Nouvelles

Article de nouvelles / Le 14 novembre 2017 Aviation royale canadienne Le projet de système interarmées de surveillance et d'acquisition d'objectifs au moyen de véhicules aériens sans pilote (JUSTAS) de l'Aviation royale canadienne a été mis sur pied en vue de l'achat d'un système d'aéronef sans pilote (UAS) pour les Forces armées canadiennes (FAC). Le projet en est actuellement au stade de l'analyse des options. Cet automne, le nom du projet a été changé pour celui de système d'aéronef télépiloté (SATP). Ce changement correspond aux modifications apportées aux lexiques et aux systèmes de classification de nos alliés et reflète plus précisément le mode d'utilisation des systèmes. Comme le précise la politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, publiée en juin 2017, les systèmes d'aéronefs télépilotés (SATP) font maintenant partie intégrante des opérations militaires modernes. Des aéronefs télépilotés (ATP), comme le CU-170 Heron de l'ARC et d'autres aéronefs sans pilote, ont été déployés au cours d'opérations militaires canadiennes et offrent plusieurs avantages, notamment la capacité de rester en vol beaucoup plus longtemps que les véhicules de surveillance stratégique actuels. L'utilisation d'aéronefs télépilotés réduit aussi les risques courus par les militaires des FAC qui font fonctionner l'appareil à distance et à partir d'un endroit moins dangereux, et permet de déterminer les menaces potentielles qui pourraient peser sur les militaires des FAC qui se trouvent dans la zone des opérations. Les aéronefs télépilotés seront munis d'une large gamme de charges utiles et de capteurs qui détecteront les sujets d'intérêt au cours d'opérations tous temps, y compris dans l'Arctique canadien, et qui pourront apporter leur concours à une large gamme de missions, de la surveillance continue aux missions de combat en passant par le soutien aux missions de recherche et de sauvetage. Les responsables du projet SATP prévoient que les aéronefs télépilotés peuvent, en fait, être employés dans le cadre des huit missions essentielles décrites dans la politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, au pays et à l'étranger. Le projet SATP appuie directement les initiatives 91 et 92, qui indiquent que le gouvernement « investira dans divers systèmes télépilotés » et « fera de la recherche et du développement pour les capacités terrestres, maritimes et aériennes télépilotées ». Le projet SATP Bien que le nom ait changé, l'objectif du projet SATP reste d'offrir une capacité de renseignement, de surveillance, d'acquisition d'objectifs et de reconnaissance persistante à long rayon d'action. Le projet fera partie d'un réseau de systèmes de systèmes et pourra fournir des renseignements en temps quasi réel aux commandants tactiques, opérationnels et stratégiques, en soutien aux opérations au pays et aux opérations de déploiement. Au besoin, il pourra aussi fournir une capacité de frappe de précision en soutien aux opérations. Le projet vient compléter les capacités existantes des FAC, comme l'aéronef de patrouille à long rayon d'action CP-140 Aurora. Le projet SATP ne vise pas à remplacer des véhicules. Phases du projet Le projet SATP en est actuellement au stade de l'analyse des options : L'analyse des options permet à la haute direction du ministère de prendre une décision éclairée quant à la meilleure façon de mettre en œuvre un projet afin de tenter d'atteindre la capacité indiquée d'une façon acceptable aux yeux du gouvernement. Au cours de cette phase, les options sont formulées, les coûts et les avantages sont évalués et une analyse de rentabilité est développée pour chacune des options. La phase de définition d'un projet marque la transition entre la détermination de ce qui devrait être fait pour combler une insuffisance de capacité et la détermination de la façon dont l'option privilégiée sera mise en œuvre. C'est au cours de cette phase que le projet est planifié. Les activités incluent notamment : l'exécution d'un examen détaillé des exigences du projet et d'une évaluation des risques, l'établissement des coûts et la planification de la phase de mise en œuvre et le choix de la stratégie d'approvisionnement privilégiée. Les projets qui se trouvent en phase de mise en œuvre ont reçu les approbations nécessaires pour la conclusion de contrats et l'engagement des fonds et des ressources nécessaires pour que le projet soit mené à terme. La capacité opérationnelle initiale, le moment où la capacité d'emploi de la ressource est d'abord atteinte, est prévue pour l'année financière 2025-2026, selon la directive présentée dans la politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement. Coûts du projet Les coûts sont évalués dans le cadre de la phase d'analyse des options et se préciseront au cours de la phase de définition. Le coût estimatif dépendra de la stratégie d'approvisionnement approuvée, de l'infrastructure et du type de véhicule choisi. Les coûts comprendront