Nouvelles

Gentec inc. est une PME technologique spécialisée dans le domaine de l'électronique de haute puissance et en gestion de l'énergie électrique. Pour mieux poursuivre ses activités, elle bénéficiera d'une contribution remboursable de 500 000 dollars de Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec. Gr'ce à cette aide financière, Gentec pourra réaliser un projet d'expansion pour augmenter sa productivité et moderniser ses opérations en faisant l'acquisition d'équipements à la fine pointe de la technologie. Ce financement a été annoncé aujourd'hui par Joël Lightbound député de Louis-Hébert et secrétaire parlementaire du ministre des Finances. L'aide du gouvernement du Canada permettra plus spécifiquement de soutenir la croissance de Gentec et de l'appuyer dans son projet d'acquisition et d'installation d'équipements requis pour l'assemblage de composants électroniques sur des circuits imprimés. Fondée en 1959, Gentec inc. est spécialisée dans la conception, la fabrication et la commercialisation de solutions et produits sur mesure. Une équipe d'environ 70 employés est dédiée à la fabrication et à l'assemblage de produits électroniques et électriques. Son service d'assemblage de circuits électroniques est également offert en sous-traitance à un grand nombre d'entreprises. Au total, Gentec emploie près de 130 personnes. Elle prévoit que le projet actuel entraînera la création de 5 emplois et des investissements totaux de plus de 1,3 million de dollars. Le gouvernement du Canada est résolu à soutenir les entreprises canadiennes innovantes. Véritable moteur économique, l'innovation est la clé du succès puisqu'elle génère la croissance dont profitent les entreprises et les collectivités. C'est pourquoi nous nous assurons que les entreprises puissent compter sur des ressources adéquates pour créer des produits novateurs et les commercialiser. https://www.canada.ca/fr/developpement-economique-regions-quebec/nouvelles/2019/05/gentec-pourra-accroitre-sa-productivite-et-poursuivre-son-expansion.html

C2MI et Varitron inaugurent le premier centre de fabrication de pointe au Canada consacré à l'assemblage de cartes électroniques et à l'électronique imprimée Bromont et Saint-Hubert (Québec), 17 mai 2019 – C2MI etVaritron sont fières d'annoncer officiellement l'ouverture du premier centre de fabrication de pointe au Canada consacré entièrement à l'assemblage de cartes électroniques et à l'électronique imprimée. Établi dans le centre de recherche de C2MI à Bromont, le centre de fabrication de pointe sera doté des équipements à la fine pointe utilisés dans les domaines de l'électronique imprimée, de l'assemblage de circuits, de la nanoprotection et des techniques de refroidissement avancées ainsi que d'une chaîne d'approvisionnement intégrée qui permettra une fabrication à grande échelle. Cette annonce a été faite dans le cadre du CPES2019, le plus important congrès canadien sur l'électronique imprimable, flexible et hybride, organisé par intelliFLEX à Bromont les 16 et 17 mai derniers. Des installations uniques pour accélérer le développement des technologies émergentes L'objectif de ces nouvelles installations est de veiller à ce que des entreprises de tous les segments de marché demeurent des fournisseurs de premier plan par leurs capacités à offrir de nouveaux produits, de nouvelles possibilités et de nouvelles applications, restant ainsi à l'avant-garde du processus de l'offre et de la demande. Des équipes hautement qualifiées composées d'experts et de scientifiques chevronnés provenant de l'industrie et du milieu universitaire aideront les entreprises dans leur développement de produits et leur processus de conception, tout en continuant de se concentrer sur des cibles de production à grande échelle pour les diverses solutions qu'elles proposent. Les entreprises pourront avoir accès à des services à la carte ou proposer des technologies qui n'ont pas encore été testées ou développées en utilisant un éventail de services allant de la conception à la commercialisation. La Politique des retombées industrielles et technologiques (RIT) est un incitatif significatif pour les entreprises étrangères qui choisiront d'utiliser les services du centre de fabrication de pointe puisque cette politique exige que les entreprises à qui l'on octroie des contrats dans le domaine de la défense exercent leurs activités au Canada. Le projet du centre de fabrication de pointe, qui représente un investissement total de 6,5 M$, a pu être réalisé gr'ce à la collaboration scientifique de l'Université de Sherbrooke et de Varitron, ainsi qu'au financement du Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation du Québec de l'ordre de 3 M$, du C2MI pour 2,1 M$ ainsi qu'aux fournisseurs d'équipement qui ont contribué jusqu'à 1,4 M$ en capacités à valeur ajoutée. « Le centre de fabrication de pointe jouera un rôle déterminant pour que les entreprises canadiennes demeurent en