TABLE OF CONTENTS

FRONTLINE DEFENCE 2015: ISSUE 3

Canadian, American and British Army soldiers sharpen their skills in a realistic, complex, and challenging operating environment during Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE. This year’s training, which ran from April 20 to May 23, is the largest and most complex effort to date. The various exercises are designed to test and validate the readiness of participating units to deploy to anywhere in the world.

There is a nagging perception that the terrorists have won – in a fiscal sense at least.

The $35B National Ship Procurement Strategy (NSPS) was first announced in June 2010 following several failed high profile procurement projects – notably the Joint Support Ship (JSS) in 2008, and perceived challenges in delivering a successful Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) project. Initiated with great optimism, FrontLine looks at its progression so far.

The case of the Airbus A400M. The tragic crash of an A400M during test flight, reminds us of how risky the introduction of new systems can be. An April tour of the Airbus facilities in Spain helps put risk and the drive to perfect into perspective.

A look at how defence procurement activity will (not) progress through Fiscal Year 2015.

It has been ‘learn as you go’ for the U.S. Army and National Guard with the very versatile Airbus UH-72A Lakota. In March of this year, the first trainer-configured UH-72A helicopter for the U.S. Army rolled off the production line at Airbus Helicopters’ assembly plant in Columbus, Mississippi.

Russia plans to focus on implementing the existing State Armaments Program for the period of 2011-2020, which was approved in 2011. The State Armaments Program involves massive purchases of combat equipment.

Three recent events should have been responded to with greater vigor; communicating in a frank and timely manner is the only way to maintain the trust of the Canadian public.