les capteurs, les éléments au sol et l'infrastructure connexes. Nombre d'appareils Aucune décision n'a été prise relativement au nombre d'appareils. Le nombre de SATP sera suffisant pour répondre simultanément à trois lignes de missions et pourrait être touché par la stratégie d'approvisionnement, l'infrastructure, et les véhicules précis choisis. Retombées économiques La politique relative aux retombées industrielles et technologiques, proposition de valeur comprise, s'appliquera à la présente activité d'approvisionnement, et exige que l'entrepreneur principal du projet investisse 100 % de la valeur du contrat dans l'économie canadienne. La proposition de valeur est l'engagement économique que le soumissionnaire prend initialement envers le Canada au moment de la soumission, et est un facteur noté et pondéré lors du choix de l'adjudicataire. Elle devient un engagement contractuel pour l'adjudicataire. Les exigences de la proposition de valeur sont adaptées à chaque approvisionnement afin de permettre au gouvernement de canaliser les investissements et de profiter des occasions économiques uniques offertes par chaque projet. Utilisations des SATP Au pays, les SATP renforceront la capacité de surveillance des approches maritimes et nordiques du Canada et appuieront les opérations de recherche et de sauvetage. Les SATP permettront aux FAC d'aider d'autres ministères gouvernementaux en offrant du soutien à la sécurité lors d'événements spéciaux, comme les sommets internationaux, en apportant de l'aide aux autorités civiles, comme lors des incendies de forêt ou d'inondations, ainsi qu'en offrant du soutien aux opérations des autorités policières. À l'étranger, les SATP pourront détecter, reconnaître, identifier et poursuivre des cibles d'intérêt dans des milieux complexes et s'intégrer aux systèmes nécessaires pour traiter et fusionner les informations recueillies en renseignement donnant un droit d'action. Capacité de frappe de précision des SATP La politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement indique que les SATP auront une capacité de frappe de précision – ils pourront être armés. La capacité de cibler et d'exécuter des frappes de précision assure que si une menace est détectée, elle pourra aussi être neutralisée à ce moment. Comme lors de l'utilisation de tout autre système d'armes, les aéronefs télépilotés seront utilisés par les FAC conformément aux lois nationales et internationales. Les opérations seront exécutées dans le strict respect des contrôles, procédures et règles d'engagement qui régissent l'utilisation de la force ou de toute autre arme. Tous ces systèmes seraient télépilotés par des militaires des FAC participant directement au processus de prise de décision de l'exécution d'une frappe. Cependant, les SATP ne seront armés que si cela est nécessaire pour la t'che attribuée. Milieux opérationnels Le SATP pourra être utilisé partout dans le monde, dans toutes les conditions météorologiques, à tout moment de la journée, et aura le rayon d'action et l'autonomie pour atteindre tout endroit dans l'espace aérien du Canada à partir de tout emplacement d'opérations adéquat. Le système devra aussi pouvoir fonctionner dans des milieux de faible à moyen risque, dans des contextes de collaboration avec d'autres ministères gouvernementaux et dans le cadre d'une coalition avec nos alliés. L'ARC assure la souveraineté du Canada au moyen de sa capacité de répondre rapidement à toute menace. L'investissement dans le projet SATP, comme il est indiqué dans la politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, permet d'augmenter la capacité de l'ARC de continuer à fournir une puissance aérienne de façon agile et intégrée tout en disposant de la portée nécessaire pour répondre à toute demande formulée par le gouvernement du Canada. Tout fournisseur intéressé devrait adresser toute question liée à ce projet au Responsable de l'approvisionnement de Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada (SPAC). Article: http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/fr/nouvelles-modele-standard.page?doc=mise-a-jour-et-nouveau-nom-du-projet-de-systeme-interarmees-de-surveillance-et-d-acquisition-d-objectifs-au-moyen-de-vehicules-aeriens-sans-pilote/j9u7rzyf