tête de peloton de la concurrence en accélérant le développement de solutions et de produits novateurs afin que ces derniers soient commercialisés plus rapidement. En tant que centre de recherche et de développement, l'un de nos objectifs principaux est de veiller à ce que nos installations soient dotées d'équipements qui assureront la compétitivité de nos clients et de nos membres, peu importe le secteur industriel dans lequel ils évoluent », a indiqué Normand Bourbonnais, chef de la direction de C2MI. « Ce centre de fabrication de pointe est une étape importance pour s'assurer que l'écosystème d'innovations a accès à des installations et des équipements de pointe et à la plus récente expertise scientifique pour accélérer son développement technologique », a dit Michel Farley, président et chef de la direction de Varitron. « Après plus de quatre ans de planification et de peaufinage, Varitron est fière de voir ce projet se concrétiser. » http://www.c2mi.ca/communique-de-presse/c2mi-et-varitron-inaugurent-le-premier-centre-de-fabrication-de-pointe-au-canada-consacre-a-lassemblage-de-cartes-electroniques-et-a-lelectronique-imprimee/

Orientation de la politique Protection, Sécurité, Engagement La politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, tient compte du fait que la collaboration avec des représentants du milieu universitaire et d'autres experts renforce les fondements du processus décisionnel fondé sur des preuves. A cette fin, cette politique fournit une directive en vue d'augmenter l'investissement annuel pour financer un programme de coopération de la Défense remanié et élargi. Le programme Mobilisation des idées nouvelles en matière de défense et de sécurité (MINDS) répond à cet appel. S'inspirer de la réussite Le programme MINDS s'inspire de la réussite du Programme de coopération de la Défense (PCD), tout en élargissant judicieusement le programme de manière à obtenir non seulement des résultats plus importants, mais de meilleurs résultats. Les consultations sont au centre de ces efforts de renouvellement. Elles ont débuté dans le cadre de l'examen de la politique de défense et se poursuivent gr'ce à un dialogue continu avec des experts à l'échelle du pays. Le PCD a aidé de façon efficace l'Équipe de la Défense à obtenir des conseils externes par l'entremise de sa série de conférences d'experts et de son programme de subventions de coopération ciblées. Ces éléments du programme qui se sont avérés être un succès se poursuivront. Nouvelle méthode en matière de mobilisation externe Étant une version élargie du PCD, MINDS offre un programme qui : répond aux besoins en matière de conseils pertinents et opportuns de la part des experts de la défense et de la sécurité; favorise le développement de la prochaine génération d'experts et de savants; aide la population canadienne à mieux comprendre les enjeux en matière défense et de sécurité. Le programme MINDS offre toutefois de plus grandes possibilités de collaboration entre l'Équipe de la Défense et la communauté de spécialistes de la sécurité et de la défense. Ce programme comprend les cinq principales catégories suivantes : Série de conférence d'experts, Subventions de coopération ciblées, Réseaux de collaboration, Bourses d'études et Mécanisme d'intervention rapide. Chacune de ces catégories propose différentes façons pour le ministère de la Défense nationale et les Forces armées canadiennes d'accéder rapidement à de l'expertise pertinente qui intègre divers points de vue et fournit des conseils éclairés. Ce programme vise à refléter les principales priorités du gouvernement du Canada dans le travail qu'il accomplit, veillant à ce que l'analyse comparative entre les sexes plus (ACS+) soit intégrée et appuyant la réconciliation avec les Autochtones et les activités de mobilisation des jeunes. Collaboration de l'Équipe de la Défense Le programme MINDS est différent du programme Innovation pour la défense, l'excellence et la sécurité (IDEeS), mais complémentaire à celui ci, utilisant diverses approches pour relever les défis en matière de défense et de sécurité. Le programme IDEeS propose des solutions cruciales aux défis relatifs à la technologie et aux capacités appliquées, tandis que MINDS est axé sur une réflexion stratégique et sur la production de connaissances dans le domaine des politiques publiques. Ensemble, MINDS et IDEeS stimulent l'innovation et contribuent à relever les défis en matière de défense. La politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, propose des mesures concrètes pour améliorer la capacité de l'Équipe de la Défense d'anticiper et de comprendre les menaces, les défis et les possibilités. Pour atteindre cet objectif, il est essentiel de faire appel à l'expertise de la communauté canadienne d'experts en matière de défense et de sécurité par l'intermédiaire du programme MINDS. https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/programmes/minds.html

