Title: Her Majesty's Canadian Forces
Description: News, infos and updates
Description: News, infos and updates
saver111 - July 7, 2005 08:35 AM (GMT)
Canadian army to privatize some weapons training
Last Updated Wed, 06 Jul 2005 10:17:12 EDT
CBC News
Federal opposition parties are criticizing plans by the Canadian Forces to hire private contractors to train new soldiers to use weapons.
The army is looking for outside help to teach soldiers, drivers and maintenance crews at its Combat Training Centre (CTC) in Gagetown, N.B., as it begins to boost its numbers by 5,000 regular troops and 3,000 reservists.
The successful applicants will have experience in heavy equipment and weapons. Among other things, they will train recruits how to fire the cannon on the army's LAV-III armoured vehicle.
Until now, the army has handled such combat training in-house.
"This will be fairly new ground for us," said Lt.-Col. Steve Strachan, chief of staff at the Gagetown CTC.
He expects the winning contractors to be people who have left or are thinking of leaving the Armed Forces.
"We are anticipating a little risk that some of the people we have on staff now may opt to take their retirement and take some of these positions," Strachan acknowledged.
Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer of the New Democratic Party blames a trend that has seen the military privatize areas such as pilot training and medical services.
"They should have the people on board and in-step in order to do it in-house," he said.
"The minute you start giving it over to companies, when does it stop? What's next?"
The Conservative Party doesn't necessarily oppose privatization of government services.
However, defence critic Gordon O'Connor said the army is being forced into this latest move because military budgets have been cut so often and so drastically over the years.
Last Updated Wed, 06 Jul 2005 10:17:12 EDT
CBC News
Federal opposition parties are criticizing plans by the Canadian Forces to hire private contractors to train new soldiers to use weapons.
The army is looking for outside help to teach soldiers, drivers and maintenance crews at its Combat Training Centre (CTC) in Gagetown, N.B., as it begins to boost its numbers by 5,000 regular troops and 3,000 reservists.
The successful applicants will have experience in heavy equipment and weapons. Among other things, they will train recruits how to fire the cannon on the army's LAV-III armoured vehicle.
Until now, the army has handled such combat training in-house.
"This will be fairly new ground for us," said Lt.-Col. Steve Strachan, chief of staff at the Gagetown CTC.
He expects the winning contractors to be people who have left or are thinking of leaving the Armed Forces.
"We are anticipating a little risk that some of the people we have on staff now may opt to take their retirement and take some of these positions," Strachan acknowledged.
Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer of the New Democratic Party blames a trend that has seen the military privatize areas such as pilot training and medical services.
"They should have the people on board and in-step in order to do it in-house," he said.
"The minute you start giving it over to companies, when does it stop? What's next?"
The Conservative Party doesn't necessarily oppose privatization of government services.
However, defence critic Gordon O'Connor said the army is being forced into this latest move because military budgets have been cut so often and so drastically over the years.
Rapidfire - October 29, 2005 10:51 AM (GMT)
Superb performance by the canuck hotshots in Afghanistan :thumb:
2 RCR Sniper Teams unbeatable
They take top 3 spots in Afghan Competition
By Captain Greg Poehlmann, Public Affairs Officer, Task Force Kabul
Three Canadian sniper teams from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment have taken top honours at an international sniper event in Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, October 12th 2005, seven Canadian snipers from Task Force Kabul (TFK) took part in a multi-national sniper concentration and competition. The event was hosted by the German sniper section from the German Battle Group (GE BG) and was held at the ranges outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. It was designed to be an opportunity for snipers from around the world, working in the area of Kabul, to get together to compare equipment and share ideas. A total of 18 teams from six different countries that included the US, UK, Belgium, Portugal, Germany and Canada took part. A small competition was added for training and fun.
The competition consisted of three events. The first was an observation exercise. Twelve military objects were hidden and partially camouflaged. Snipers were given ten minutes to draw a panoramic sketch of the area and then 80 minutes to observe the area. They then plotted the items found on their sketch. Two of the Canadian teams were the only ones to find all twelve items and receive full points.
The next event was a stress/unknown distance shoot. Snipers were placed in the back of a German truck with the tarp closed. On signal, the staff would start the clock and start yelling at the sniper team. The team had to sprint 200 meters to a firing line. They were then given a target and had to calculate distance without using laser range finding equipment. The sniper teams were given five rounds to engage the 30-centimetre target. The whole event was timed for score and penalties were given for missed shots. Again, two of the Canadian sniper teams were the only two to successfully engage the target with their first round!
The last event was a pistol match. Three German pistols were placed on a table. Snipers chose a pistol and were given five round to see where it hit. They were then given ten seconds to successfully engage five targets with ten rounds. The targets had various score patches on them. All five targets had to be hit at least once for the score to count. Our snipers all performed well at this stand.
After the competition was over, snipers were given the opportunity to mix and mingle. Snipers fired each other’s weapons and compared notes on how the business was being carried out in Afghanistan. Of particular interest was our MacMillan TAC 50 calibre sniper rifle.
The day wrapped up with a meal and awards ceremony back at the German base in Camp Warehouse. The three Canadian sniper teams placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall. The entire day was a fun filled experience and extremely well run. It afforded everyone an opportunity to learn and compare sniper related experiences.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/home_e.asp
2 RCR Sniper Teams unbeatable
They take top 3 spots in Afghan Competition
By Captain Greg Poehlmann, Public Affairs Officer, Task Force Kabul
Three Canadian sniper teams from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment have taken top honours at an international sniper event in Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, October 12th 2005, seven Canadian snipers from Task Force Kabul (TFK) took part in a multi-national sniper concentration and competition. The event was hosted by the German sniper section from the German Battle Group (GE BG) and was held at the ranges outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. It was designed to be an opportunity for snipers from around the world, working in the area of Kabul, to get together to compare equipment and share ideas. A total of 18 teams from six different countries that included the US, UK, Belgium, Portugal, Germany and Canada took part. A small competition was added for training and fun.
The competition consisted of three events. The first was an observation exercise. Twelve military objects were hidden and partially camouflaged. Snipers were given ten minutes to draw a panoramic sketch of the area and then 80 minutes to observe the area. They then plotted the items found on their sketch. Two of the Canadian teams were the only ones to find all twelve items and receive full points.
The next event was a stress/unknown distance shoot. Snipers were placed in the back of a German truck with the tarp closed. On signal, the staff would start the clock and start yelling at the sniper team. The team had to sprint 200 meters to a firing line. They were then given a target and had to calculate distance without using laser range finding equipment. The sniper teams were given five rounds to engage the 30-centimetre target. The whole event was timed for score and penalties were given for missed shots. Again, two of the Canadian sniper teams were the only two to successfully engage the target with their first round!
The last event was a pistol match. Three German pistols were placed on a table. Snipers chose a pistol and were given five round to see where it hit. They were then given ten seconds to successfully engage five targets with ten rounds. The targets had various score patches on them. All five targets had to be hit at least once for the score to count. Our snipers all performed well at this stand.
After the competition was over, snipers were given the opportunity to mix and mingle. Snipers fired each other’s weapons and compared notes on how the business was being carried out in Afghanistan. Of particular interest was our MacMillan TAC 50 calibre sniper rifle.
The day wrapped up with a meal and awards ceremony back at the German base in Camp Warehouse. The three Canadian sniper teams placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall. The entire day was a fun filled experience and extremely well run. It afforded everyone an opportunity to learn and compare sniper related experiences.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/home_e.asp
aldon - June 27, 2006 01:47 AM (GMT)
Canada to buy three new warships
From correspondents in Ottawa
27jun06
CANADA'S defence minister Gordon O'Connor announced plans Monday to buy three new warships, the first in a series of military expenditures expected to top $15 billion ($18.2 billion).
