CASR
Canadian American
Strategic Review

A  Modest  Proposal   ~  Archive Index December 2008  –  Economic Stimulation  – Armoured Vehicles – LAV III/LAV-H LAVs  – Domestic Defence Production as Economic Stimulation Steve Daly explores the use of  Defence capital expenditures as an economic stimulus. LAV III resets and production of LAV-H could directly stimulate Canada's manufacturing sector  with defence procurement providing jobs – not just for the major contractors but, through components, for suppliers and small businesses. Article :  Armour for the Economy  –  LAVs as Stimulation and Job Creation 20 November 2008  –  Search and Rescue Aircraft  – Canadian Arctic Sovereignty FWSAR & Arctic Utility/Tactical Transport — An Interim Solution Fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft are once again a Conservative government priority. The alternative to this $2.8B program is, in part, contractor-operated SAR services (following the example of many of our allies). Peter Marshall suggests an interim approach to test contracted SAR while upgrading CC-138s and making better use of the Buffalo. Article :  An Interim Solution to the Need for FWSAR and Arctic Transport Aircraft 26 July 2008 –  Aerial Surveillance/Counter IEDs – Canada in Afghanistan 'CF-156B' – a CF AT-6B for Counter-IED, COIN, and Other Roles To mimic the US Army  TF ODIN counter-IED team, the CF needs both dedicated  sensor platforms (the King Air, below ) and  an 'armed response' aircraft. The ideal candidate  for a  counterinsurgency strike aircraft is Beechcraft's AT-6B. It has the endurance to be an armed companion to the King Air,  is fast enough to escort Chinook transport helicopters, and  is really an armed version of  the CT-156 trainers already in CF service. Article :  Beechcraft AT-6B  for Counter-IED, COIN,  and  Helicopter Escort roles? Also see: Steve Daly's rationale and a discussion of other potential CF AT-6B roles 01 July 2008 –  Aerial Surveillance/Counter IEDs – Canada in Afghanistan King Airs & Sensors – is TF ODIN  a model  for CF Battlefield ISR? The US Army's  Task Force ODIN  matches sensor- carrying manned aircraft with UAVs and helicopters to detect and strike insurgent IED emplacing teams. The techniques have worked well in Iraq and will be tried in Afghanistan. Can we afford to ignore the US lead when IEDs are the largest source of  Canadian Forces  casualties  in Afghanistan? Article :  US Army's Task Force ODIN – a model for Battlefield ISR in Afghanistan? 22 Nov/22 Oct 2007 –  Northern Patrols – Asserting Canadian Arctic Sovereignty Challenger MMA: A Civilian Solution to Arctic Sovereignty Patrol The Air Force has now cancelled  its 2007  Northern Patrols and forecasts of an Arctic free of summer ice moved to 2010-15. Alternative civilian Arctic patrols are now essential.  Transport Canada is  responsible for the National Aerial Surveillance Program and TC owns the government fleet of Challengers, including the CF CC-144s, and arranges for maintenance. Arctic sovereignty patrols should be added to TC's NASP mandate now. Article :  A Civilian Solution to Arctic Patrol – Transport Canada NASP Challenger 22 October 2007  –  Northern Patrols  –  Asserting Canadian Arctic Sovereignty Challenger MMA:  An Interim Solution for Canadian Arctic Patrol Only a handful of  Northern Patrols are managed  by the Air Force's over-taxed and aging CP-140 Aurora fleet. Arctic sovereignty patrols are too important to be ignored and the current frequency is inadequate. An interim solution is needed.  There is one aircraft that can operate from Arctic runways, has faster transit times, and better serviceability. Article :  An Interim Solution for Canadian Arctic Patrol  —  'CP-144' Challenger 19 Sept 2007  –  Search and Rescue Aircraft  –  FWSAR  –  Air Force Procurement SAR Aircraft:  Rethinking  Canadian  Aerial  Search and Rescue The Air Force was quick to adopt 'Alternative Service Delivery' contractors for non-combat roles like basic and intermediate air- crew training. So, why is the AF so resistant to the global trend towards privatized aerial search and rescue? Misplaced prestige is one answer, a fixation on the muddled FWSAR project is another. Here's an option. Article :  SAR Aircraft:  Rethinking  Canadian  Aerial  Search and Rescue 11 Sept 2007  –  Arctic Utility Aircraft – Canadian Rangers – Arctic Sovereignty Arctic Utility Aircraft  –  Twin Otters  for the Canadian Rangers ? It's tough recruiting Air Force reservists in the North. And 440 Sqn, with its fleet of  four aging aircraft,  can't carry the burden of  supporting the growing numbers of  Regulars and Canadian Rangers in the Arctic. Leased civilian aircraft make a good stop- gap. But why not recruit experienced Northern bush pilots with the same, simple approach we use to recruit Canadian Rangers? Article :  Twin Otters  –  Arctic Utility  and  Utility in the Arctic Update May – Vehicle Adaptation – Recce/Surveillance – Canada in Afghanistan 'LAV  Surv'  —  An  Interim  Solution  for  the  LARV  Project Light Armoured  Recce   or   Surveillance  for  Afghanistan? The Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle  Project, or LARV, is unfunded and couldn't  field new vehicles until  2011. Could existing types be adapted to Afghan conditions?  If so, do Canadian Forces in-theatre need reconnaissance vehicles or a mini-Coyote surveillance vehicle – a description often applied to LARV anyway Updated 13 May 2007 to include FPI Cougar and existing sensor-mast fit on the RG-31. Article :  'LAV Surv'  —  An Interim  Surveillance  Solution  for the LARV  Project 22 March 2007  –  Vehicle Adaptation  –  Fire Support  –  Canada in Afghanistan Musing on Mobile Mortars  or  Alternatives For Surplus LAV TUA: Are Turret Mortars from TUA  a Quick Solution  for  Fire Support? Converting the surplus LAV TUA hulls into 'Bison 2' Infantry Section Carriers has been considered.  Good idea ... but  non-standard LAV hulls suggest other possibilites. There is a compact, lightweight turret for a breech- loading 120mm mortar that may fit our need. Direct fire support in Afghanistan has been addressed by the Leopard tanks. There is room for a wheeled vehicle with heavier fire support potential than a standard  LAV III. Mounting  NEMO 120mm mortar turrets on surplus LAV TUA hulls would  be a simple conversion. The resulting vehicles could provide both direct- and indirect-fire support. Article :  LAV Alternative  — Turret Mortar from TUA? ModProp ~ Previous Articles   2010-2009   2006-2004