Gen. Jonathan Vance said that despite speculation, there was never a plan in the works to deploy troops on a single UN operation. OTTAWA—Training foreign troops will be the “flagship” of Canada's newly announced peace operations strategy, says the country's top soldier, who concedes that elements of the plan still require months more work. Prime Minster Justin Trudeau on Wednesday took the wraps off his government's long-awaited effort to reengage with United Nations peace missions. Elements of the strategy include $15 million in funding to boost participation by women soldiers in UN operations; an initiative to end the recruitment of child soldiers; and the promise of Canadian personnel to assist with training. It also pledges up to six helicopters, two transport aircraft and a quick reaction force of up to 200 personnel to support UN missions. But apart from Trudeau's promise of a single transport aircraft for UN operations based in Uganda, the plan offered no details on possible deployments. Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, said it would be “inappropriate” to say when those might start. “I'm not even going to hazard a guess on that one right now. Step number one is now to get into detailed planning with the UN and find out . . . the what, the where and the when,” he said in an interview. This week's announcement was months in the making. The Liberals pledged in the 2015 election to “recommit” to UN peace operations, in part by providing specialized capabilities such as medical teams and engineering support. That promise was followed in August, 2016 by a commitment to deploy up to 600 troops and 150 police officers on UN operations. Canada's contributions to UN peace missions are at their lowest levels in years with just 23 military personnel currently assigned to such operations. That's not likely to change soon. In the wake of Wednesday's commitments, Vance made clear that it will take many months yet of planning and discussions with the United Nations to determine how Canada's offers of personnel and equipment can best fit with ongoing missions. “Some of the ‘when' on smart pledges is years away. Some of the ‘when' on other potential operations is sooner than that,” he said. Some observers criticized the Liberal government for not committing personnel to a single mission, choosing instead to disperse personnel among many possible locations. But Vance said that despite speculation, there was never a plan in the works to deploy troops on a single UN operation, saying, “I've never received guidance that said do a mission with 600 (troops).” Suggestions that troops were headed to Mali, for example, or that the announcement had been delayed “didn't match the reality of the work we were doing,” Vance said. “There were a lot of assumptions made about, ‘hey, we're going to Africa',” Vance said Instead, he said that Canada was working with the United Nations “to figure out a new way of doing business.” And he said repeated fact-finding trips by bureaucrats and politicians, including visits to African countries, were not about scouting any one particular mission. “That's us doing research . . . that allowed us to arrive at an approach that government could consider,' he said. “We've been working for over a year to determine what are the various options available to government in terms of how to improve UN performance overall with Canadian troops,” Vance said. Yet given that Africa is the location of many UN missions so “it's very likely a place where we would offer contributions,” Vance said. The peace support strategy calls for a new training and advisory team to work with a nation before and during a deployment to improve their own ability to conduct peace operations. It also says that Canada will contribute to training centres and schools. Vance said such activities will be the “flagship” of the plan. “We're going to try and leverage the Canadian expertise, one of the best trained militaries in the world and best equipped, . . . so that UN mission performance can improve,” Vance said. Defence analyst Dave Perry said elements of the peacekeeping strategy make sense. The problem, he said, is that the government itself had raised expectations with its drawn-out decision-making and rhetoric about its intentions. “It wasn't just what the government was saying publicly. I think there were also a number of commitments that were strongly intimated to some of Canada's key allies,” Perry said in an interview. “My sense is that the different options that were put forward by the department of national defence for whatever reasons weren't palatable to the government,” said Perry, a senior analyst with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. While he said the contributions to UN operations were “modest,” Perry said Canada is better off providing military support to other missions, such as coalition efforts to combat Daesh, or NATO roles. “Bluntly, there are better ways of achieving Canadian national objectives in the world that through UN missions,” Perry said. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/11/16/training-foreign-troops-will-be-the-flagship-of-canadas-new-un-peace-strategy-top-soldier-says.html