The three military supply ships will help "Canadian forces to fulfil their domestic maritime security priorities and to support Canada's foreign policy objectives," O'Connor said.
"It is an important step in implementing the government's Canada first defence strategy ... at home and on the world stage," he said.
On Tuesday, O'Connor is expected to announce the purchase of military trucks for 1.1 billion dollars (1 billion US), according to local media reports.
He was also due to announce the procurement of 15 helicopters for 4.2 billion dollars (3.7 billion US) likely from US-based Boeing, and several strategic lift aircraft for 4.6 billion dollars (4.1 billion US) to replace its aging Hercules aircraft.
Irving Shipbuilding, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG, BAE Systems Ltd. and SNC Lavalin ProFac Inc. have expressed interest in building the 28,000-tonne navy ships, which will replace two 35-year-old support ships.
The new vessels will be capable of refuelling and re-supplying other ships at sea and transporting equipment to war zones, O'Connor said.
As well, the vessels may provide support for ship borne helicopters and for troops ashore, functioning as a "joint task force headquarters," he told reporters.
Their aircraft maintenance hangars may also be reconfigured into military hospitals, he said.
The first vessel is expected to set sail in 2012.
Source: The Advertiser
From correspondents in Ottawa
27jun06
CANADA'S defence minister Gordon O'Connor announced plans Monday to buy three new warships, the first in a series of military expenditures expected to top $15 billion ($18.2 billion).
The three military supply ships will help "Canadian forces to fulfil their domestic maritime security priorities and to support Canada's foreign policy objectives," O'Connor said.
"It is an important step in implementing the government's Canada first defence strategy ... at home and on the world stage," he said.
On Tuesday, O'Connor is expected to announce the purchase of military trucks for 1.1 billion dollars (1 billion US), according to local media reports.
He was also due to announce the procurement of 15 helicopters for 4.2 billion dollars (3.7 billion US) likely from US-based Boeing, and several strategic lift aircraft for 4.6 billion dollars (4.1 billion US) to replace its aging Hercules aircraft.
Irving Shipbuilding, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG, BAE Systems Ltd. and SNC Lavalin ProFac Inc. have expressed interest in building the 28,000-tonne navy ships, which will replace two 35-year-old support ships.
The new vessels will be capable of refuelling and re-supplying other ships at sea and transporting equipment to war zones, O'Connor said.
As well, the vessels may provide support for ship borne helicopters and for troops ashore, functioning as a "joint task force headquarters," he told reporters.
Their aircraft maintenance hangars may also be reconfigured into military hospitals, he said.
The first vessel is expected to set sail in 2012.
Source: The Advertiser
israeli - June 12, 2007 05:22 PM (GMT)
after the Australians replaced their Leopard 1s with M1 Abramses, the Canadians are now replacing their Leopard 1s with Leopard 2s.
hmmmm... surplus Leopard 1s for the Philippine Army, anyone? :drunk:
Canada Acquires 120 Leopard 2 Tanks from German, Dutch Surplus
defense-update.com
April 16, 2007
The Canadian Army is acquiring 100 Leopard II tanks, to be delivered from Dutch and Dutch army surplus. The purchase is a change of direction for the army and in particular for Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, who only a few years ago described the Leopard tanks as "millstone around the neck" of the Canadian forces. The Canadians realized the importance of main battle tanks in recent months, as tanks were rushed in to Afghanistan to support the Canadian contingent stationed at Kandahar. As the new tanks are inducted by the Army, the Leopard 1C2 tanks currently deployed in Afghanistan are expected to be retired from service.
Yet, the intensity of recent conflicts, in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon reestablished the validity of the tank as a highly protected, powerful and effective operational asset, which, at certain high threat scenarios, cannot be matched by more lightly armored wheeled vehicles. When employed in the proper manner, heavily protected tanks can survive most types of anti-armor and anti-material improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including shaped charge IEDs and landmines. They also offer unique capabilities of cross country mobility and counter-obstacle capability that cannot be matched by lighter armored vehicles. The Leopard 2 tanks will provide better protection against IEDs and landmines, compared to the currently deployed Leopard 1C2.
Seeking a solution to renovate its heavy armor, Canada considered several options. The most obvious was to upgrade and refurbish the existing Leopard 1C2 tanks. However, this option was ruled out as the maintenance of these 30 year old behemoths has become too expensive and their future is doomed anyhow – by 2012 – 2015 the Leopard 1 is expected to become obsolete by western standards.
Procurement of new production tanks was also considered, but due to the limited production capacities maintained by western producers, such tanks could be guaranteed only in several years time. Furthermore, the cost of surplus equipment is significantly lower than that of brand new equipment. For comparison, Australia recently bought 66 M-1A1/M88 tanks and support equipment (trucks, transporters and trainers) for A$500 (US$416 million.) Canada acquired 100 surplus Leopard 2 A5 and A6 tanks from the Netherlands at a cost of C$650 million ($574 million). Further 20 combat-ready Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks are to be 'borrowed' from Germany, to replace currently deployed Leopard 1C2 tanks before the summer.
These Leos proved to be inadequate for the Afghan summer, as the temperature inside the fighting compartment rose to intolerable levels, due to lack of efficient air conditioning, and excessive heat generated by the hydraulic turret control and engine. The German tanks are fitted with electric turret drive, and will be fitted with air conditioning equipment once they arrive at Kandahar. These tanks are also fitted with an improved main gun and ammunition, designed to operate in extreme climatic conditions. Prior to deployment to Afghanistan, the tanks will be fitted with belly plates and blast-resistant seats to improve protection for the crew. Surplus Leopard 2 tanks, particularly German Leopard 2A4s have been acquired by a number of nations in recent years, and successfully inducted into several armies including Poland, Singapore, Turkey and Greece.
Once all new Leopard 2s are operational, the Canadian Army plans to maintain two combat-ready squadrons of Dutch surplus Leopard 2A6/NL, equipped with about 20 tanks each, rotating through operational duties and depot maintenance, repairs and overhaul. Two training squadrons fielding Dutch surplus Leopard 2A4s will be used for training in Canada. The remaining 20 tanks will be utilized as combat support platforms, including Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV), Armored Bridge-Laying Vehicles and Armored Combat Engineering Vehicles (tanks fitted with dozer blades, mine ploughs, excavator etc.) Once the tanks arrive in Canada, the Army will seek commercial service providers for long-term support of the fleet, including upgrade and repairs.
hmmmm... surplus Leopard 1s for the Philippine Army, anyone? :drunk:
Canada Acquires 120 Leopard 2 Tanks from German, Dutch Surplus
defense-update.com
April 16, 2007
The Canadian Army is acquiring 100 Leopard II tanks, to be delivered from Dutch and Dutch army surplus. The purchase is a change of direction for the army and in particular for Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, who only a few years ago described the Leopard tanks as "millstone around the neck" of the Canadian forces. The Canadians realized the importance of main battle tanks in recent months, as tanks were rushed in to Afghanistan to support the Canadian contingent stationed at Kandahar. As the new tanks are inducted by the Army, the Leopard 1C2 tanks currently deployed in Afghanistan are expected to be retired from service.
