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Canadian American Strategic Review
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- Canadian Defence
Policy, Foreign Policy, & Canada-US Relations - |
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Editorials & Opinions
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Editorials &
Opinion ~ Archives
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Future Canadian Forces Armoured Vehicles –
Future Combat Systems – January 2010
Armoured Vehicle Modernization After FCS: Implications for Canada
The demise of the US Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program has opened opportunities
for more practical plans for armoured vehicle modernization.
The US Army has replaced
its formerly all-encompassing and over-reaching approach
with a suite of separate efforts to update, extend, and recapitalize
its fleet of both wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles.
The large sums of money being invested in even these more modest development efforts may be particularly useful
beyond the needs of just the US Army. In particular, upgrades to the 8x8 Stryker and development of so many
designs for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programs may be very
valuable to two vehicle projects for the Canadian Forces: LAV III modernization and the Tactical Armored Patrol
Vehicle (TAPV).
James Hasik reviews DND's Procurement Plans in light of US Acquisitions
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Afghan Mission – New US Troops –
2011 Pull-Out – NATO~ISAF – December 2009
Summer 2011 Pull-Out –
Downward Ramp – Not a Cliff :
Parliament Should Re-Think the CF Exit from Kandahar
Comments by a journalist on the performance of CF troops in the Arghandab Valley
On 13 December 2009, David
Pugliese provided a link to a
report on the battles for the
Arghandab River Valley (ARV)
to the northwest of Kandahar
City. The author makes some
rather unfortunate comments
about the Canadian Forces:
[CF] "made jabs at Arghandab
but did not get far. Some
people believe [that] the [CF]
have been militarily defeated
... No US officer has told me that
the [CF] have been defeated,
and none have denied it. "
This comment could be described as 'innuendo'. No pious follow-up
remarks about the number of CF casualties can erase the lack of respect reflected in
this ill-informed comment.
Editorial urging Parliament to consider the impact of withdrawal
on our troops
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Afghan Mission –
New US Troops – Stryker Brigade –
NATO~ISAF – November 2009
Stryker Brigade –
New US Troops under CF Command in
Kandahar – Canada can now stick with its Afghan Mission
The ' Kandahar Campaign ' will be an early, large-scale test of
General Stanley McChrystal's plan of refocusing allied military,
political, and economic efforts on population centers and away
from sparsely peopled rural areas. [ The plan is ] to mass troops
in the thousands (now scattered around the south) and pack
them into a tight cordon around the outskirts of Kandahar City.
Commanders in Afghanistan say that they will [ immediately ]
begin to secure the country's troubled south.
[ Forces ] will
especially target the volatile city of Kandahar – the Taliban's
main power base. [ By 01 December 2009 ] US officers expect
to order the fast-moving, armored Stryker Brigade to devote
itself full time to securing roads plagued by hidden explosives.
Edited excerpts from two related articles, this one from
the Wall Street Journal
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Combat Vehicle – Opinion Piece
– DND/CF Procurement & Industry – August 2009
'Once & Future Combat Systems' – New Blast-Resistant Hulls
Matched with the latest in Electronics, Weapons, and Sensors
Know what the US Army can actually get:
The US Army's
last combat vehicle initiative, the FCS ( Future Combat System ), was doomed once its effort
to develop an active protection system – a complex defensive suite designed
to shoot down incoming projectiles
– ran into technological roadblocks. Considering, then, what is possible, US Defense
Secretary, Robert Gates, is weighing options for moving up to US $75 B from current budget allocations
into new capabilities designed to deal with asymmetric threats and
irregular operations. On
the ground, this means mostly high-mobility, well-protected armored vehicles
carrying dismountable forces.
Edited excerpts from a report on key features of new combat vehicles
by James Hasik
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Canadian Aerospace – Opinion Piece
– Procurement & Industry – August 2009
A Nation among Nations: Aerospace is a Strategic Industry because it underlies the life or death
of your country as an autonomous state
Example: Guardian 400 could fulfill both the Northern patrol and utility transport
missions
The Guardian 400 is based on Viking Air's updated Series 400 Twin Otter. It continues that
type's outstanding heritage. Guardian 400 's expanded sensor options include radar, an EO turret and a
searchlight. Four (4) underwing hardpoints offer flexibility. A Guardian 400 can carry specialized cargo,
such as rescue packs or emergency food for relief in natural disasters.
Guardian 400 's internal fuel tanks can extend the operating time to 10 hours. Currently, 440
Squadron operates the CC-138, an earlier variant
of the Twin Otter. [1] The upgrading of squadron maintenance facilities and hangars, as well as
the training of 440 personnel will be much less onerous than if Canada purchased a completely new, unfamiliar,
and invariably foreign-built aircraft for this purpose.