By Jon Robinson What the RCAF gains in Canada's 20-year Defence plan A few straightforward statistics – among mountains of convincing data available to be pulled – describe Canada's need for its historically aggressive Strong, Secure, Engaged policy first introduced in mid-2017 for the Canadian Armed Forces. This includes the pending, marque procurement of a new-generational fighter fleet, given the age of Canada's current CF-188 Hornets first procured in 1983. What's more, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) pegs its responsibility as covering an area greater than 15 million square kilometres. Statistics from the Department of National Defence (DND) indicate approximately 600,000 aircraft enter and exit Canadian air-space annually, among some 4.3 million total flights, including 90,000 transpolar flights. There are 800,000 ship movements annually within Canadian waters, according to DND, and more than 8,000 search-and-rescue call outs per year. At the Canadian Aerospace Summit held in Ottawa in mid-November 2018, Brigadier-General Michel Lalumière shared these statistics on the opening slide of his presentation to members of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, along with succinct words about the importance of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF): Canada's defence and security depends on air power – Geography determines; history proves it. From search and rescue (SAR) missions and disaster response to NORAD cooperation and NATO commitments, the RCAF in terms of spending allocation will be the biggest benefactor of Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) among all branches of the CAF. SSE is built on a 20-year horizon to meet more than 200 CAF objectives, but it is being driven by a significant, initial 10-year increase in defence cash spending from $18.9 billion in 2016/17 to $32.7 billion in 2026/27 – an increase of more than 70 per cent. The government of Canada's total defence spending over the next 20 years is projected to reach $553 billion on a cash basis. By 2024/25, defence spending in Canada will grow to 1.4 per cent of GDP, while the expenditure on major equipment will also reach 32 per cent, exceeding the NATO target of 20 per cent. These near-term projections are largely based on the timeline of CAF's Future Fighter Capability Project, targetting a commitment to acquire 88 advanced fighter aircraft with first deliveries anticipated in 2025. SSE is now organized under the government's Defence Investment Plan, which was made public for the very first time in late May 2018 by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. For continued transparency, the Investment Plan will be refreshed annually and approved by the Treasury Board every three years. RCAF investments The 20-year plan for the RCAF with new investments alone will reach $46.5 billion, which accounts for 49.4 per cent of the CAF's total spend of $93.9 on capital projects. This will be focused on what is described as 52 critical equipment, infrastructure and information technology projects. There are some discrepancies in the numbers with SSE being introduced in 2017 and the Investment Plan launching in 2018. The latter document pegs total spending on capital projects at around $107.9 billion, when also including services and goods, with $47.2 billion earmarked for the RCAF. The increase in capital project spending outlined in SSE is attracting the attention of domestic and international suppliers from every facet of aviation and aerospace; largely because the policy moves well beyond the Future Fighter program to touch on 16 other large projects, including: Acquiring space capabilities to improve situational awareness and targeting; integrating new command and communications systems; replacing air-to-air tanker transport, utility transport and multi-mission aircraft fleets; investing in medium-altitude remotely piloted systems; modernizing air-to-air missile capabilities; upgrading air navigation, management and control systems; acquiring new aircrew training systems; recapitalizing existing capabilities until the arrival of next-generation platforms; sustaining domestic SAR capabilities; and operationalizing the CAF's new fixed-wing SAR fleet. The majority of SSE spending on capital projects, when categorized by asset class under the Investment Plan, is earmarked for equipment, accounting for approximately $76.9 billion, followed by what the government labels as “other” at $14.1 billion; IM/IT at $12.1 billion; and infrastructure at $4.9 billion. As BGen Lalumière explains, the scope of SSE has developed a need for expansive Request for Proposals, including the first draft sent out in October 2018 for the Future Fighter program, inviting Boeing, Dassault, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, Lockheed and Saab to participate in the process. The formal RFP for Canada's Future Fighter program