Yet, the intensity of recent conflicts, in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon reestablished the validity of the tank as a highly protected, powerful and effective operational asset, which, at certain high threat scenarios, cannot be matched by more lightly armored wheeled vehicles. When employed in the proper manner, heavily protected tanks can survive most types of anti-armor and anti-material improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including shaped charge IEDs and landmines. They also offer unique capabilities of cross country mobility and counter-obstacle capability that cannot be matched by lighter armored vehicles. The Leopard 2 tanks will provide better protection against IEDs and landmines, compared to the currently deployed Leopard 1C2.
Seeking a solution to renovate its heavy armor, Canada considered several options. The most obvious was to upgrade and refurbish the existing Leopard 1C2 tanks. However, this option was ruled out as the maintenance of these 30 year old behemoths has become too expensive and their future is doomed anyhow – by 2012 – 2015 the Leopard 1 is expected to become obsolete by western standards.
Procurement of new production tanks was also considered, but due to the limited production capacities maintained by western producers, such tanks could be guaranteed only in several years time. Furthermore, the cost of surplus equipment is significantly lower than that of brand new equipment. For comparison, Australia recently bought 66 M-1A1/M88 tanks and support equipment (trucks, transporters and trainers) for A$500 (US$416 million.) Canada acquired 100 surplus Leopard 2 A5 and A6 tanks from the Netherlands at a cost of C$650 million ($574 million). Further 20 combat-ready Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks are to be 'borrowed' from Germany, to replace currently deployed Leopard 1C2 tanks before the summer.
These Leos proved to be inadequate for the Afghan summer, as the temperature inside the fighting compartment rose to intolerable levels, due to lack of efficient air conditioning, and excessive heat generated by the hydraulic turret control and engine. The German tanks are fitted with electric turret drive, and will be fitted with air conditioning equipment once they arrive at Kandahar. These tanks are also fitted with an improved main gun and ammunition, designed to operate in extreme climatic conditions. Prior to deployment to Afghanistan, the tanks will be fitted with belly plates and blast-resistant seats to improve protection for the crew. Surplus Leopard 2 tanks, particularly German Leopard 2A4s have been acquired by a number of nations in recent years, and successfully inducted into several armies including Poland, Singapore, Turkey and Greece.
Once all new Leopard 2s are operational, the Canadian Army plans to maintain two combat-ready squadrons of Dutch surplus Leopard 2A6/NL, equipped with about 20 tanks each, rotating through operational duties and depot maintenance, repairs and overhaul. Two training squadrons fielding Dutch surplus Leopard 2A4s will be used for training in Canada. The remaining 20 tanks will be utilized as combat support platforms, including Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV), Armored Bridge-Laying Vehicles and Armored Combat Engineering Vehicles (tanks fitted with dozer blades, mine ploughs, excavator etc.) Once the tanks arrive in Canada, the Army will seek commercial service providers for long-term support of the fleet, including upgrade and repairs.
MSantor - June 12, 2007 05:35 PM (GMT)
Israeli,
Canada's Land Forces Command (LFC- the official name for the Canadian Army) won't be selling their Leopard Ones to the Philippines anytime soon. The Leopard Ones will probably go to the reserve armored regiments first such as the British Columbia Regiment (their armory is near where I live, woohoo!) and the Lord Strathcona's Horse Guards Regiments.
Stop dreaming about MBTs for the AFP because it is not something the RP needs- especially since the kind of flat-open plains terrain is scarce in the Philippines, except for parts of Luzon and Mindanao. The Philippine Army would be better served with more ampihbious APCs like those the Philippine Marine Corps uses, or probably even a replacement for their aging 105mm howitzers both the PMC and PA uses.
What the AFP needs above all, as I mentioned TIME AND AGAIN, are MRFs!!!!!!
:headbang:
Anyways, ewann...
Wala naman nagaabsorb sa kahit anong sinasabi ko...
Canada's Land Forces Command (LFC- the official name for the Canadian Army) won't be selling their Leopard Ones to the Philippines anytime soon. The Leopard Ones will probably go to the reserve armored regiments first such as the British Columbia Regiment (their armory is near where I live, woohoo!) and the Lord Strathcona's Horse Guards Regiments.
Stop dreaming about MBTs for the AFP because it is not something the RP needs- especially since the kind of flat-open plains terrain is scarce in the Philippines, except for parts of Luzon and Mindanao. The Philippine Army would be better served with more ampihbious APCs like those the Philippine Marine Corps uses, or probably even a replacement for their aging 105mm howitzers both the PMC and PA uses.
What the AFP needs above all, as I mentioned TIME AND AGAIN, are MRFs!!!!!!
:headbang:
Anyways, ewann...
Wala naman nagaabsorb sa kahit anong sinasabi ko...
adroth - June 13, 2007 07:18 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (MSantor @ Jun 12 2007, 09:35 AM) |
| What the AFP needs above all, as I mentioned TIME AND AGAIN, are MRFs!!!!!! |
Not at this time. Too expensive to operate. See here: http://timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=7992.0
The PAF's current game plan, which is to focus on getting more trainers -- which can be used for ground attack any way -- is the way to go.
=== ~~~ ===
We're getting off track here. Back to land vehicles. :thumb:
MSantor - February 2, 2008 07:58 PM (GMT)
Canadian Army/LFC General Mark Lessard takes over command of NATO troops in Southern Afghanistan from British Army General Jacko Page.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...0202?hub=Canada
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...0202?hub=Canada
| QUOTE |
| Canadian to oversee NATO in southern Afghanistan Updated Sat. Feb. 2 2008 9:18 AM ET The Canadian Press KANDAHAR, Afghanistan --A Canadian has assumed the top post for international military efforts in southern Afghanistan. Major General Mark Lessard took over the helm of Regional Command South in a ceremony at Kandahar air field on Saturday morning. He replaces British Brigadier General Jacko Page who has been overseeing military efforts in the six provinces of southern Afghanistan since May.Lessard praised Page's efforts but also said the time had come to fight back harder against the insurgents in the southern parts of Afghanistan. Canadian and British troops have been particularly hard hit by rising violence in the south and Lessard acknowledged 2007 was a difficult year. But he said there is progress on the ground and his job will be to build on those efforts in the months to come. |
MSantor - February 4, 2008 05:49 PM (GMT)
Poland has offered the use of its helos for transport and possibly CAS roles for CF/NATO troops in Southern Afghanistan after complaints by Canada, the US and the UK that other NATO members- especially those mainly doing peacekeeping in the North- are not sharing the burden of the fighting in Southern Afghanistan. It is also sending 400 of its troops to Afghanistan in addition to the 1200 troops it already has there, and in addition to offering up the helo support.