Montreal, November 14, 2017 – Discovery Air Defence Services Inc. (“DA Defence”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Air Inc., today announced that it has now flown its first fast jet training mission in support of the Australian Defence Force's Fast Jet Trial contract. Two DA Defence upgraded Alpha Jets and four Air Affairs Learjets participated in air-to-air missions as Red Air aggressors near RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales. The jets were participating in the Royal Australian Air Force 81 Wing workups for future exercises. “This inaugural fast jet mission is a great milestone for everyone involved in our new Australian program,” said Steven “Bunt” Nierlich, DA Defence Program Manager and a highly-experienced former CF-18 pilot. “Discovery Air Defence and Air Affairs Australia are committed to delivering the world's best adversary training to the Australian Defence Force.” “This mission marks the achievement of initial operating capability (IOC) in our Australian fast jet program,” said Paul Bouchard, President of DA Defence. “Working closely with our partner Air Affairs Australia, also an expert in providing both jet and unmanned target services, we look forward to training the Australian Defence Force with highly-representative adversary threats beyond this trial and into the future.” DA Defence is the most experienced provider of turnkey tactical airborne training in the world. With eight Main Operating Bases across three continents, DA Defence operates the world's largest privately-owned fleet of aggressor and combat support aircraft. With an unparalleled safety record, including 66,000 accident-free flight hours, DA Defence, along with their wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Top Aces Corp., is the exclusive contracted airborne training service provider to the Canadian, German, and Australian armed forces. DA Defence's unique mix of modern fighter and special mission aircraft equipped with representative 4th generation threat capabilities delivers the mission profiles, flexibility, and availability demanded by the world's leading air forces. About DA Defence and Discovery Air DA Defence and its U.S. subsidiary, Top Aces Corp., have the world's largest privately-held operating fleet of fighter aircraft. The training provided supports the operational readiness of both current and future generation fighter aircraft. Discover more on how DA Defence is changing the face of air combat training at experiencematters.ca. #CdnInnovation #AeroInnovates Discovery Air Inc. is a global leader in specialty aviation services. We deliver exceptional air combat training; medevac equipped aircraft services; air charter services; helicopter operations; and transport and logistics support to ensure operational readiness, health, safety, and vital lifelines for our clients and the communities we serve. Discovery Air's unsecured convertible debentures trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol DA.DB.A). For Further Information: Garrick Ngai Director of Marketing Garrick.Ngai@discoveryair.com 514-694-5565 http://www.discoveryair-ds.com/page?a=2082&lang=fr-CA

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Chris Thatcher The in-service support and training systems team behind Canada's new fixed-wing search and rescue (FWSAR) aircraft expects to begin construction on a training centre at 19 Wing Comox, B.C., before the end of the year. Eva Martinez, PAL Aerospace vice president of in-service support, said the first shovel should break ground in December. “We're working on finalizing that date,” she told the Best Defence Conference in London, Ont., on Nov. 1. Canada's 16 C295W aircraft will likely be distributed three per base, with two marked for training and two to be rotated amongst the SAR squadrons to cover for aircraft undergoing maintenance. Airbus Photo The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will take delivery of the first of 16 Airbus C295W search and rescue aircraft in April 2020 at a renewed main operating base at 19 Wing, scheduled to be stood up in December 2019. Airbus was awarded a $2.4 billion contract in December 2016 to replace the RCAF's fleet of six CC-115 Buffalos and several CC-130H Hercules assigned to search and rescue duty. The contract includes delivery of the aircraft, construction of a state-of-the-art training centre, and the first five years of maintenance and support. Options for an additional 15 years of maintenance and support services could extend the agreement to 2042 and the total value to $4.7 billion. As part of the Airbus team, PAL Aerospace will provide program management services, in-service support (ISS), maintenance and logistics support, heavy maintenance, a mobile repair team, and manage a centralized supply chain. The two companies have created a Canadian joint venture called AirPro to serve as the ISS integrator. And as a Tier 1 supplier to Airbus, PAL will provide direct maintenance, repair and overall (MRO) services as well as logistics and engineering augmentation. While CAE Canada has responsibility for the training program, infrastructure and support, PAL has the task of creating a contractor field office and tool and parts warehouse and staffing an integrated team of aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) at the four main operating bases in Comox, Winnipeg, Trenton, Ont., and