CASR
Defence
Budget &
Procurement
Practices
————
DND
Press
Releases
————
|
- |
|
Return to |
|
2007 -
DND |
|
~ DND / Government Press Releases ~ |
|
Search and Rescue – SAR Funding – GoC News Release –
April 2012 New Funding for Search-and-Rescue Prevention and Response 
Government News Releases can be mind-numbing for an average citizen to read, replete as they often are with
bureaucratic language and ministerial self- congratulation. This SAR funding press release is no exception.
With all the capacities built and responses strengthened, the absense of content may escape a casual reader.We are told that $8.1M is to be spent on various and sundry projects under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS). But SAR NIF is hardly new. SAR NIF has been running since 1988 and awards funds to SAR-related projects annually. SAR NIF's backgrounder tells us that "projects must address at least one of the five National SAR Priorities". These SAR Priorities differ very slightly from the National Search and Rescue Program (NSP) Strategic Directions. Read CASR commentary on the annual SAR National Initiative Fund and FWSAR |
|
DND Procurement – Helicopters and Disposals – June 2011 Sea King Disposal: Yet another Danish Example of Procurement Hopefully non-DND news releases provide contrast with the usual fare of PAffO-blat. This one is about disposal of surplus assets but also 'best practices' for procurement. 
How Danish military disposals differ from Canadian is partly procedural but also about attitude. ADM (Mat) loves
biz-admin jargon about Life Cycle Management but part of a life cycle is death and decay. For any CF replacement
project, DND will first announce the lack of any remaining value in the old equipment due to be replaced.
Try selling a used car with that approach!Read CASR commentary on S-61 Disposal and Danish procurement practices |
|
Defence Budgets – Defence Cuts Example – April 2011 $1.3 B Cut from Defence — Bleak Future Plans from the Dutch Another non-DND news release but one that should give pause to Canadians with an interest in military affairs. Canadians are in the habit of measuring economic prospects via GDP and public deficits. Staying to that comfortable path will result in a rosy inner glow when comparing our situation to that of the Dutch. Compare instead public debts or worse, the Dutch trade surplus versus our trade deficit may be cause for dyspepsia. The 'wind down' of the Canadian Forces' combat mission in Afghanistan brought out odd reactions from NDHQ planners. Some seemed to regard this war as an unwelcome interruption to their planning schedule. With combat coming to an end for CF troops, Ottawa planners could get back to the real job, that of preparing for less messy, largely hypothetical threat scenarios of the future. The DND budget – which would no longer need to be squandered on actual fighting – had been increased and regular future rises in that budget were all but guaranteed. Happy days! But now flies keep appearing in the ointment. The experience of the Dutch Ministerie van Defensie may be instructive. Read CASR commentary on cuts to the Dutch Ministerie van Defensie budget |
|
CF Armoured Vehicles – DND/CF 'Army News' – February 2011 Army Announces the Delivery of Upgraded Leopard 2A4M CANs 
The Leopard 2A4M CANs represent a substantial improvement to used 'base' Leo 2A4s bought from the
Netherlands for the Tank Replacement Project. This tank is a rebuild and a rather clever one at that. If anything,
the Leopard 2A4M CAN better suits CF needs than original plans.Where the Leopard 2A6M's turret add-on armour was designed specifically to counter Cold War tank fire threats, the Leopard 2A4M CAN's turret add-on armour is meant to thwart IED blasts. Hull 'add-on' composite armour remains essentially the same as the Leopard 2A6M CAN. The obvious difference is in the reduced amount of slat armour. Read CASR commentary on the Leopard 2A4M CAN and the Army News article |
|
Small Arm Weapons – C8 IURs as the Danish Army's new M/10 – May 2010 New Canadian-Made Rifles for the Danish Army – C8 IUR M/10 Another non-DND news release but with a Canadian connection. Denmark announced that it has bought 5,000 new rifles for its military. The Colt Canada C8 IUR rifle is a new variant of the Canadian Forces' C7/C8 family. In Danish service, it will be the M/10 rifle. 