http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content...0204_001906_632
http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content...0204_001906_632
| QUOTE |
| Warsaw antes up Poland's foreign minister pledges air support for Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan Michael Petrou. Macleans.ca, 4 Feb 08 Poland is putting two of the eight helicopters it is sending to Afghanistan "at the disposal of Canada," the country’s foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, disclosed Sunday in an interview with Maclean’s. The pledge goes some way toward meeting the conditions Prime Minister Stephen Harper has placed on extending Canada’s military mission in Kandahar province beyond February 2009. Harper accepted the recommendations of an independent panel chaired by former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley, which argued that Canadian soldiers should stay in Kandahar on two conditions–that they are joined by another battle group of about 1,000 soldiers and that they secure the use of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. Poland is also sending 400 soldiers to Afghanistan to join the approximately 1,200 already in the country. Sikorski said they will operate "more or less" where most Polish soldiers are currently deployed, in the southeast of the country, bordering Pakistan, but added: “I can’t talk about the details of our deployment plan, but there will be more scope for Polish-Canadian cooperation.” He confirmed that Polish special forces are already operating in Kandahar and work closely with Canadians there. Sikorski said Poland promised Canada the use of its helicopters after he met with Maxime Bernier, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, in Brussels in December. But neither the Canadian nor the Polish government has previously announced the arrangement. Radek Sikorski has longstanding ties to Afghanistan. In the 1980s, he was a student activist with the anti-communist Solidarity movement. He fled to Britain as a political refugee. After completing a degree at the University of Oxford, Sikorski travelled to Afghanistan in 1986 and spent much of the next three years there with the mujahedeen who were trying to drive the Soviets from their country. "The Afghans were fighting for their liberty," he tells Maclean’s by way of an explanation for why he joined them. Sikorski’s official government biography notes that he worked in Afghanistan as a reporter. This is true, but it’s not the whole story. Asked if he was in Afghanistan as a journalist or a combatant, Sikorski admits, "A bit of both … fighting mainly with a pen." At this, Sikorski allows himself a smile. He is a likeable but rather intense man, without being solemn or dour. He prefers to be called by the diminutive "Radek," rather than the more formal "Radoslaw." Sikorski lived for more than a month in the mountains and caves of Tora Bora, when it was a mujahedeen base from which to attack the Soviets. Two decades later, Tora Bora was where Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda allies made their last stand before slipping away, almost certainly into Pakistan. Sikorski also got to know Kandahar province well. He spent weeks dodging Soviet patrols on the road connecting Kabul and Kandahar. Today, these landmarks are once again fought over by Afghans and foreigners. But Sikorski rejects any suggestion that there are political similarities between the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and NATO’s current intervention in the country. "The Soviets invaded a country which had been taken over by the Communist Party through a military coup and which had killed 200,000 of their own people. And the Soviets, it is estimated, killed about a million Afghans in area bombing and artillery shelling and by mines," he says. "We are there under a UN resolution and at the invitation of the Afghan government. And we don’t want Afghanistan for anything, unlike the Soviets. We don’t want to be there for a day longer than the Afghans want us there. So I don’t think the political realities could be more different." Sikorski’s accent when speaking English still bears the traces of his exile in Britain. His political convictions have also been shaped by the Cold War. When he was a student activist, many doubted that democracy could flourish in the eastern European countries under Soviet occupation. The same is often said today about the Middle East. Sikorski doesn’t buy it. "When the Afghans or the Iraqis risk their lives and vote in larger proportions than we often do in our elections, when it costs us no risks, I am immensely impressed how much they want democracy," he says. "What they lack is security. And that’s why our troops are needed there. Democracy is a very fine thing, but physical security is more important. You can’t develop a country, you can’t build a democratic society, unless people feel secure in their homes. That’s why Poland has sent troops to Afghanistan and is sending some more." Sikorski agrees with John Manley’s assessment that Afghanistan is NATO’s most important test. He is clearly frustrated with members of the alliance who refuse to "get their act together and send more troops." He’s also critical of the caveats some NATO countries place on how their soldiers can be used. Sikorski, who was previously Poland’s defence minister, says that when Poland commanded a multinational division in Iraq, the biggest challenge confronting his commanders in the field was "juggling of the various national rules of engagement that the soldiers were hamstrung by." He sees the same obstacles today in Afghanistan. "We have to standardize the rules of engagement during NATO missions, and we should also devise ways of fairly sharing the risks so that there is no premium on free riding." The stakes in Afghanistan are high, Sikorski believes. Failure would destroy NATO's credibility, and once that’s gone, the organization would no longer be useful. "Half the deterrent power of any alliance is credibility, is the assumption in the minds of its potential enemies that if NATO goes to war, NATO wins," he says. "So yes, we have to win. And I define victory not in military terms, but in terms of provinces and districts under firm, democratic Afghan government control." But Sikorski is optimistic. It’s not going to be easy, he says, and it won’t be quick. He stresses that military force is only part of the answer. Political and economic efforts are also necessary. But ultimately, he believes, NATO will be successful in Afghanistan. In the meantime, he says, the world is watching Canada with admiration. And Polish help is "just over the horizon." |
MSantor - June 4, 2008 11:15 PM (GMT)
Good job and Bravo Zulu to the crew of HMCS CALGARY for keelhauling these pirates!!!!!!!!!
| QUOTE |
| Canadian forces scare off pirate attack By THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA Article Link Canadian troops conducting anti-terrorism operations in the waters near Somalia appear to have scared off a pirate attack on a commercial vessel. The Department of National Defence says HMCS Calgary was operating in the area Tuesday morning when a call for assistance was heard from a vessel apparently under attack by small arms fire. A DND statement released late Tuesday says the frigate, sailing about 120 kilometres off the coast of Somalia, changed course, got close to the scene of the attack and a Sea King helicopter flew near the vessel. The statement says two small boats were observed in the area and "appeared to be armed." Calgary's commanding officer, Kelly Larkin, is quoted as saying he is convinced that the presence of the Canadian helicopter drove the attackers away and prevented further attacks on commercial vessels that day. Calgary is one of three Canadian warships currently assigned to Operation ALTAIR, Canada's contribution to the U.S.-led coalition fleet conducting anti-terrorist operations in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. More on link |
spraret - June 5, 2008 02:02 AM (GMT)
Is the Canadian Sea King armed? It should have blasted those pirate boats.
Frenzy - June 5, 2008 07:53 AM (GMT)
that canadian warship did not fight off the pirates, it just scared them away with its helicopter :armyLol:
MSantor - June 5, 2008 04:55 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Frenzy @ Jun 5 2008, 03:53 PM) |
| that canadian warship did not fight off the pirates, it just scared them away with its helicopter :armyLol: |
:armyroleyes: Actually we had your mother on the chopper so that scared them away too.
MSantor - December 8, 2008 04:01 AM (GMT)
Greeatttt....CF Aircom is stuck with CIVILIAN-piloted "HIP" helos until the Chinooks come next year?
Canadian Air Wing ready to patrol Afghanistan's skies
Canadian Air Wing ready to patrol Afghanistan's skies
| QUOTE |
Canadian Air Wing ready to patrol Afghanistan's skies KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- The Canadian Forces is expanding its presence in the skies over Afghanistan with it's own air wing that will serve under the auspices of the NATO command. Canada's battle group moved into southern Afghanistan in 2006 without any helicopters, unlike the British, U.S., and Dutch forces. The lack of air assets forced the Canadians to rely heavily on road convoys which has proven dangerous for troops because of improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers. Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, the commander of Task Force Kandahar, said this is the airforce `equivalent of committing a brigade' to overseas operations. The wing will have at its disposal six new civilian Mi-8 helicopters, used U.S. Chinooks to be delivered next year and unmanned surveillance aircraft. The aircraft will be part of a NATO pool but the air wing will give Canada more leverage in the struggle for the use of air assets... |
MSantor - December 11, 2008 10:47 PM (GMT)
And who said that "Manifest Destiny" was only meant for the United States?