Greenwood, N.S. It will also set up a central warehouse in Winnipeg to supply all four bases, alongside an MRO facility for heavy inspections and the mobile repair party. An interim warehouse will be created in St. John's, N.L., until the Winnipeg facility is ready in December 2022. “Next year, we begin the wave of hiring,” said Martinez, noting that AMEs, a senior maintenance manager and other personnel will all need to be in place as the facilities and services at each main operating base come online, starting with Comox and then likely Winnipeg, Trenton and Greenwood, “though that may change.” This rendering shows the new fixed-wing search and rescue training centre to be built at 19 Wing Comox, B.C. CAE Image The 16 C295W aircraft will likely be distributed three per base, with two marked for training and two to be rotated amongst the SAR squadrons to cover for aircraft undergoing maintenance, she said. Although St. John's-based PAL has been providing airline, aviation and manufacturing services since 1972, establishing a global reputation in the process, the FWSAR contract has helped put the company “on the map” in Canada, Martinez acknowledged. As part of its central role in the program, PAL will be leaning on a wider supply chain of small and medium Canadian companies to achieve its industrial and technological benefits (ITB) obligations. “[We] will be expecting [our] suppliers to provide the support that we need so we too can meet our ITB and value proposition contractual commitments,” she said. As one of the first large projects to move through the procurement process since the government in 2014 introduced a defence procurement strategy emphasizing value propositions (VP) to enhance economic returns, the “FWSAR contract is actually the first in Canada to fall under a measured VP,” Martinez noted. “In other words, [the VP] wasn't just used for bid evaluation. A variety of tasks have already been pre-determined against which every Tier 1 will have to identify their labour hours specific to each of those tasks.” While Airbus will have an obligation to invest at least 15 per cent of its ITB commitments in small and medium enterprises, PAL's requirement is just 1.4 per cent. Martinez stressed, however, that the company would be looking well beyond that for additional Canadian content. “That does not mean we are going to cap ourselves at 1.4 per cent. We have just as much interest [as Airbus] in working with small and medium enterprises where it makes sense in terms of performance,” she said. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/pal-soon-hiring-sar-main-operating-bases/

​The 36-State ICAO Council. In endorsing the very first Global Aviation Security Plan today to improve international coordination, reponse, and planning relating to threats to civil aviation passengers, aircraft and facilities, the Council encouraged the ICAO Secretariat to continue refining and improving it on the basis of close continued cooperation with States and security stakeholders globally, and with due attention to all applicable implementation assistance and capacity building requirements in ICAO's Regions. ​ Montréal, 15 November 2017 – The ICAO Council took an historic step in endorsing the very first Global Aviation Security Plan to improve international coordination, response, and planning to counter threats to civil aviation passengers, cargo, aircraft and facilities. “This new strategic document will assist ICAO Member States in their aviation security coordination with other States and applicable security agencies, as well as helping to nurture security cultures and capabilities, place greater focus on the role of new technologies and innovations, and refine related frameworks for oversight and quality assurance,” affirmed ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. A set of indicators and target dates have also been established, and all associated targets and outcomes will be regularly reviewed and adjusted, taking into account all new and emerging aviation security threats. “The Council has encouraged the ICAO Secretariat to continue refining and improving this critical living document, on the basis of close continued cooperation with States and security stakeholders globally, and with due attention to all applicable implementation assistance and capacity building requirements in ICAO's Regions,” Dr. Aliu further commented. Subsequent to its first review of the new Global Aviation Security Plan in June 2017, the Council authorized its transmission to ICAO Member States and international organizations for comment. Ninety-six percent of those replies indicated agreement with its scope and purpose, as well as the related strategies and global targets, which will continue to be refined. “The ICAO Secretariat has developed this strategic document on an accelerated basis to answer the call of ICAO's Council and Member States and the respective commitments and actions of national