Such sales are good news for Colt Canada but we are more interested in how this news was handled by
Danish military authorities. Danish defence planning and acquisitions are done in the open. That's a lesson
for DND's Director General ADM (Public Affairs).Read CASR commentary on the C8 IUR and the text of the M/10 press release |
|
Armoured Vehicles – Danish CV9035s for Afghanistan – February 2010 Heavier Armour for Helmand: Danish Army Heat-Trials its CV90 Not a DND news release but its Danish equivalent, this item is included to contrast the openess of difficulties encountered and problems addressed. Also noteable is the use of economic and political allies to the country's best advantage. Does Canada do that? 
The Danish military's Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization has made arrangements to test the Danish
Army's new CV9035 DK IFV under simulated Afghan conditions. By doing their klimatest in South Africa, the
Danes took advantage of the summer heat in the Southern Hemisphere while deploying their
operational CV9035s into Helmand Province during winter.Read CASR commentary and the text of the Danish HOK press release |
|
New Surveillance Aircraft – Canada in Afghanistan – December 2009 Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance: New ISR Aircraft 
The US DoD has announced a contract through the US Army for two Canadian-supplied
King Air 300s to be modified as ISR aircraft for use in Afghanistan. With no other information released,
questions arise: Are these to be Canadian Forces aircraft? If so, why deploy as the CF combat duties
end? Or will 'ownership' of new ISR assets be murkier?Read CASR commentary and the text of the DoD contract press release |
|
Arctic Rescue – Aerial Search and Rescue – FWSAR – November 2009 SAR Techs Shine in Ice Floe Rescue but Questions also Raised 
The dramatic rescue of 17 year old Inuit hunter, Jupi Angootealuk, has drawn public attention to the
aerial search and rescue capabilities of the Canadian Forces once again. The press release from 17 Wing Winnipeg
rightly celebrates the achievement of its SAR Techs. No one questions the skill or bravery of people willing
to parachute onto ice floes to effect a rescue. But there are still questions. A leased civil aircraft was the first
on the scene. So why does DND insist on southern bases for FWSAR?Read CASR commentary and the text of a 17 Wing press release |
|
DND Vehicle Procurement Projects – Auditor General's Report – November 2009 Acquiring Military Vehicles for Use in Afghanistan – Leopard 2s 
DND's Tank Replacement Project is now running 2 years behind schedule. No ex- Dutch Leopards upgraded to full
2A6M standard is likely to see Afghan service. Those tanks will now be refurbished in Germany, brought
up to full Leo 2A6M standards, and transferred to the Bundeswehr.Read CASR commentary and a summary of the OAG report on tanks |
|
CCV Armoured Vehicles – Tactical Requirements – October 2009 CCV: Close Combat Vehicle — Details of Tactical Requirements 
David Pugliese published requirements for the Close Combat Vehicle project. It begins by describing current LAV's
"deficiencies", then describes a 24-hour tactical mission as planned for CCVs. Why an official briefing
denigrates another DND project to justify the CCV is
unknown. Is it PMO squabbling at NDHQ? Or is there a doctrinal war brewing at the Directorate of Land
Requirements?Read CASR commentary on Tactical Requirements for the CCV |
|
Coastal Patrol – Canadian Coast Guard – CCG Procurement – 03 September 2009 Contract for Canadian Coast Guard Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels 
DFO has announced the decision on their much-delayed Mid-Shore Patrol Vessel project. The contract has been
awarded to Irving Shipbuilding Inc of Halifax in the amount of $194M. Nine MSVPs are to
be delivered between 2011 and 2013 – compared with the 12 MSPVs originally announced. Irving
will build all nine of the new MSPVs in Atlantic Canada ( likely in Halifax ).Read CASR commentary on the MSPV and the DFO press release |
|
CCV Armoured Vehicles – DND/CF Backgrounder – July 2009 CCV — Future Land Combat Systems' Close Combat Vehicle This DND Backgrounder outline the CCV, a planned infantry fighting vehicle. The CF already has IFVs (the LAV IIIs) but the CCVs are to be "medium-weight" vehicles with more armour protection (ie: larger & heavier) and tactical mobility (ie: tracked vehicles). 