:demon:
:demon:
| QUOTE |
| Canadian military goes global with supply bases http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/551818 Murray Brewster THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA – Canada's military is locked into the Afghan mission until 2011, but is preparing for the next war or peacekeeping mission by establishing a series of supply depots around the world, The Canadian Press has learned. Germany this week became the first country to agree to host a small detachment of Canadian military and civilian supply clerks, who will share space with the U.S. forces at an air base in Spangdahlem. Ottawa is also negotiating with other NATO allies and plans to approach governments in Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, the Caribbean and South America for similar ventures. "We've learned a lot through transformation and the operations of the past few years," Gen. Walter Natynczyk, the country's top military commander, said in a recent interview. The supply depots, essentially small warehouse operations located in strategic regions, would allow for the stockpiling of equipment and ammunition for future missions. Natynczyk said if the Canadian military is to play a role in hot spots around the world – as Defence Minister Peter MacKay recently suggested – then "we need significant bilateral relations with countries (where) we can pre-position combat supplies and equipment." The plan envisions both sea and air bases, staffed in some cases by as many as half a dozen Canadians, located in friendly countries but close to potential trouble spots. The depots could be used as jumping off points for military or humanitarian missions, said a senior defence official who spoke on background. Critics have long complained the Afghan war has hamstrung the Canadian army, tied up resources and prevented it from undertaking other armed interventions – or peacekeeping assignments. New Democrats, for example, have lobbied for an intervention to stop the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. But military officers have said that such missions can work only if there staging points from which troops can deploy or be supplied. Natynczyk's predecessor, Gen. Rick Hillier, often warned the army didn't have the manpower to carry out two simultaneous operations in different parts of the globe. But documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act show the bigger problem has been establishing a supply train to sustain a tandem operation when the country has virtually no overseas military bases. "The CF lacks sufficient capability to constantly maintain the operational level support task because of policy decisions that resulted in these capabilities not being assigned or funded," said a November 2006 draft report prepared for National Defence headquarters. The cost-cutting abandonment of bases in Germany by the Mulroney government as part of its peace dividend in the early 1990s has particularly hampered the military's ability to quickly deploy missions abroad. Canada does maintain a secret base in the Middle East, through which much of the Afghan war supplies are funnelled. But the camp – an air base – has limited capacity. Since the closure of Canada's Cold War bases in Europe, supplies and equipment for troops in the field on UN peacekeeping missions have been shipped directly from Canada. It's a costly process, often complicated by the use of civilian cargo ships. On one occasion, a contract dispute after the war in Kosovo saw a shipping company refuse to deliver the army's vehicles and the Canadian navy put in the embarrassing position of having to seize the vessel on the high seas. There have also been ad hoc supply-base agreements, such as with tiny country of Qatar, to provide naval support during the first Gulf War. The reorganization of the Canadian Forces, championed by Hillier, saw the creation of a specific headquarters dedicated solely to supporting overseas missions – the Canadian Operational Support Command. One of its first tasks was to develop a list of potential countries where Canada could station forward-supply bases, similar in scope and size to "FedEx depots," said a senior defence official. |
MSantor - December 13, 2008 11:06 PM (GMT)
The Taliban are true cowards to be attacking Coalition forces with IEDs instead of fighting them head-on. This may pale in comparison to the numbers of deaths that the US has suffered in Iraq for single weeks in 2006-2007, but it is the largest loss for one week that the Canadian Forces have suffered in Afghanistan.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories
From CTV:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories
From CTV:
| QUOTE |
| Three soldiers killed, one injured in Afghanistan Updated Sat. Dec. 13 2008 5:18 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff Three Canadian soldiers have died west of Kandahar city, after an improvised explosive device detonated. A fourth soldier was injured in the blast. The soldiers were responding to reports of people planting a suspicious object. The Canadian military said Saturday that primary next-of-kin have been notified, but the soldiers will not be identified until extended family members have been contacted... ...McLaren, 23, died alongside Pte. Demetrios Diplaros, 23, and Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson, 27, on Dec. 5, when the armoured truck they were travelling in struck an improvised explosive device (IED). With the latest attack, Canada's troop death toll is now 103. A diplomat was also killed. |
MSantor - January 10, 2009 04:06 AM (GMT)
Terry Taliban had better beware of when we get these platforms to send "steel rain" against them.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Canada...-Systems-05236/
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Canada...-Systems-05236/
| QUOTE |
| Canada Seeks MLRS Rocket Systems 07-Jan-2009 14:39 EST Canada’s military has decided that it needs longer-range artillery to support its front-line troops, and they think they’ve found it. The tracked M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) was originally developed as an assault-breaker weapon, meant to destroy Warsaw Pact formations as they advanced into NATO territory. It first achieved prominence in the 1991 Desert Storm operation, where its M26 227mm rockets’ performance against Iraqi troops gave it the nickname “steel rain.” The current war has seen significant changes, in particular the GPS-guided M30/M31 GMLRS rocket. It converts the system from an area-effect weapon, to something British forces call “the 70 km sniper.” The British have even modified their M270s for use in the Afghan theater, while the USA has used the M270 and its smaller, truck-mounted M142 HIMARS cousin with great success in Iraq. See DID’s coverage regarding their use during key battles in Tal Afar. Canada also serves in Afghanistan, and has shipped a handful of M777 ultra-lightweight towed howitzers and GPS-guided Excalibur shells into theater. Those weapons offer effective responses to the Taliban’s Chinese-made mortars and rockets, and allied support from longer-range systems like the Dutch PzH-2000NL mobile howitzers and British MLRS systems has supplemented those efforts. Now a combination of those experiences, American and British successes, and the need for a longer-range strike option that doesn’t depend on the presence of allied airpower and good conditions for its use, are pushing the Canadians toward an MLRS buy of their own…. Contracts and Key Events M142 HIMARS (click to view full)Dec 23/08: The Canadian government issues MERX Letter of Interest solicitation #W847L-08PM02/A for up to 17 “Long Range Precision Rocket System” (LRPRS) launchers. A wide variety of systems might satisfy that description, but the Canadian DND has continued the trend of writing its specifications in ways that allow only one product. The system has to be “fully developed and battle proven,” in use by other NATO armies, and capable of firing precision-guided munitions. With Britain’s HIMARs-like LIMAWS-R system and the 300mm MBRL from Turkey’s Roketsan eliminated by those criteria, the M270 MLRS or M142 HIMARS are left as the only remaining candidates. Training, spares, and in-service support are also requested. MERX LoI reproduction on CASR. Nov 19/08: Denmark announces plans to sell its 12 M270 MLRS systems, which have sat in storage since their upgrade to M270A1 status in 2001. As CASR points out, Canada would have to do its own sourcing for training, spares, and support if it decided to pursue this opportunity. M30 GMLRS precision-guided rockets would also have to be sourced separately, but that would be true in any event. DALO release [in Danish] | CASR translation. |
MSantor - January 23, 2009 08:00 PM (GMT)
Hopefully this will all be rectified by then.