is expected to be released this spring, with a contract then awarded in 2021/22. “You need to fully understand the size of the challenge... by and large our geography can be described as four and a half time zones, or six and a half time zones depending how far out to sea, including the economic exclusive zones we care deeply about. We are 45 degrees of latitude north to south,” explains Lalumière. “When you are in defence you do not wait for what is fast and easy to come at your border. Of course, we look much further than this and [therefore] we are quickly interested in a quarter of the planet at all times.” In February 2019, the RCAF took delivery of two Australian F/A-18A Hornets, at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, as part of an interim measure until Canada's new fighter fleet is secured and delivered. Canada initially planned to buy 18 new Boeing Super Hornets, but scrapped that plan in late-2017 in favour of 18 Australian F-18 Hornets – expected to be delivered at regular intervals until the end of 2021. This is part of SSE policy to ensure Canada has mission-ready aircraft to meet domestic and international obligations. The move was also linked to political motivations following Boeing protests with the World Trade Organization (WTO) around unfair subsidies provided by the Canadian government to Bombardier for its CSeries aircraft program, now under majority control of Airbus and renamed as the A220 Series. This same logic, however, would place the Saab Gripen E/F bid in the Future Fighter program at a disadvantage after Brazil in 2018 registered its own WTO complaint around Bombardier subsidies. With Brazil's 2014 commitment to the Saab Gripen platform, Embraer became a major partner to manufacture the aircraft and to also help develop the two-seat F variant of the Gripen – with the E variant being the single seater. With Dassault's self-removal from the Future Fighter RFP (confirmed on November 8 by Agence France-Presse), the idea of WTO disputes impacting procurement would leave just one viable Future Fighter candidate in the Eurofighter Typhoon, but even this multi-nation platform (Airbus, Leonardo, BAE) would create complications considering newly proposed U.S. tariffs targetting civil aircraft from the European Union, specifically what the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative labels as launch subsidies given to Airbus and impacting Boeing. Given today's range of WTO aviation disputes, it becomes difficult to predict how political pressures of the day might influence Canada's Future Fighter RFP, particularly when the fleet is projected to last into the 2060s. Canada, as an early industrial partner of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program, has not been immune from domestic pressures concerning its Future Fighter decision. Despite its participation in the F-35 program since 1997, Justin Trudeau's Liberal government in November 2015, just days after being elected into office, cancelled an order for 65 Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft. The order was made in 2010 by Stephen Harper's Conservative government, which in 2012 was then accused of lying to Canadians about the cost of the F-35s. The Conservatives, according to the National Post (April 2012), pegged the cost at around $16 billion, including $9 billion for the aircraft and another $7 billion for maintenance and training, even as the government knew the true cost would be around $25 billion. In October 2018, however, The Globe and Mail reported Canada paid another $54 million toward development of the F-35 stealth fighter, bringing its total investment in the joint program to approximately half a billion dollars over the last 20 years. Participating in the program provides countries with access to supplier contracts and price reductions on the purchase of F-35 aircraft, which will ultimately be a major factor in determining which supplier wins the Future Fighter bid. From fighters to strategic transport On April 17, 2019, Lockheed Martin announced it has moved some F-35 suppliers to what it calls longer-term Performance Based Logistics contracts and Master Repair Agreements – beyond what had been one-year contracts – to improve supply and reduce costs. The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) states the F-35's newer production aircraft are now averaging greater than 60 per cent mission-capable rates. Lockheed Martin has reduced its portion of operating costs per aircraft by 15 per cent since 2015. The F-35 JPO goal is to deliver 80 per cent mission capable rates in the near term, and achieve a $25,000 Cost per Flight Hour by 2025. In April 2019, Inside Defense reported the F-35 JPO has been working with the prime contractor Lockheed Martin and engine-maker Pratt & Whitney to reduce the cost of the F-35A to $80 million by 2020. Inside Defense also reported that Lockheed Martin expects to