Military & Defence Industry News
Finland: Combat Systems Contractor
Three companies have been approved by the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command as candidates for the battle system of the Squadron 2020 project. Of the eight interested companies, Atlas Elektronik (Germany), Lockheed Martin Canada, and Saab (Sweden) are the only three approved to bid.
The Logistics Command evaluated the requests in cooperation with the Navy, the Defence Command and the Ministry of Defence and an external actor verified the independent nature and quality of the request procedure.
The following criteria were applied to select the companies: integration expertise, technical competence, project competence, commercial and legal requirements, life cycle expertise, industrial cooperation, quality and safety. The battle system to be delivered will consist of weapons, sensors, and command and control systems and their integration.
The selected companies will each receive an invitation to negotiate and a preliminary invitation to tender from the Logistics Command in early summer 2017. This will start a negotiation phase, and a procurement contract is expected to be signed in 2018.
4th FREMM delivered to French Navy
DCNS delivered the FREMM multi-mission frigate Auvergne to the French Navy on 11 April 2017. This is the fourth of the series ordered by OCCAR on behalf of the French armament procurement agency (DGA). Delivery of the newest multi-mission FREMM frigate, named Auvergne, is the result of a design and construction process managed by DCNS in close cooperation with the French Navy, DGA and OCCAR teams. The programme will deliver 10 vessels, 8 of which will go to the French Navy.
Chinese Ambassador to Canada
His Excellency Mr. Lu Shaye, the newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Canada arrived in Ottawa to assume office on 28 February 2017. The Ambassador and his wife, Mrs. Wang Liwen, were welcomed at the airport by Mr. Roy Norton, Canada’s Chief of Protocol. They were also greeted by Minister Wang Wentian and his wife Mrs. Gu Xiaojun, Minister Counselor Han Tao, and other diplomats from the Chinese Embassy.
H.E. Mr. Lu Shaye, Mrs. Wang Liwen, Mr. Roy Norton, and Mr. Han Tao).
In Memoriam
FrontLine staff were saddened to hear that long-time writer Tim Lynch passed away of a sudden heart attack while on holiday in Mexico. Chris MacLean, in particular, will miss those very lively “discussions,” RIP my friend.
LCol (ret) Jim Bryce lost a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on 27 Dec 2016. He represented Canada as an artillery officer, eventually becoming an instructor before his many staff appointments at NDHQ (including as Director Land Requirements). He remained active in retirement, and is missed by many.