| QUOTE |
| By Steve Rennie, THE CANADIAN PRESS KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The need for Canadian Forces helicopters to help provide security for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver is likely to put strain on the military’s air capabilities in Afghanistan, the commander of Canada’s air wing said Wednesday. Col. Christopher Coates said the air force, like other branches of the military, will be forced to juggle its resources during the Olympics. Coates said there will be “pressure” on Lt.-Col. Jeff Scott, the new commander of the Edmonton-based 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, to balance the military’s air needs in Afghanistan with those of the Olympics. “The air force is going to be involved in the Canadian Forces’ response to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, just like the other parts of the Canadian Forces will,” he said. “That’ll be a pressure for (Scott) in order to deal with that. There’s all sorts of domestic pressures to support all sorts of operations within Canada.” Neither Coates nor Scott — who was sworn in Wednesday as the new commander of 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at a ceremony at Kandahar Airfield — could say how many choppers would be diverted from the Afghan mission to Vancouver. “The Canadian Forces will always do the best that it can to meet the various obligations that it has,” Coates said. “We’re constantly balancing and rebalancing resources. So, whether that means temporarily that we change training back at home or we change operations here, those are all decisions that will be made in Canada based on the priorities at the time.” The first of eight armed CH-146 Griffon helicopters arrived at Kandahar Airfield last month. The Griffons will provide escort and protection for the lumbering Chinook transport helicopters, which are more vulnerable to ground fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Acquiring battlefield helicopters to move troops and supplies around Afghanistan was a key condition of last’s year’s Manley commission report for keeping soldiers in Afghanistan until 2011. The military has touted the helicopters as a means of transporting troops across southern Afghanistan without having to drive along routes littered by with makeshift bombs, which have killed more than half of the 107 Canadian soldiers lost in the Afghan mission. The diversion of the choppers to Vancouver will affect the military effort in Afghanistan, Scott said, by limiting the number of available helicopters. “Because of the security requirements for the Vancouver Olympics, there’s a big drain on helicopter resources,” he said. “So, of course, with all the operations going on here in theatre, plus the Olympics all kind of smashed together in the same time frame, that’s where the (air) wing is going to be working hard to make sure that everything gets done.” Earlier this month, the head of the army, Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, said up to 4,000 Canadian soldiers would be on the ground in Vancouver for the Games, stretching the military’s resources as the war in Afghanistan continues. Some 2,750 Canadian troops are deployed in Afghanistan, mostly in Kandahar province in the country’s volatile south. |
MSantor - February 26, 2009 04:32 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Canada's navy may soon be left with one supply ship -- for East, West coasts By David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen February 25, 2009 Defence planners are scrambling to figure out how the Canadian navy... (...) ...The navy finds itself in the predicament because one of its two supply ships, HMCS Preserver on the East Coast, will be out of commission starting in March 2010. The 40-year-old ship will be upgraded so it can continue operating until at least 2015. Preserver will be out of commission until January 2011. That only leaves HMCS Protecteur, the navy's other supply ship, based in B.C., to handle duties for the fleets on both the East and West Coasts. The supply ships are especially critical to the navy's ability to take part in international missions or long-range patrols. The supply ships are used to transfer fuel, food, ammunition and other stores to warships while at sea, allowing those vessels to operate for longer periods without returning to port for supplies and maintenance. The ships also provide medical and dental services to crews of other navy vessels. The ships were to have been replaced in 2012 by new vessels to be acquired under the Joint Support Ship program. But that $2.9-billion project ran aground last year when shipbuilders told the federal government they couldn't meet the requirements set out for the new vessels. (...) ...In a draft version of the Canada First Defence Strategy, the department noted the first joint support ship would not be in the water until at least 2012. It proposed removing Protecteur and Preserver from service and to somehow "manage the risk" of operating without those vessels for a two-year period. In September, the navy produced "talking points" to address questions from the news media on what it would do if it had to decommission Preserver and Protecteur before the joint support ships were available. "We would deal with that issue in the same way we... (...) ...Many of the ship systems for Preserver and Protecteur are nearly obsolete, according to the navy. For instance, the vessels use boilers to generate steam for their main propulsion. Spare parts are no longer readily available, and the skills needed to operate and maintain systems that were already mature in the 1960s are becoming increasingly rare. With the problems now affecting the Joint Support Ship program, some analysts are saying those new vessels won't be in the water until 2017. That means Preserver and Protecteur will have to continue operating until at least then... |
City Hunter - February 26, 2009 10:51 AM (GMT)
Hmmm, kung obsolete na ang mga yan baka magawaan pa ng paraan ng mga Pinoy. They should negotiate with PGMA para ma-crew yan ng mga Pinoy na able to fix and run it pa :)
MSantor - April 20, 2009 09:26 PM (GMT)
This old issue resurfaces. Here is a new link, along with an older article.
Matthew Fisher of Canwest News stirs up this Hornets' nest again--post at The Torch:
CF-18s for Afstan? No way
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/...tan-no-way.html
Btw, according to the CF website, the official CF designation for the Canadian F18 is CF188, not CF18, in the same way the C17 is called the CC177 in CF service.
--------------------
The older article:
Matthew Fisher of Canwest News stirs up this Hornets' nest again--post at The Torch:
CF-18s for Afstan? No way
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/...tan-no-way.html
Btw, according to the CF website, the official CF designation for the Canadian F18 is CF188, not CF18, in the same way the C17 is called the CC177 in CF service.
--------------------
The older article:
| QUOTE |
| CF-18 jets are mission-ready Documents show deployment plans to Afghanistan set, but orders unlikely Bruce Campion-Smith, Toronto Star, 19 Feb 07 Article Link Canada's air force has detailed plans to deploy six CF-18s fighter jets to Kandahar, even to the point of predicting how many so-called "smart" bombs would be needed for a six-month air campaign battling insurgents, documents show. Defence officials say they have no intention of sending the fighters overseas. But military memos and orders obtained by the Toronto Star make it clear that extensive planning has laid the groundwork for a deployment should the Conservative government give the okay. "With respect to the current situation ... there are no plans at this point in time do so," Lt.-Col. John Blakeley, director of air force public affairs, said last Friday. But just over a year ago – as Canada's army units made the move to Kandahar from Kabul – it seemed certain the air force's front-line fighter would be deployed to join them in an operation expected to cost $18 million, documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show. In January 2006, air force headquarters in Winnipeg sent out an order to the two CF-18 bases at Bagotville, Que., and Cold Lake, Alta., regarding "deployment to Kandahar." "The purpose of this (message) is to co-ordinate deployment milestones that will ensure the directed fighter preparedness posture is achieved and maintained," it said. The order laid out some of the requirements for the Kandahar operation, such as parking space for six of the sleek fighters with a spot where another jet could undergo maintenance work. The documents also reveal that planners predicted how many sorties the jets would be flying each day as well as how many precision-guided bombs would be used in a six-month deployment, although those details have been censored. The documents detail the "weapons on hand," including a selection of laser-guided bombs weighing up to 907 kilograms. One memo, marked secret, discusses the need for air-to-air refuelling to get the jets from their bases in Alberta and Quebec to Afghanistan. Among the papers is a presentation totalling about 45 pages on the threats that would face the fighter team in Afghanistan with topics that include narcotics, the "opposing military force," rockets and mortars, convoy ambush, roadside bombs, kidnappings and suicide bombers, although details on each have been blanked out. The documents also stress the need for positive identification to avoid "collateral damage" to allied troops. Five Canadian soldiers have already been killed in Afghanistan in friendly fire incidents involving American jets. Air force rules made clear that CF-18 jet jockeys would have to "visually acquire their targets and have the flexibility to deliver ordinance in lower flight regimes to avoid fratricide." The air force convened a two-day meeting in Winnipeg in November 2005 involving air staff from across the country to discuss issues "related to preparation, deployment, employment and force sustainment of an eventual fighter force supporting the Afghan theatre of operations" reads one memo. A 14-member military team was to head to Afghanistan in April 2006, to scout out the Kandahar airfield for the unfolding CF-18 deployment. Blakeley couldn't say whether that trip ever went ahead. But he said it's common for planners to develop contingency plans for possible operations. The deployment, planned for sometime after May 2006, never took place and now seems to have been shelved indefinitely. Today, a CF-18 deployment remains a sensitive topic for senior federal government officials who fear the public may perceive Canadian jets in Afghanistan as an escalation of Canada's involvement in a divisive mission. And because British, Dutch and U.S. fighters are already providing air support for allied troops in southern Afghanistan, it's unlikely Canadian fighter pilots will be called on to show off their skills, defence officials say. Canada has about 2,600 troops in Afghanistan, with most based in the volatile Kandahar region. |
MSantor - May 3, 2009 12:34 AM (GMT)
Interesting. This makes the 12 Frigates in CF Maritime Command (Marcom) more capable warships.