We have covered major CCV candidates mentioned publicly elsewhere. The only details here are: 108 of the 25 to
45-tonne CCVs (with options on 30 more) are to be bought. The timeline is: a contract award mid-2011, IOC
July 2012, fully operational by July 2015, with a lifetime ISS contract.Read CASR commentary on the CCV Close Combat Vehicle Project |
|
FME: Leopard 2 AEV & ARV – DND/CF Backgrounder – July 2009 Force Mobility Enhancement Project – Leopard 2 AEV and ARV This Backgrounder outlines the Force Mobility Enhancement Project for CF Leopard 2 vehicles. The FME covers engineering attachments for the tanks themselves – mine ploughs and rollers, and bulldozer blades – plus new engineering / support vehicles. 
An FME order would include 13 Armoured Engineering Vehicles (replacements
for the Badger), two Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) to replace the Taurus , plus 29 sets of new
mine ploughs, rollers, and bulldozer blades for the Leopard 2s. The FME would also hold options on
another 5 AEVs (18 in total ), 2 ARVs (6 in total including existing 2), and 30 more implement sets (59 in total).Read CASR commentary on the Force Mobility Enhancement Project |
|
TAPV Armoured Vehicles – DND/CF Backgrounder – July 2009 TAPV – Future Land Combat Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle This Backgrounder details the LAV III upgrade. This will not be the expected LAV-H purchase. Instead, it will be a straightforward upgrade for some of the surviving LAV IIIs. The upgraded LAV III may incorporate features of the LAV-H prototype though. 
This Backgrounder covers the new TAPV 'family' of vehicles. Based on a common chassis, TAPV is still a
confusing category. Most available vehicles would seem either ill-suited to the reconnaissance role or too
cramped for the more numerous general utility role. All that is known for sure is that TAPV would replace both the
Coyotes and RG-31 APVs.Read CASR commentary on the planned TAPV recce/utility purchase |
|
LAV III Armoured Vehicles – DND/CF Backgrounder – July 2009 LAV 'Re-Set' – The Light Armoured Vehicle III Upgrade Project This Backgrounder details the LAV III upgrade. This will not be the expected LAV-H purchase. Instead, it will be a straightforward upgrade for some of the surviving LAV IIIs. The upgraded LAV III may incorporate features of the LAV-H prototype though. 
So what are those likely upgrade features going to look like? It is possible that weapons upgrades will make
a dramatic difference in appearance, with RWS-mounted weapon size determined by roles. Mission-adaptive compartments
may speed LAV III role changes.Read CASR commentary on the planned LAV III Upgrade Project |
|
MEUF – Leased Aircraft – MERX NPP / Contract Award –
June 2009 Ministerial Announcement of a "New" Multi-Engine Utility Flight 
This is a simple press release issued by 8 Wing, CFB Trenton to announce the existence of a new Multi-Engine
Utility Flight (MEUF). This MEUF has already formed and consists of two contractor- owned King Air B200
light transports.The name Multi-Engine Utility Flight works against the actual mission of these leased aircraft. No doubt, the occassional Air Force member will catch a ride from one base to another. Ditto for the odd spare part. The rest of the time, as the MND makes clear, the MEUF will be used to practice IFR flying without the expense of using the Air Force's actual fleet. Why weren't Canada's citizenry just told this in a straightforward manner ? Read CASR commentary on 8 Wing, CFB Trenton's MEUF News Release |
|
Small UAV for Afghanistan – Government News Release – April 2009 Small UAV System — 'Turnkey' Lease Contract and Background 
As expected the NPP/RFP for SUAV (Small UAV) services in Afghanistan has resulted in a lease of Boeing-Insitu
ScanEagles – the 'air vehicle' type already in theatre as interim SUAVs. Neither the
Government Backgrounder on the SUAV service contract or the News Release give details on the
ScanEagle system. The Insitu approach to UAV operation is highly creative. That is of no interest to
our Federal Ministers, however ...Read CASR commentary on SUAV, Government News Release and Background |
|
Coastal Patrol – Canadian Coast Guard – CCG Procurement – February 2009 The CCG's On-Again, Off-Again MSPV Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels 
The MSPV is back. To fit the budget, performance is down and companion Off-Shore Fisheries Research Vessels
nowhere to be found. Neither PWGSC press release nor NPP make any mention of the actual cost of MSPVs.