increase production rates by 40 per cent in 2019 with the delivery of 131 F-35 aircraft. These projections are significant in that it aligns the initially expensive F-35 platform with the other Future Fighter contenders on both cost per flight hour and cost per unit. A primary difference between the Future Fighter contenders is that the F-35 is classified as a true fifth-generation fighter relative to fourth-generation platforms, which are sometimes noted as 4.5 generation based on potential upgrades. Fourth-generation fighters are naturally less expensive based on per-unit costs, but also raise concerns around upgrades and effectiveness against potential threats out to 2060, as Russia prepares to introduce the Sukhoi Su-57 in 2019 and China continues developing the Chengdu J-20 – both being fifth-generation fighters. The new SSE vision for Canadian defence translates Strong as Home, Secure as North America, and Engaged as World. The Secure portion of the policy outlines Canada's intent to eliminate threats in North America primarily through its NORAD partnership with the United States. Dassault noted Canada's extensive interoperability requirements with U.S. forces as a primary reason for its RFP withdrawal. The opening of the Arctic – and clear intentions from Russia and Nordic countries to gain control in the polar region – places more emphasis on developing defence capabilities in tandem with the U.S. But this cooperation can also be found in SSE surveillance and communications projects. SSE does not expressly account for a North Warning System Replacement, but it is on the table as a NORAD project. The Defence Investment Plan also holds a range of measures for improved sensors and control. BGen Lalumière in October describes these as SSE highlights, including the acquisition of new Tactical Integrated Command, Control and Communications, radio cryptography, and other necessary systems (Tic3Air), as well as upgraded air navigation management and control systems (MFATM); space-based development projects like the RADARSAT constellation mission; medium earth orbit search and rescue (MEOSAR); defence enhanced surveillance from Space (DESS-P); and Surveillance of Space 2 (SofS 2). Lalumière also points to SSE highlights directly affecting the future of CAF aircraft (around 350 among all current Canadia military fleets). The new Strategic Tanker Transport Capability project to replace the CC-150 and CC-130T is to provide a first draft proposal in 2027, although the CAF has expressed a desire to accelerate that timeline. The fixed-wing SAR C295W project expects to see its first proposal in 2019. The Utility Transport Aircraft project to replace the CC-138 Twin Otter is expected to begin in 2025 and the Canadian multi-mission aircraft project, to replace the CP140 Aurora, is expected in 2033. The timeline for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System project for medium-altitude ISR & Strike capabilities is still to be determined, but companies are already positioning themselves to be a part of the process. The Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade modernization project is currently ongoing and noted by Lalumière as a key part of SSE. The Future Fighter program also relates to major investments in training, defined in part as the Fighter Lead-In Trainer project. Current training is provided under contract with CAE for what is defined as NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada). The CFTS portion for advanced flight training of both multi-engine and rotary-wing is currently under contract with KF Aerospace. A third component for Air Combat Systems Operators and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators is currently provided by 402 Squadron, which will be rolled into an overall SSE training project called Future Aircrew Training (FAcT). The CAF is clearly putting an emphasis people as the ultimate SSE ingredient to achieve its objectives. This includes programs around health and wellness, civilian life transition, tax relief and diversity. SSE targets an increase to the CAF's regular force by 3,500 personnel, as well as an increase of 1,500 in the reserve force. Approximately 12,000 personnel are currently in RCAF's regular force, as well as 2,100 reserves and 1,500 civilians. “People will be the limitation in our ability to move at this pace,” explains Lalumière. “Twenty years, 10 years happens very quickly when it is all dependent on people.” https://www.wingsmagazine.com/defence-investment-strong-secure-and-engaged/

