evaluate, vet, rank and score ideas to help with its mission to improve conditions for investment, and enhance Canada's overall innovation performance. "It is an absolute honor for both myself and the Planbox team to have this one-of-a-kind opportunity to help our brave men and women in the Navy accelerate their operational agility," said Ludwig Melik, CEO at Planbox. For more information about Planbox's Agile Innovation Management Solutions, visit our website. About Planbox Planbox is the pioneering provider of cloud-based AI-Powered Agile Innovation Management solutions – from creative ideas to winning projects. Our mission is to help organizations thrive by transforming the culture of agile work, continuous innovation, and creativity across the entire organization. Our family of products includes Collaborative Innovation Management, Team Decision Making, and Work Management applications. Planbox is designed to provide agile innovation tools for everyone, built for companies and teams of all sizes. Planbox is the comprehensive innovation solution trusted by some of the world's most recognized brands, including Blue Cross, Cargill, Caterpillar, Dow Chemical, Exxon Mobil, Honeywell, John Deere, Novartis, Ontario Power Generation, Sun Life Financial, Whirlpool and Verizon, with millions of internal and external users. About the Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is Canada's naval force consisting of approximately 8,300 Regular Force and 3,600 Reserve sailors, supported by around 3,800 civilian employees. The mission of the Royal Canadian Navy is to generate combat-capable, multipurpose maritime forces that support Canada's efforts to participate in security operations anywhere in the world, as part of an integrated Canadian Armed Forces. Contact Information Lucas Potasso-Justino Marketing Specialist +1 (855) 752-6269 ext 608 lucas.potasso@planbox.com https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/planbox-partners-with-the-royal-canadian-navy-880731141.html

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

Macfab, a manufacturer of components and sub-assemblies, has announced it will support the Launch Canada Challenge. The Launch Canada Challenge is an industry-partnered student rocket competition that was created as a result of university student rocketry programs across the country excelling in international competitions and to fill a gap that government doesn't seem interested in filling. Macfab will provide $5,000 in funding. Joe Magyar, Macfab's Business Development Director is a big believer in the Challenge and what organizer Adam Trumpour is trying to achieve. “We first met Adam Trumpour at a space industry conference. We were so impressed by his enthusiasm for Canada's space sector, we featured him in a Macfab video profile. When we heard about Launch Canada, we immediately wanted to be part of this exciting venture.” He told SpaceQ he hopes this will spur on other companies to get involved. Adam Trumpour said “industry support is critical to Launch Canada's success. We are delighted that Macfab recognized the value of nurturing Canada's future space leaders. Thank you, Team Macfab!” http://spaceq.ca/macfab-will-support-the-launch-canada-challenge-rocketry-competition/