http://frontierindia.net/saab-and-lockheed...-class-frigates
http://frontierindia.net/saab-and-lockheed...-class-frigates
| QUOTE |
Saab and Lockheed to develop command and control systems for Canadian Halifax class frigates Posted by Frontier India Strategic and Defence December 24th, 2008 Saab and Lockheed Martin have signed a contract for the design and development of command and control systems for twelve Halifax class frigates for the Canadian Navy. The deal is valued at approximately SEK 1.1 billion for Saab. Deliveries are planned for 2010-2017. As part of the contract, Saab shall supply two CEROS 200 fire-control systems to each vessel plus one onshore training facility. Software for the operator consoles and command and control systems is also included. This will lead to a modernization of the Navy's fleet. The complete system will be delivered by Lockheed Martin Canada. For Saab, it began in 2004 at a meeting with the Canadian Navy. Canada needed to upgrade the command and control systems, radar systems and sights on its twelve frigates. The contract is the result of a long-term partnership between Saab and Lockheed Martin. Saab and Lockheed Martin first made contact in 2005. The modularity and open architecture that characterizes 9LV Mk4 has been the key to ensuring that a speedy consensus was reached between the partners regarding the solutions and allocating the work. The contract is subject to Canadian government approval... |
MSantor - May 3, 2009 01:14 AM (GMT)
Perhaps the AFP might be interested in CT114 Tutor trainer planes from this squadron if CF Aircom cuts this unit?
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Technology/fo...6026/story.html
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Technology/fo...6026/story.html
| QUOTE |
| Air force threatens to ground Snowbirds Brass accused of playing 'game of chicken' with government over proposed funding cuts By David Pugliese, The Ottawa CitizenMay 2, 2009 The air force is warning it won't have any choice but to shut down the Snowbirds aerobatic team and the Challenger aircraft fleet used to shuttle Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other federal ministers if the government follows through with a five-per-cent cut to its budget. The air force had been told to find at least $43 million in savings in the coming year, but that reduction could go as high as $123 million if the government doesn't come up with an influx of cash regularly provided to meet existing funding shortfalls. Air force chief Lt.-Gen. Angus Watt has come back with options to deal with the cuts that include grounding the popular Snowbirds team as well as the Challenger fleet, according to his 2009-10 strategic assessment obtained by the Citizen. Another option includes shutting down all new construction projects, a move that won't sit well with the Conservative government, which recently announced a number of air force-related building contracts. Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chairman of the red chamber's defence committee, said the air force is playing a "game of chicken" with the government by presenting it with a number of unpalatable options if the budget cuts go ahead. "But it's ridiculous in the first place that anyone would be calling for a five-per-cent budget reduction," said Kenny, whose committee supports funding increases for the military. However, Steve Staples, president of the Ottawa-based Rideau Institute, a group that opposes defence spending increases and argues that the military's $18-billion budget is already too high, said the air force move is a ploy to avoid cuts when all federal departments are being required to scale back in the recession. "They're playing political games to avoid making reductions," said Staples. "Instead of taking a serious look at how they spend, they come up with proposed cuts that are not only highly visible but would be politically unpopular." Staples noted that the Defence Department's budget has significantly increased over the last several years and that it is the only department guaranteed spending increases each year. Kenny counters that the recent budget increases are not enough and fall short of what is needed to rebuild the Canadian Forces after neglect by previous Conservative and Liberal governments. The Defence Department could not say whether the cut would proceed. "Strategic assessments are a preliminary part of the annual internal business planning process conducted by DND," the department noted in an e-mail. "No information with regard to business plans/strategic assessments can be released until the process is completed." But it's not the first time the air force has threatened to ground the Snowbirds and Challengers. In September 1999, Jane's Defence Weekly reported the air force planned to eliminate the aerobatic team and Challengers then involved in electronic warfare and other training as part of an effort to save money. The Challengers used for transporting government ministers and other VIPs would have remained untouched. But the threat prompted Jean Chrétien, prime minister at the time, to accuse the Defence Department of playing political games. "I'm never surprised that what they put in the window as a danger of disappearing (is) something that the Canadian people like," Chrétien said of the proposal to cut the Snowbirds. The Snowbirds survived because of a public backlash. Private contractors were brought in to run electronic warfare and other training handled by the Challenger aircraft. Privately, air force officers have said the Snowbirds and Challengers are often earmarked for cuts because they are not core to the air force's war fighting role. Besides VIP duties, the Challengers are also used for military transport and can be configured for medical evacuations. Other options Watt has presented include limiting the role of CF-18s so they would be used only in the defence of North America, cutting back on the use of the air force's new C-17 transports as well as Hercules and other aircraft fleets. Still others include delaying maintenance and repair work, closing the new aerospace training centre at Canadian Forces Base Trenton and halting every new air force construction project. Defence Minister Peter MacKay recently went across the country announcing a number of new construction programs at various bases, including air force installations. Those included the construction of facilities for new Cyclone helicopters to be situated just outside Victoria, as well as improvements at 17 Wing in Winnipeg. Staples noted the air force made similar threats last year when faced with potential cutbacks. "If the air force can't get serious over what cuts to make then Treasury Board should step in and decide for them," he added. Kenny acknowledged air force planners were likely being strategic in what they selected to eliminate if forced to make cuts. He said such decisions indicate there is little fat to trim in the organization. "They have some real problems with producing enough pilots and keeping fleets going," Kenny said. "They have problems right across the board." © Copyright © The Ottawa Citizen |
MSantor - May 5, 2009 03:04 AM (GMT)
Just an update:
| QUOTE |
Government of Canada extends Navy’s counter-piracy mission NR–09.031 - May 3, 2009 OTTAWA – The Government of Canada is extending the counter-piracy mission of HMCS Winnipeg, as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group One off the Horn of Africa, to the beginning of June. This extension allows HMCS Winnipeg to continue conducting operations with NATO allies off the coast of Somalia by maintaining a high-profile multi-lateral presence to defend against and deter acts of piracy. “The Government of Canada is proud of its contribution and the extension of this vital maritime security mission,” said the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. “The hard work of the men and women serving on HMCS Winnipeg is a shining example of Canada’s commitment to global security.” NATO announced the continuation of counter-piracy operations on April 24, 2009, in light of increased pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden. The maritime group consists of vessels from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. HMCS Winnipeg’s deployment, conducted under Operation SEXTANT, gives Canada the opportunity to be part of a flexible, responsive international force. The purpose of her counter-piracy operations is to deter and disrupt piracy through patrolling, presence, escort of vessels as required, and boarding and approach of suspected vessels. “The extension of HMCS Winnipeg’s deployment demonstrates Canada’s continued endeavour, along with our coalition partners, to contribute to maritime security,” said General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff. “HMCS Winnipeg and her crew are truly making a difference, as seen just a few weeks ago when weapons were seized from a skiff.” Commanded by Commander Craig Baines with a crew of approximately 240 officers and non-commissioned members, HMCS Winnipeg and her CH-124 Sea King detachment form a highly ready and technologically advanced warship. She is expected to return to her home port of Esquimalt, B.C., in August 2009. -30- Note to editors: For more information on Operation SEXTANT, visit: http://www.cefcom.forces.gc.ca/pa-ap/ops/s...t/index-eng.asp Photos of HMCS Winnipeg's mission can be viewed at www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca B-roll available at http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/commo...batcamera/news/ |
MSantor - May 23, 2009 10:46 PM (GMT)
Good.