Le gouvernement du Canada accorde une aide financière de 500 000 $ à cette entreprise hautement innovante du Grand Montréal Le 21 mai 2019 – Kirkland (Québec) – Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec (DEC) Réflex Photonique est un chef de file dans la conception, la fabrication et la commercialisation d'éléments d'optique électronique et de photonique dans les domaines de la défense, de l'aérospatiale, des télécommunications et des centres de données. Elle fournit des émetteurs-récepteurs intégrés robustes pour une interconnexion d'environnements difficiles. Cette entreprise hautement innovante a connu une croissance impressionnante dans les dernières années et a investi plus de deux millions de dollars en recherche et développement en 2018. Pour continuer sur sa lancée, elle bénéficiera d'une contribution remboursable de 500 000 dollars de Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec. Gr'ce à cette aide financière, l'entreprise pourra faire l'acquisition d'équipements spécialisés à la fine pointe de la technologie, tels un testeur du taux d'erreur et des logiciels d'analyses, ainsi que de l'équipement destiné à l'automatisation de procédés. Ce financement a été annoncé aujourd'hui par le député de Lac-Saint-Louis, Francis Scarpaleggia. L'aide du gouvernement du Canada permettra plus spécifiquement à Réflex Photonique inc. de répondre à la demande croissante des donneurs d'ordres, d'accroître sa production et d'assurer un meilleur contrôle de la qualité de ses produits. Avec des investissements de près de deux millions de dollars, ce projet permettra également de créer des emplois de grande valeur qui contribueront à améliorer les perspectives économiques pour la classe moyenne. Citations « L'appui à des entreprises de haute technologie contribue à renforcer l'économie canadienne, à maintenir notre compétitivité internationale et à générer de la richesse. Performante et axée sur l'avenir, l'entreprise Réflex Photonique contribue sans conteste à la croissance économique de Montréal et du Canada, et crée des emplois pour la classe moyenne. » Francis Scarpaleggia, député de Lac-Saint-Louis « Notre gouvernement donne les moyens aux Canadiens de devenir plus compétitifs et de prospérer au sein de l'économie mondiale. L'investissement dans Réflex Photonique annoncé aujourd'hui cadre avec les avantages concurrentiels du Canada gr'ce au projet d'expansion de l'entreprise et stimulera la croissance économique. » L'honorable Navdeep Bains, ministre responsable de DEC « Nous avons le privilège de compter sur des employés loyaux, passionnés et dévoués qui ont énormément contribué au succès de Réflex Photonique au cours des dernières années. Nos partenaires stratégiques, clients et fournisseurs, ont certainement également été une source de motivation constante pour développer de nouveaux produits et technologies à forte valeur ajoutée. Je suis également très honoré de diriger Réflex Photonique, qui est maintenant reconnue internationalement comme un leader dans son industrie. Les investissements de nos partenaires financiers, ainsi que l'agrandissement de notre siège social, permettent à la société de poursuivre sa croissance tout en s'adaptant aux besoins des marchés que nous desservons. » Noël Dubé, président et chef de la direction, Réflex Photonique https://www.canada.ca/fr/developpement-economique-regions-quebec/nouvelles/2019/05/reflex-photonique-pourra-poursuivre-son-expansion.html

By NEIL MOSS Canada would be 'better served' if defence projects are overseen by a non-partisan body, says a retired Armed Forces colonel, who oversaw procurement and equipment management policy. https://www.hilltimes.com/2019/05/13/questions-abound-over-ugly-defence-procurement-system-following-mark-norman-case/199729

ELINOR SLOAN, CONTRIBUTED TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL RICK BOWMER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Elinor Sloan, professor of international relations in the department of political science at Carleton University, is a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. For a bid to buy a plane designed to cut quickly through the skies, Ottawa's pursuit of a future-generation fighter jet has been a long and torturous slog. In 1997, Jean Chrétien's Liberal government joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, a U.S.-led initiative conceived as a new way for allies to work together to design, develop and produce a fifth-generation fighter aircraft. In 2006, Ottawa signed a formal memorandum of understanding that gave Canada and the other eight partner nations the exclusive right to compete for contracts to produce such aircraft and, since 2007, Canadian companies have won more than US$1.3-billion in defence contracts related to the Joint Strike Fighter. With a production line that will be operating at full capacity starting this year, and is expected to produce about 10 times as many aircraft as exist today over the next few decades, this number promises to grow substantially. Meanwhile, Canada's nearly 40-year-old fleet of fighter jets – the CF-18s – continues to age. In 2010, the Harper government shelved its plan to sole-source buy the Joint Strike Fighter to replace them after a public outcry and a damning auditor-general's report that found significant