PWGSC does make much of IRBs while the NPP invokes a National Security Exception. Odd
emphases for ships that were to be made-in-Canada.Read CASR commentary on the MSPV and PWGSC press release and MSPV NPP |
|
Senior CF Promotions & Appointments – DND Press Release –
January 2009 Canadian Forces Senior Promotions and Appointments 
The release of DND press releases often seem timed to be out of sync with the news cycle, ie: when they
are least likely to be noticed. The technique is common enough when a government department has to dish out
contentious material. However, the Minister of National Defence announcing the promotions and
appointments for senior Canadian Forces officers at the same time as a Federal Budget verges on the
bizarre. Does the MND regard some or all of the appointments as being controversial? On the surface,
there doesn't appear to be anything alarming or embarassing. So why the peculiar timing of this press
release?Read CASR commentary on CF appointments and an MND / DND press release |
|
Canadian Forces Maritime Helicopter Project – News Release – December
2008 Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone — Delays and Contract Adjustments 
Canadian Press is reporting that CH-148 Cyclone which were to enter service in November 2008, are now
likely to arrive two years later. Negotiations with the major contractor, Sikorsky, are complete. The
Government of Canada has agreed to pay an additional $117M. The first new helicopter
will be delivered to Shearwater for familiarization and flight training. But the CF CH-148 Cyclone fleet
will not be fully operational until 2013.Read CASR commentary on Cyclone delays and a PWGSC/DND press release |
|
Canadian Forces Afghanistan – CH-146 Griffon – 21 December 2008 CH-146 Griffons Heading to Kandahar – DND/CF News Release 
The Department of National Defence has issued a brief statement announcing that the first two (at least)
CF CH-146 Griffon utility helicopters meant for Afghanistan will soon be on the way to
Kandahar. Griffons, from 438 THS ( Tactical Helicopter Squadron) St-Hubert, Quebec began arriving
at Montréal-Mirabel Airport on 13 Dec 2008. Upon arrival, Air Force Aviation Systems Technicians
began stripping main rotor blades.Read CASR commentary on CH-146 Griffon to Kandahar and DND press release |
|
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans – June/August 2008 Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans Report on the Canadian Coast Guard, Icebreakers, and Arctic Sovereignty 
In June 2008, the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans issued its Fourth Report on the current
state of the Canadian Coast Guard and its readiness to ensure Canada's Arctic sovereignty. This
interim report has been summarized in a news release (below). Recommendations include: affirming
the Northwest Passage as a Canadian internal waterway (with a stronger, year-round presence), develop a
strategic vision for the CCG – including recruit- ing Inuit, building new polar class
icebreakers, having a common standard for all vessels using Arctic waters, and completing needed harbour facilities
in Nunavut (seven port locations were identified).Read CASR commentary on Report, Senate news release, and PM Backgrounder |
|
Canada First Defence Strategy – Government/DND Document – 18 June 2008 News Release – CANADA FIRST DEFENCE STRATEGY Read html format (pdf original) Canada First Defence Strategy press release |
|
C-130J Hercules Purchase – Government News Release –
January 2008 C-130J Hercules Purchase: News Release/ACP-T Backgrounder 
On 16 January 2008, the Government of Canada announced an order for 17 C-130J Hercules
aircraft to satisfy the drawn-out Airlift Capability Project - Tactical project. Lockheed Martin
will receive about $1.44 Billion for this purchase of new 'J- model Hercules tactical
transport aircraft. It was later revealed that almost all benefits from the separate in-service support
contract would go to LM and its US-based suppliers.Read CASR commentary, GoC press releases, and PWGSC Backgrounder |
Advertise on CASR
|
|