governments will now be essential to its overall impact and value,” commented ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu. “This new Global Aviation Security Plan will now take its place alongside ICAO's existing Global Plans for aviation safety and system-wide capacity and efficiency, and importantly it directly responds to various resolutions and expectations regarding aviation security and terrorism which have been expressed to ICAO by the United Nations Security Council.” The ICAO Global Aviation Security Plan calls for action at the global, regional and national levels by States, industry and other stakeholders in raising the level of implementation of Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation – Security. Secretary General Liu further confirmed that a roadmap outlining 94 tasks, accompanying 32 actions under five key priority outcomes, will be central to the new Global Plan's roll out. These lay the groundwork for objectives over the next three years until the 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly in 2019. In line with its contribution to the Global Counter-terrorism Strategy of the United Nations, ICAO will continue to coordinate with the Security Council and its various committees on all priorities relevant to aviation and border security, and bring together the private and public sector partners who help ensure our network remains at the dependable service of societies and economies. https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/FR/ICAO-Council-endorses-new-Global-Aviation-Security-Plan.aspx

Le 13 novembre 2017, les ministres de 23 États membres ont signé une notification conjointe sur la coopération structurée permanente (CSP) et l'ont remise à la haute représentante et au Conseil. La possibilité de mettre en place une coopération structurée permanente dans le domaine de la politique de sécurité et de défense a été introduite par le traité de Lisbonne. Il s'agit de la possibilité pour un certain nombre d'États membres de l'UE de renforcer leur coopération dans le domaine de la sécurité et de la défense. Ce cadre permanent de coopération en matière de défense permettra aux États membres qui le souhaitent et qui le peuvent de développer conjointement des capacités de défense, d'investir dans des projets communs ou de renforcer l'état de préparation opérationnelle et la contribution de leurs forces armées. Les États membres qui ont signé cette notification conjointe sont les suivants: l'Allemagne, l'Autriche, la Belgique, la Bulgarie, Chypre, la Croatie, l'Espagne, l'Estonie, la Finlande, la France, la Grèce, la Hongrie, l'Italie, la Lettonie, la Lituanie, le Luxembourg, les Pays-Bas, la Pologne, la République tchèque, la Roumanie, la Slovaquie, la Slovénie et la Suède. D'autres États membres peuvent s'y associer ultérieurement. La notification conjointe est la première étape formelle de la mise en place de la CSP. Y figurent: les principes de la CSP, qui soulignent notamment que la "CSP est un cadre juridique européen ambitieux, contraignant et inclusif pour les investissements dans la sécurité et la défense du territoire de l'UE et de ses citoyens" la liste des "engagements communs ambitieux et plus contraignants" pris par les États membres, y compris "l'augmentation régulière, en termes réels, des budgets consacrés à la défense afin d'atteindre les objectifs convenus" des propositions concernant la gouvernance de la CSP, avec un niveau global permettant de maintenir la cohérence et l'ambition de la CSP, complétées par des procédures de gouvernance spécifiques au niveau des projets. Notification conjointe adressée par les États membres à la haute représentante et au Conseil concernant la CSP Prochaines étapes Le Conseil doit désormais adopter à la majorité qualifiée renforcée une décision établissant la CSP, ce qui pourrait être le cas lors de la prochaine session du Conseil des affaires étrangères (le 11 décembre). Une première liste de projets à mener dans le cadre de la CSP devrait être arrêtée par les États membres participants une fois que la CSP aura été établie. Ces projets pourraient porter sur des domaines tels que la formation, le développement des capacités et l'état de préparation opérationnelle en matière de défense. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/fr/press/press-releases/2017/11/13/defence-cooperation-23-member-states-sign-joint-notification-on-pesco/ Factsheet: https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/pesco_factsheet_13-12-2017_final.pdf