Op-Ed: Present and Future Aerospace Procurement Opportunities by Steve Daly, CD
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Armoured Vehicles – CV90 IFV as CCV? –
DND Procurement – July 2009
CCV Dismounts: Does Size Matter or is it What's Inside that Counts?
Questioning the CV90 series - the Close Combat Vehicle for Afghanistan
CASR recently backed the suggestion – by Canadian Forces
personnel and others – that Canada should lease or borrow a trial batch of CV9040 vehicles for use in
Afghanistan. The CV9040Cs in question are up-armoured versions of a formidable family of infantry
fighting vehicles. Much smaller numbers of similar – but differently armed – CV9035s have been bought
for the Danish Army. One of the Danish vehicles was on display at CANSEC, representing partners BAE
Systems and DEW Engineering in DND's CCV competition.
Commentary from two Danish articles on the number
of CV90 dismounts
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Armoured Vehicles – Sweden's CV9040C IFV
– DND Procurement – July 2009
Let's Close in on 'Combat Vehicles' (CV90s) – Something
Similar to the Lease / Purchase of the CF Leopard Tanks
Patrolling Afghanistan, both Mobility and Survivability of
Land Vehicles are Crucial
The Swedish FMV (Defence Materiel Administration) currently has a surplus of earlier model CV90s. The CV9040 B model
forms the basis for the uparmoured & air-conditioned 'C model. Following the example of the Leopard tanks,
Canada could lease 20 Swedish CV9040Cs for immediate use in southern Afghanistan. As with the German
Leopards, Canada could then pay to replenish Swedish stocks ( totalling 58 CV9040Cs) with surplus CV9040Bs
upgraded to 'C model standards. Canada pays the bill & gains the capability, Sweden gets
the funds.
Editorial on the feasibility of leasing Swedish CV9040Cs for
the CF Afghan Mission
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Afghan Mission – New US Troops
– NATO / ISAF – May 2009
Arrival of New US Troops means
that the Afghan Mission can be redefined for Canadian Forces – Security for Civilians
New US troops are arriving at Kandahar Air Field to be deployed in Southern Afghanistan
Throughout the summer of 2009, US troops will be deploying to Kandahar Air Field (KAF)
in advance of an Afghan presi- dential election to be held
on 20 August. On 15 May, the
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade
( 82nd CAB ) took command
of air operations in southern Afghanistan. A more recent
arrival is the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade ( 2d MEB ),
currently training at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province.
In June 2009, the 2d MEB will begin its counter-insurgency
operations in the southern regions of Kandahar and Helmand
provinces. Then, during July and August, the US Army's
fast - moving 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team ( part of the 2nd Infantry Division) will begin operations in Kandahar –
focusing on those rural parts of Kandahar familiar to the CF.
Editorial on the implications of new US deployments for
the CF Afghan Mission
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Afghanistan Air Wing
– Tactical Helicopters – Counterinsurgency
– February 2009
Afghanistan Air Wing: New Air Assets could
make the Canadian
Forces Far More Effective in the Counterinsurgency in RC–South
CF ISR assets may prove useful considering
changes to the strategy of the US military
[ Now that Canada has an 'Air Wing'
stationed at Kandahar Air Field, perhaps we might consider how the CF
can be more effective at counterinsurgency in RC-South. Canada might also coordinate the activities of
our air and ground forces with those of the United States in the coming months.
If our Forces show some degree of success at containing the Taliban insurgents,
Parliament might debate whether the CF should stay in Kandahar – especially
if none of our NATO allies are willing to deploy combat troops
to Afghan border areas. ]
Commentary on excerpts from an article published
in the Small Wars Journal
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Defence Spending – Strategic Industries
– Domestic Production – January 2009
Canadian Sovereignty is Rooted in Canada's Manufacturing Sector
Defence Spending is one way to Support such Strategic Industries
Canadian Heavy-Duty Truck Builders are Leaving the Country or are Being Shut Down
No one would compare the Second World War
with the current CF involvement in
Afghanistan. But Canadian soldiers are fighting and dying over- seas.
So, where is our sense of urgency? For that
matter, where is our desire for self-sufficiency? We are told that Canadian industry can
no longer build military vehicles and we are asked to believe this at
face value. Producing a modern
tank or armoured fighting vehicle from scratch may be a stretch for our industry. But
simple, heavy-duty military trucks?
Editorial comments on recent government
decision to buy trucks built in Texas
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