weaknesses in the process used by the Department of National Defence. Then, when the Liberals took office in 2015 and promised an open and fair competition to replace the CF-18s, it also banned the F-35 from bidding – two contradictory positions. The Trudeau government quietly dropped that ban last year, and pre-qualified four companies to bid on a contract worth at least $15-billion: Sweden's Saab Gripen, Britain's Airbus Eurofighter, the U.S.'s Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and, yes, Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. According to letters released last week, though, the U.S. government threatened to pull the Lockheed Martin F-35 from consideration last year over Ottawa's insistence that Canada receive industrial benefits from the winning bid. In response, Ottawa relaxed its requirement on Thursday: Where bidders once had to commit to spend 100 per cent of the value of the aircraft's acquisition and sustainment in Canada, bids will now only lose points in a three-category scoring system in the review process, instead. With such exhausting twists and incompatible statements, it's little surprise that it took three and a half years of the government's four-year mandate just to get to the formal request-for-proposal stage. But there is a way out of this morass: pursuing a back-to-basics focus on why we need this aircraft and what we need it to do. To do so, we must focus on the proposed jets' promised technical capabilities, which are paramount, and rightly weighted the highest of that three-category scoring system. The second category is cost, which of course is important to any government. The third is creating and sustaining a highly skilled work force within our own borders, a goal enshrined in Canada's industrial trade benefits (ITB) policy, which requires a winning bid to guarantee it will make investments in Canada equal to the value of the contract. Each bid is scored by these three categories, weighed 60-20-20, respectively. However, the Joint Strike Fighter program, which Canada has spent millions to join, does not fit neatly into the ITB policy. In those letters last year, the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin pointed out that Canada's ITB terms are inconsistent with – and indeed prohibited by – the memorandum of understanding Canada signed in 2006, which says partners cannot impose industrial compensation measures. The solution reached on Thursday allows that memorandum to be obeyed, but since Canada will still give higher grades to bids that follow its ITB policy, questions remain as to whether the playing field has really been levelled. All of this is important because of the growing competition between the major powers. Russian bombers and fighters, for example, are increasingly testing the boundaries of Canadian and U.S. airspace. More than ever, the focus needs to be interoperability with the United States, working together on NORAD and helping NATO allies in Europe. As a flying command-and-control platform, rather than a mere fighter, Canada's next-generation jet must work with the United States' most sophisticated systems, and include a seamless and secure communications capability – that is a critical and non-negotiable criterion. Indeed, as DND has said,the United States will need to certify the winning jet meets Washington's security standards. Some may question the federal government's decision to relax the ITB rules, and to grant this certification sign-off. But whatever Canada buys must be able to address threats to us and to our allies until well into the 2060s. Our relationship with the United States, both in terms of geopolitics and military technology, is crucial. Despite our trade tiff, the United States remains our most important strategic partner. Canada can either take an active part in our own security, or leave it to the United States. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-us-needs-to-be-a-key-part-of-canadas-next-gen-jet-procurement/

SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE, QC, May 10, 2019 /CNW/ - Through Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is ensuring that our women and men in uniform have the equipment they need to do their jobs and to protect Canadians. Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport and Francis Scarpaleggia, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Louis, on behalf of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a $39-million contract to Macdonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation (MDA) of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, to design, build and deliver 10 search and rescue repeaters for National Defence's Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) system. This contract will help create or maintain 44 jobs over the length of the contract, which will stimulate economic growth in Quebec. Deployed on a satellite, a repeater detects signals from distress beacons across the country and along Canada's coastlines and relays them to a ground station. As part of an agreement between National Defence and the United States Air Force (USAF), the Canadian repeaters will be hosted on USAF's next-generation GPS satellites. The MEOSAR system is expected to deliver improved response times for search and rescue activities and increase accuracy to locate people, ships or planes in distress. It will replace Canada's current search and rescue system, which has been in place for several decades. Quotes "Our Government is committed to providing the Canadian Armed Forces with cutting-edge technology for search and rescue operations to save those in distress in Canada. These repeaters will be designed and built with homegrown Canadian aerospace expertise, supporting our aerospace sector and stimulating economic growth in Quebec." The Honourable Marc Garneau Minister of Transport "Through this investment, our government is supporting the Canadian Armed Forces in their important work to help save people's lives both on land and sea. The contract with MDA will also help sustain economic growth in our community with 44 good middle-class jobs. ." Francis Scarpaleggia, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Louis "This project builds on the successful partnership between National Defence and MDA to develop innovative solutions that are vital to Canada's sovereignty and security. Once qualified as operational, this system will dramatically improve both the speed and location accuracy for detecting beacons, and as a result, greatly enhance the coordination and dispatch of search and rescue teams to help people in distress." Mike Greenley Group President of Macdonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation Quick facts The Government of Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, reaffirms Canada's commitment to invest in our military, and sustain our search and rescue capabilities. Alongside the Canadian Coast Guard, the Canadian Armed Forces responds to more than 9,000 search and rescue calls annually, approximately 1,000 of which result in the launching of search and rescue air assets. The contract will run until February 1, 2029. The government may extend the contract to August 1, 2034, if it elects to acquire an additional 12 repeaters. The contract was awarded following an open, fair and transparent competitive procurement process, which included a fairness monitor who observed the procurement process. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-awards-contract-for-new-space-based-search-and-rescue-technology-832448437.html

La Presse canadienne Le plus haut responsable de l'approvisionnement militaire au Canada affirme que les prochains avions de chasse des Forces armées canadiennes pourraient subir des modifications pour être certifiés selon les normes américaines, mais il ne s'inquiète pas d'une possible ingérence politique des États-Unis. Correction : Dans une dépêche transmise vendredi, La Presse canadienne avait erronément rapporté que les États-Unis devraient approuver tout achat d'avion de chasse par le Canada. En réalité, le Canada peut acheter le modèle qu'il veut, mais l'appareil choisi pourrait subir des modifications pour être certifié selon leurs normes. Patrick Finn, sous-ministre adjoint du Groupe des matériels du ministère de la Défense nationale, a fait savoir que les États-Unis devaient certifier que l'avion de combat choisi par le Canada est conforme aux normes de sécurité américaines. En effet, quel que soit l'appareil qui va remplacer les vieux CF-18, il doit être compatible avec le réseau de renseignement le plus sécurisé des États-Unis, qui vise à protéger l'Amérique du Nord par l'entremise du Commandement de la défense aérospatiale de l'Amérique du Nord (NORAD). Le NORAD utilise un réseau de satellites, de radars basés au sol, de radars aéroportés, ainsi que des avions de chasse pour détecter et intercepter les menaces aériennes visant le Canada et les États-Unis. Des représentants de l'industrie craignent que cette obligation serve de prétexte aux États-Unis pour empêcher le Canada d'acheter les modèles Eurofighter Typhoon ou Saab Gripen, fabriqués par des sociétés européennes. Ces entreprises sont des concurrentes des constructeurs américains. Ces inquiétudes sont particulièrement vives en ce moment, étant donné l'attention particulière qu'accorde l'administration du président Donald Trump à la vente de produits américains à des pays étrangers. Bien qu'il soit incapable d'exclure entièrement ce risque, Patrick Finn indique que cette certification ne sera nécessaire que dans plusieurs années, et que des responsables américains ont déjà manifesté leur ouverture à l'achat d'avions non américains par le Canada. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1169226/futurs-avions-chasse-canadiens-approbation-washington