PAL Aerospace and CarteNav Solutions Announce launch of Force Multiplier An Industry leading “On Demand” Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance special mission platform On the occasion of the Dubai Air Dhow, DAS, PAL Aerospace announced the first public appearance of an On-Demand, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Special Mission Platform named the Force Multiplier. Force Multiplier is an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform for special missions operations. Ownership, operation, and maintenance are all responsibilities of PAL Aerospace and clients simply acquire the actionable data and experience that they require on this industry leading platform. The Special Mission platform is equipped with two full mission system suites, AMASCOS®, from Thales, and AIMS-ISR® from CarteNav – both mission system software suites which will accommodate a diverse range of ISR applications. Both mission systems will integrate to the Thales SEARCHMASTER® radar which is the highest performance-to-weight radar on the market. The solution fits interim and immediate requirements for surveillance and/or training missions under an on-demand contracting model. PAL Aerospace has operated over 250,000 flight hours of Special Missions and has over 40 Years of Fixed Wing Operations and Surveillance Experience. Our experience as an operator of surveillance missions leaves us uniquely qualified to bring this new platform to market with a view towards client needs and future innovation. Brian Chafe, Chief Executive Officer of PAL Aerospace, stated, “The announcement of this ISR asset is transformational for our organization. We are committed to delivering this platform so our customers can react when they need it most. We are confident that our clients will appreciate the approach that we have taken to provide a flexible, proven, reliable and low-risk solution.” Rick Hillier, General (retired – Former Chief of the Canadian Defense Staff), Chairman - PAL Aerospace, LLC stated “We are pleased to announce this significant investment at the Dubai Air Show to reinforce our commitment to this region and our over 10 year commitment to the people of the UAE.” "The entire CarteNav team is excited by the launch of Force Multiplier and are pleased to be a partner on this initiative. We are looking forward to delivering advanced ISR mission system and information management capabilities for a diversity of end customer's mission requirements. In addition, Force Multiplier is a platform that is ideal for ongoing innovation and advanced product development.” said Paul Evans, President of CarteNav Solutions. Speaking of the partnership, Philippe Duhamel, EVP Defence Mission Systems activities at Thales said, “We have a longstanding cooperation with PAL Aerospace where we have commonly addressed the UAE's and other clients' needs and delivered maritime patrol aircraft with a comprehensive suite of ISR solutions in past. Through the Force Multiplier and the collaboration with PAL Aerospace, Thales will be able to further extend its service offering and demonstrate our capabilities to our entire global customer base.” https://www.palaerospace.com/s/Media-Release-PAL-Aerospace-Force-Multiplier-Launch.pdf

DUBAI — Canada will kick start its competition for a future fighter jet in 2019 with the hopes of awarding a contract by 2021, but the head of the Royal Canadian Air Force wants the process to move as quickly as possible. “The plan right now is to have a request for proposal out to industry by 2019. we're in discussions and have been in discussions with a number of the people who are considering competing for that, and what I'd like to see is that accelerated as much as possible,” said RCAF commander Lt. Gen. Michael Hood, in an exclusive interview with Defense News. “A 2019 RFP would get us into contract probably by 2021, and certainly my advice to government is the sooner the better.” The RCAF wants to procure 88 fighter jets to replace its current inventory of aging 76 F/A-18 Hornets, which are nearing the end of their lifespans. Canada is an international participant in the F-35 joint strike fighter program and has helped pay for the development of the aircraft. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed not to procure the F-35 during his campaign, and his government has opened up the competition to industry instead of moving forward with a sole-source acquisition. The Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Boeing Super Hornet and Saab's Gripen E are all projected to compete for the opportunity. To bridge the gap between its Hornet fleet and a future fighter, the RCAF initially intended to procure 18 F/A-18 Super Hornets from Boeing — a move some analysts speculated could trigger a larger procurement later on. However, the Canadian government suspended the deal due to Boeing's legal complaint against Canadian aerospace company Bombardier over its commercial business. With a Super Hornet buy unlikely as long as Boeing and Bombardier feud, and Trudeau's promise not to buy the F-35, U.S. defense experts worry that Canada could be driven into the arms of a European fighter manufacturer, thus eroding Canada's long tradition of flying U.S. jets — a move that increases the militaries' interoperability. However, Hood stated that interoperability with the United States continues to be “the