CASR

Defence
Budget & 
Procurement
Practices 

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Notice  of
Proposed
Procurement
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CF-18 Armament – 1000 lb Practice Bombs and Fins – MERX NPP – March 2011 CF-18 Bombs — 1000 lb Mk 83 Practice Bombs and Mk 83 Mod 1 Fin Assemblies  –  MERX NPP [Notice of Proposed Procurement] During NATO's 1999 action against  Serbian military targets in Kosovo,  Canadian CF-18s dropped nearly 200 tons of bombs. In the 12 year since,  no CF-18 has deployed overseas for a combat mission let alone drop bombs 'in anger '.  So why is DND ordering 300 practice bombs and 1000 sets of fins to go with them? Well, practice does make perfect they say.[1] Staying Practised at Practising - 1000 lb Mk 83 Bombs (and Fins) for the Air Force The 300 practice bombs in question are inert LDGP Mk 83 (Low Drag General Purpose, Mark 83) 1,000 pounders.  These casings are identical to 'live'  LDGP Mk 83 bombs but with concrete substituting for exposive. The practice bomb can be fitted with the same fuses, fins, etc., as any Mk 83 and  have a smoke charge to reveal the point of  impact. Assuming that the NPPs for bomb bodies and fins go together, these two orders aren't for the 'Guided Bomb Units' dropped on Kosovo and Serbia – although GBU guidance can be readily attached to the casings. Rather, these are conventional 'dumb' bombs – no in-flight guidance,  no braking action.  This is revealed by the fin type – here called a MK 83-1 bomb fin assembly but more usually referred to as a  Mk 83 Mod 1 or  CFA83 ( Conical Fin Assembly, Mk 83 ),  the whole being a 'slick'. In the name of  readiness, these practice Mk 83s will continue making divots at the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.  CF-18 pilots maintain skills to meet all eventualities,  however improbable. But deploying  CF-18s 'bomb trucks' was too pricey for our only shooting war since Korea. Ordering Mk 83s ensures that fighter jocks won't get out of  bombing practice waiting for F-35s. [1] That all changes, of course, if six CF-18s do deploy to participate in a Libyan no-fly zone patrol. However, with Gadhafi's troops already approaching Benghazi, waiting for the backing of  the UN Security Council may seem less prudent than just one day ago. The NPP for bomb fin assemblies follows the NPP for Mk 83 bombs reproduced below: ________________________________________ BOMB, 1,000 POUND, INERT [Mk 83 Practice Bomb] – MERX NPP Notice [Notice of Proposed Procurement] ________________________________________ Reference Numbers              PW-$$BK-369-21133 Solicitation Numbers           W8484-10WA29/A Organization Name               Public Works and Government Services Canada                                                  Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada Source ID                               FD.DP.QC.10077.C2 Associated Components     Yes Dates Published     2011-03-07 Revised        — Closing         2011-04-13  02:00 PM  Eastern Standard Time  EST Details Category     Armament GSINS   N1325: BOMBS Region of Delivery            Saskatchewan Region of Opportunity     — Agreement Type                NONE Tender Type                       Notice of  Proposed Procurement (NPP) Estimated Value                  — Solicitation Method           — Notice Description BOMB, 1,000 POUND, INERT [...] The Department of National Defence has a requirement to procure the below item to be delivered to the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot in Dundurn, Saskatchewan. Delivery is requested by 21 Jun 2011 Line1 GSIN: N1325 NSN:1325001281066 BOMB, GENERAL PURPOSE, 1000 POUNDS, INERT,, FILLER CONCRETE, MK 83 MOD 4. DOD AMMUNITION CODE:1325-E511 FOR DELIVERY IN FY 11/12, Quantity:300 Unit of Issue:Each Delivery Dates:See Herein Part Number:4902210-3 NSCM:30003 P/N: 147206-1 NCAGE: 94271 ________________________________________ FIN, ASSEMBLY, BOMB [aka Conical Fin Assembly] – MERX NPP Notice [Notice of Proposed Procurement] ________________________________________ Reference Numbers              PW-$$BK-370-21169 Solicitation Numbers           W8484-10WA30/A Organization Name               Public Works and Government Services Canada                                                  Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada Source ID                               FD.DP.QC.10077.C2 Associated Components     Yes Dates Published     2011-03-15 Revised        — Closing         2011-04-04  02:00 PM  Eastern Daylight Saving Time  EDT Details Category     Armament GSINS   N1325: BOMBS Region of Delivery            Saskatchewan Region of Opportunity     — Agreement Type                Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tender Type                       Notice of  Proposed Procurement (NPP) Estimated Value                  — Solicitation Method           — Notice Description FIN, ASSEMBLY, BOMB [...] FIN, ASSEMBLY, BOMB, MK 83-1, 12 PER ADU-425/E PER 6214434. DOD AMMUNITION CODE: 1325-EA96 USED ON 1000 POUND, LOW DRAG, GENERAL PURPOSE BOMB, MK83 MOD 4 P/N 923AS400 NCAGE: 30003 GSIN: 1325 NSN: 1325-01-458-5888 Quantity: 1000 Unit of Issue: Each,  [...]