CASR
Canadian American
Strategic Review

A  Modest  Proposal   ~  Archive Index Canadian Navy  –  JSS Alternative  –  Mod Prop  –  Oct 2010 (updated Mar 2011) Bay Class: Used-Ship Buying, a Simple Alternative to DND's JSS One of  several, major British vessels to be discarded will be a member of the Bay class Landing Ship Dock Auxiliary or LSD(A) described by the British MoD as "... a  commercial  exploitation of  the  Royal Schelde's [ now Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding] Enforcer." From that original Enforcer concept sprang two other amphibious warfare classes significant  to Canadians: the joint Dutch / Spanish  LSD IIs and  the upcoming Dutch Joint Support Ship (aka JSS or JLOS ) concept. Article :  British Bay Class: Brisk Movement Required When Opportunity Knocks Canadian Sovereignty – Offshore Patrol Vessles – ModProp – June 2010 NSPS an Opportunity to Shift Priorities to Sovereignty Assertion The Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) PMO wants to spend $3.1 B  for  6-to-8 6000-t limited duty military icebreakers. As a Class 5  icebreaker,  AOPS' Arctic duties will be limited to summer and  the beginning and the end of  ice season in the Northwest Passage. Off-season, the AOPS act as offshore patrol vessels on Canada's southern coasts. Compromised by incompatible responsibilities, the AOPS is severely handicapped in its ability to perform sovereignty patrols on any of our coasts Article :  Pregnant Pause? Trade OPVs for AOPS to increase Sovereignty Patrols May 2010  –  Canadian Aviation – Electronic Warfare Training Aircraft Renewed Aerial EW Training Capability for the Canadian Forces? DND contracts out its airborne electronic warfare training. Not long ago, all CF EW training was done 'in-house'.  Steve Daly argues that the lost capability should be reclaimed by DND along with other roles. Article :  Challenger CL-604 MMA as the basis for a 'next-generation' EW CE-144 March 2010  –  Canadian Armoured Vehicle Projects  –  Close Combat Vehicle OshKosh B'gosh  –  Upgraded RG-31 APV as Interim TAPV APC? Like CCV,  DND's  TAPV Project  was off  last week  but  back on today – at least according to ADM Mat, Dan Ross. A reader suggests a simple way to jump-start this flagging project and field interim TAPV-APC in Kandahar. By applying  USMC suspension upgrades to CF RG-31 APVs,  mobility is improved at modest cost. Applying existing armour from other RG-31 types may also improve survivability . Article :  Use 'em if you've got 'em: TAK-4 suspensions for existing CF RG-31 APVs March 2010  –  Canadian Armoured Vehicle Projects  –  Close Combat Vehicle Does 'Interim' become Future? –  What to do with CV9040 hulls With the CCV stalled and budgets tightened, an  interim  approach  appears  to be the only way forward. Past experience has made DND wary of  'interim' solutions. But trepidation is not really what  Canadians are looking  for in military planners. Vehicle purchases need not be 'safe' or comprehensive. Interim CCVs can be adapted or sold. Timely vehicle disposal is where we need steely resolve from DND. Article :  Disposal or Adaptation:  Future Options for CV9040B Interim CCV hulls March 2010  –  Canadian Armoured Vehicle Projects  –  Close Combat Vehicle Once more unto the breach –  Interim  Close Combat Vehicles? DND's CCV project is stalled and a budget is looming. It's make-or-break time for the Close Combat Vehicle. All along, DND's problem is pitching a new vehicle to be bought after the Afghan deployment. But CCVs are needed in the coming  Allied push against  the Taliban in Kandahar. Only a simple, interim solution can field vehicles by the winter of  2010-11. Article :  Converting surplus Swedish CV9040B IFVs into Canadian Interim CCVs? August 2009  –  Canadian Armoured Vehicle Projects  –  HIAV PzH 2000  –  A Way to Get to Heavy Infantry Assault Vehicles? Going by their  Tank Replacement Project, DND sees  Canadian  industry  as  lacking the skills  to upgrade tanks.  Unlikely then that a 'domestic'  HIAV conversion would occur. That leaves the Chief of Land Staff a vehicle type short and facing a tough sales job. A more creative approach is required if the CF is be procure the tiny numbers of  highly complicated adaptations they desire. Article :  Converting surplus PzH 2000 self-propelled guns as Canadian HIAVs? July 2009  –  Canadian Security  –  2010 Winter Olympics Security Filling a 'Low & Slow' Gap in Top Cover for the Winter Olympics? Peter Marshall suggested a model  for airborne security for the Winter Olympics – emulate the armed T-6As for the 2006 Athens Games. That approach could  have been copied with similar armed CT-156s but DND stuck with its CF-18s. April 2009  –  Economic Stimulation  – Armoured Vehicles – CCV Project Close Combat Vehicle Project – Make do and Mend mit Marder ? The CCV Project  was put before Cabinet just as the Canadian economy tanked. DND's timing on CCV couldn't  have been worse. So, what to do? The dark horse of CCV was refurbished Marder IFVs from Germany.  In this case,  the affordable option can be matched with Canadian economic stimulation.  Smaller automotive sector shops all need work.  Can DND do the training? Update: Rheinmetall won't submit Marder (or IFV/CCV). This article has been deleted. Modest Proposal ~ 2008 Articles   2006-to-2004 Articles