A major maritime patrol requirement was slowly progressing through the Definition phase, potentially heading toward Implementation, and most insiders believed there was only one real contender to replace the 40-year-old Aurora aircraft. Could Canada's Bombardier muscle in on a major defence procurement without a working prototype? Why not? It's been tried before, but with decidedly limited success.
Nov 08
(TIM DUNNE)
In 2019, Bill C-77 received Royal Assent to remove detention from the list of punishments that can be awarded in the Canadian military, but the practice continues due in part to JAG delay, forcing the Canadian Forces Detention Barracks and Service Prison to continue to be staffed – at a cost to the Canadian taxpayer of $2.2 million each year.
Oct 13
(CBC)
Major-General Dany Fortin has reached an undisclosed settlement in his $6-million lawsuit against the government and the Chief of the Defence Staff over his abrupt dismissal from running the government’s coronavirus vaccination program in May 2021.Under investigation at the time for an alleged assault while a student in 1988, he was acquitted last December.
Sep 14
(ALAN WILLIAMS)
Former ADM (materiel), Alan Williams, takes a critical look at the Canadian Surface Combatant procurement from the taxpayer's perspective. Comparing costs and quotes on similar projects from other countries, he finds that Canadian taxpayers are paying 2-3 times more for the CSC ships under the project management of Irving Shipbuilding.
Dec 04
(Ken Pole)
Five U.S. defence companies continued to lead global sales of arms and military services last year but despite an overall dip from 2021, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute expects revenues to rebound in 2023 and beyond.
Nov 30
(Ken Pole)
The federal government confirmed today that it has arranged to procure at least 14 Boeing P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft through an arrangement with the U.S. government
Nov 30
(CP)
The federal government confirmed today that it plans to procure at least 14 Boeing P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft to replace its Lockheed CP140s through a government-to-government agreement with the U.S. The CP-140s are a 1950s design which entered service with the RCAF in 1982 and is now scheduled for retirement in 2030. The RCAF has consistently defended the Boeing platform as the only currently available option with delivery expected to start in 2026.
Nov 29
(Ken Pole)
The House of Commons defence committee has called on the government to pretty well overhaul military health services in their entirety, including a core recommendation that the Canadian Forces Health Services funding model be updated to address surging demand against a backdrop of flagging recruitment
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22 November 2023 –
A major maritime patrol requirement was slowly progressing through the Definition phase, potentially heading toward Implementation, and most insiders believed there was only one real contender to replace the 40-year-old Aurora aircraft. Could Canada's Bombardier muscle in on a major defence procurement without a working prototype? Why not? It's been tried before, but with decidedly limited success.
8 November 2023 –
In 2019, Bill C-77 received Royal Assent to remove detention from the list of punishments that can be awarded in the Canadian military, but the practice continues due in part to JAG delay, forcing the Canadian Forces Detention Barracks and Service Prison to continue to be staffed – at a cost to the Canadian taxpayer of $2.2 million each year.
18 June 2023 –
Politicians, scholars and commentators have sought to explain or justify the apparent delinquency in Canada’s defence effort over the years. It remains unclear whether or how much the promised new defence policy update will address the matter of NATO's 2% minimum defence spending commitment.
18 June 2023 –
Former head of defence procurement at Canada's Department of National Defence, made the following remarks at the Standing Committee of National Defence hearing on 16 June 2023. He says the capital costs of Canada’s new fighter jets and surface combatant ships will exceed $100 billion dollars over a 10-year period, and could effectively bankrupt the Canadian Armed Forces unless new monies are injected.
4 December 2023
(C4ISRNet)
NATO has wrapped up cybersecurity exercises in Estonia, welcoming Japan, South Korea and Ukraine to the proceedings as the alliance seeks like-minded governments to harden their collective virtual defences. Cyber Coalition 2023 focused on sharing threat intelligence and responding to attack scenarios on virtual national critical infrastructure as well as military targets and structures of military nature.
4 December 2023
(CNN)
The Russian military has been ordered by President Vladimir Putin increase its troop strength by 170,000, to 1.3 million, as his “special military operation” against Ukraine entered its 22nd month. The staged increase is being implemented through recruitment rather than conscription.
4 December 2023
(Defense News)
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius’ recent declaration that his country should prepare for the possibility of actual warfare evidently discomfited many citizens. His use of “kriegstüchtig,” an adjective which falls somewhere between becoming “war-capable” and “war-proficient” in his ministry’s policy, nomenclature, has been rejected as warmongering or evidence of the lack of a more pronounced defensive focus.
4 December 2023
(Fox)
The U.S. Air Force project to replace its four E-4B Nightwatch aircraft at a cost of at least $8 billion now has only bidder still in the running. Disagreements over data rights and contract terms mean Boeing is no longer being considered to replace its militarized 747-based “Doomsday” platforms, leaving it to a Sierra Nevada Corporation-Collins Aerospace partnership.
4 December 2023
(Politico)
The Defense Department is warning that U.S. industry is struggling to stay ahead of competitors such as China in the high technology arms race. “It does not possess the capacity, capability, responsiveness, or resilience required to satisfy the full range of military production needs at speed and scale,” the DoD says in the document dated November 27. “Just as significantly, the traditional defense contractors […] would be challenged to respond to modern conflict at the velocity, scale, and flexibility necessary to meet the dynamic requirements of a major modern conflict.”
4 December 2023
(Space News)
The Department of National Defense became the first NATO ally to gain access to the U.S. Space Force’s geosynchronous satellite-based mobile network developed for narrowband voice, video and data. The recently disclosed test in October used tactical radios from two locations in Ottawa to make point-to-point calls, transfer files, and access group chat services on the network.
1 December 2023
(Defense News)
NATO and EU member Estonia’s undersecretary for defence policy worries that some European states’ internal politics threaten commitments to supply Ukraine with more howitzer ammunition. “We are constantly pushing different nations to not give up because the timeline of deliveries is next March,” Tuuli Duneton says. “I wouldn’t say I am entirely pessimistic […] but lot remains to be done.”
1 December 2023
(EuroNews)
The week-log ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip has ended abruptly after the two sides exchange hostages and prisoners and permitted humanitarian aid to flow into besieged Gaza City. Israel resumed its devastating air and artillery strikes today and the Hamas-run health ministry said 178 persons were killed and dozens wounded.
1 December 2023
(Breaking Defense)
Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder has disclosed that her country plans to join France, Germany and Spain next July in developing a six-generation fighter through their Future Combat Air System project. Until then, Belgium will have observer status as of January.
1 December 2023
(Defense News)
Faced with cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and interference with government agencies, NATO plans to upgrade its 2021 artificial intelligence strategy to include generative AI to clarify what is expected from members’ industries, institutions and operational end-users. David van Wheel, the alliance’s assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges, says the review will begin in 2024.