most important thing to me as command of the Royal Canadian Air Force.” “Every step less of interoperability is one step less of effectiveness, so interoperability is right at the top of the list beside operational advantage,” he said. “I want the young men and women that are going to be flying fighters into harm's way to have an operational advantage, and that will be key to me in the competition that's coming.” That need for interoperability with the U.S. Air Force does not diminish the chances of European fighters, he added. Canada continues to investigate alternative ways to acquire an interim fleet of F/A-18s, including potentially buying used Hornets from Australia. However, a potential deal for Super Hornets with Boeing is still on the table, Hood said. “I think the government has been presented with the FMS case for Boeing. And as they're looking at options, that's one option,” he said. “The Australian aircraft are another, and the government has not made a decision yet.” If the RCAF moves forward with a used Hornet buy from Australia, it will have to extend the lives of the airframes, which are meeting their structural ends, Hood noted. That business would likely go to L3 Technologies, which has done life extension work on the Canadian F/A-18s in the past. But Canada would still be able to acquire the aircraft “within the next couple of years” once a decision is made. Lockheed officials have said that if Canada ultimately decided not to procure the F-35, it could end its industrial partnership with Canadian firms — which totals 110 Canadian companies with $750 million in contracts, according to Lockheed — that already help manufacture the F-35. However, asked whether Canada was concerned about losing that business, Hood demurred. “I'm not privy to the industrial aspects of our partnership with Lockheed Martin,” he said. “What I can say is Lockheed Martin is a fantastic partner for Canada and for the Royal Canadian Air Force, has been for years. We remain very, very strongly engaged both in the joint project office and helping to continue with the development of the F-35, and Canadian companies continue to bid and win on contracts with that.” https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dubai-air-show/2017/11/11/canadian-air-chief-the-sooner-the-better-on-fighter-acquisition/

OTTAWA/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Airbus SE (AIR.PA) could cooperate further with Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO) beyond a recent venture in the CSeries jets, if its fighter jet is permitted to compete in a Canadian military procurement, and its partners agree, an executive said on Wednesday. Canada said last year it will launch an open competition to replace its aging fleet of fighter jets and a request for proposal for the open competition is expected in 2019. Dirk Hoke, chief executive of Airbus Defense and Space, said the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet could be an option for further collaboration with Bombardier, although he did not specify further. “We will definitely also look at additional potential further cooperation with Bombardier beyond just the CSeries,” Hoke told Reuters on the sidelines of an Ottawa aerospace conference, adding that he was “very optimistic and positive about us entering this competition.” Airbus last month agreed to take a majority stake in Bombardier's CSeries jets program, bolstering the Canadian plane's sales and giving it a possible way out of a damaging trade dispute with Boeing Co (BA.N) and U.S. regulators. The CSeries trade dispute has muddied a potential interim military contract between Boeing and Canada for 18 Super Hornet fighter jets, creating new opportunities for rivals like Airbus, Dassault Aviation SA (AVMD.PA) and Lockheed Martin(LMT.N). Boeing and Canada had initially discussed purchasing the fighters as a stop-gap measure while the country prepared an open five-year competition to replace its aging fleet of 77 Boeing CF-18 fighter jets. Canada has halted talks with Boeing because of the dispute. Hoke said Airbus is not considering jumping into the interim bid for fighter jets and is waiting to see the specifics from the Canadian government on the open competition. “Right now, we have a very positive feeling about it but of course we have to see ... what (are) the specifications that have been finally defined and confirmed.” In 2016, Canada selected Airbus C295W aircraft for its fixed-wing search and rescue program, estimated at C$3 billion ($2.36 billion). Boeing has accused Bombardier of receiving illegal subsidies and dumping the CSeries at “absurdly low” prices in the U.S. market to win a key April 2016 order from Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N). The U.S. Commerce Department has notched up proposed trade duties on U.S. sales of CSeries jets at nearly 300 percent, in a case that will be decided next year at the International Trade Commission.