| QUOTE |
Hundreds of special forces soldiers to get pay raise Last Updated: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 | 6:33 PM ETCBC News Article Link Hundreds of Canadian soldiers will receive a pay raise this month — as much as $18,000 per year in some cases — CBC News has learned. The military has approved a new allowance for some members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. Troops as well as technicians and support staff who work with the elite troops are eligible for the pay increase. "When we're looking at the whole command, we're really deploying a special operations task force," said the command's chief of staff, Lt.-Col. Jean-Francois Prevost. "We pick the right capabilities from each one of those units." The special forces command runs several regiments, and one of Prevost's duties is overseeing administration and support for the elite forces. One of those units, the secretive Joint Task Force 2, is quite well known, and its soldiers are said to be among the most highly trained in the world. These troops, whose mission is to focus on counter-terrorism and hostage rescue, have received extra pay for years. Two other special forces units that send their members into the field alongside those commandos will now also start receiving that extra pay. This includes soldiers with specialized training in handling nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. It also includes commandos who perform the most daring infantry attacks and patrol behind enemy lines. The extra pay ranges from $8,000 to nearly $18,000 a year. "It's really to be fairly compensated for what we're asking them to do," said Prevost. "It shows our people that we care for them." More on link |
MSantor - May 30, 2009 05:51 PM (GMT)
Another interesting update:
| QUOTE |
Canada’s Auroras Getting Land Surveillance Capabilities 27-May-2009 16:52 EDT Article Link Canada’s C$ 1.67 billion Aurora Incremental Modernization Project began in 1998, and is an amalgamation of 23 individual projects grouped into 4 chronologically consecutive block upgrades. Key upgrades successfully performed under the AIMP to date have included new electro-optical and infared sensors (L-3 Communications) under Block III, and upgrades to the navigation and flight instruments (CMC Electronics) under Block II. AIMP, plus the Aurora fleet’s new long-term, performance-based maintenance program, are designed to keep Canada’s fleet flying until 2015 or so. Canada is also pursuing land-surveillance upgrades to its fleet. Given Canada’s commitments on the ground in Afghanistan, and employment of American P-3 Orion and British Nimrod MRA2 aircraft for ground surveillance in that theater, these contracts may yet contribute to NATO’s Afghan mission. The latest update involves deployment of the aircraft to Afghanistan on a special overland mission…. Canada’s Aurora Modernization Efforts As noted earlier, Canada’s CDN $1.67 billion Aurora Incremental Modernization Project began in 1998, and is an amalgamation of 23 individual projects grouped into 4 chronologically consecutive block upgrades. The addition of improved surveillance radars is a late-stage upgrade, and was itself divided into phases: Phase 1 of the MDA project featured high level design and the selection of a radar hardware supplier. Phase 2 saw the completion of detailed design and the initial development and laboratory tests of 4 prototype systems. Phase 3, valued at approximately CAD $78 million (currently about $66 million), completed the ground and flight testing of the 4 prototype systems, upgrade the prototypes to production standards, then manufacture, test and deliver 16 production systems. The prototype aircraft modifications were scheduled to begin in April 2007. More on link |
geromexrep - June 7, 2009 10:35 AM (GMT)
Guyz, may tanong ako, irereplace po ba ng Canada ang CF-18s ng F-35s kasi nakita ko sa Wikipedia na isa sila sa mga bansa ng NATO na makaka-acquire ng F-35s...
Kudos, Cheers and Peace Out :armycheers: ...
Kudos, Cheers and Peace Out :armycheers: ...
MSantor - June 11, 2009 04:32 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (geromexrep @ Jun 7 2009, 06:35 PM) |
| Guyz, may tanong ako, irereplace po ba ng Canada ang CF-18s ng F-35s kasi nakita ko sa Wikipedia na isa sila sa mga bansa ng NATO na makaka-acquire ng F-35s... Kudos, Cheers and Peace Out :armycheers: ... |
Yes, the Canadian Forces will definitely get F35s and have already set aside money for it, as the old article below confirms:
| QUOTE |
<a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=3106d409-b608-42f8-8571-5d61db6946ac">Ottawa Citizen - Forces tag $3.8B to buy advanced jets</a> Joint Strike Fighter studied to replace CF-18s in the next decade David Pugliese The Ottawa Citizen Wednesday, June 27, 2007 Canada's military is setting aside almost $4 billion for the purchase of a fleet of futuristic fighter jets that will replace its CF-18s in the next decade. The Canadian Forces is creating a new office in Ottawa in August to deal with its future fighter needs and plan how it will proceed with replacing the existing CF-18 jets. The government has committed to investing in the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter and an air force study produced last year determined that the JSF best suited Canada's requirements at the most affordable price. Canada has informed JSF builder Lockheed Martin that it plans to buy 80 of the planes with production to begin in 2014 and deliveries starting two years after that. The Defence Department estimates that the cost of purchasing 80 JSFs will be about $3.8 billion (all figures in U.S. dollars). Department officials, however, stress that the cost figure and the dates and numbers of aircraft needed are for planning purposes and may change. The government has not given final approval on any JSF purchase, although it will have to decide by 2012 on how it will replace the CF-18s, department officials say. Australia has tentatively budgeted $9 billion to buy 100 JSFs, but could cut that in half if costs rise, according to Australian defence officials quoted last year in Aviation Week and Space Technology, a major U.S. industry publication. Canadian Defence Department documents obtained by the Citizen estimate the cost to replace the existing fleet of CF-18 fighter aircraft will be $10.5 billion. Defence spokeswoman Tanya Barnes pointed out that the $3.8-billion figure for a JSF purchase does not include any additional costs, such as training, sustainment and follow-on development. "It's an estimate based only on the fly-away cost of the individual aircraft," she added. Canada has already invested $150 million in the JSF program. Late last year, the government decided to take part in the next phase of the aircraft's development, agreeing to invest around $500 million over the next 45 years to pay for the specialized equipment for JSF production. Mike Slack, the Defence Department's director of continental materiel co-operation, said the next five years will be used to determine the requirements for a future fighter jet, as well as dealing with issues such as whether manned aircraft or some other kind of technology can meet those needs. Advances in unmanned fighter aircraft technology could also limit the number of JSF needed, some military observers have pointed out. "One doesn't know where technology might end up in five years from now, for example, on unmanned tactical platforms, and how many of the missions can be performed using unmanned capabilities versus manned tactical capabilities," Mr. Slack acknowledged. That type of dilemma is being faced by all nations interested in the JSF, he added. The idea behind JSF is to produce in large quantities a high-tech, stealthy aircraft that, at a time of soaring costs for military equipment, is relatively affordable. Government officials have promoted the benefits of the JSF program for Canada's aerospace industry. They say Canadian firms have been awarded around 150 JSF contracts so far. Canadian industrial opportunities are expected to total more than $5 billion over the life of the JSF program. That total could increase if other nations decide to buy the fighter. "There is nothing like this anywhere," Mr. Slack said. "This is the largest defence co-operative program ever undertaken by Canada and, for that matter, all the other countries involved in it." But some analysts have challenged the wisdom of purchasing the JSF. In his new book, Intent for a Nation, Michael Byers argues that not only are none of the future contracts guaranteed for Canadian industry, but it is not certain that the JSF is the best equipment for the country's needs. "What is certain is that the Canadian taxpayer will, once again, end up supporting the U.S. defence industry," writes Mr. Byers, a University of British Columbia international law professor. |
MSantor - June 30, 2009 05:05 PM (GMT)
A disturbing report from the CBC:
| QUOTE |
AFGHANISTAN MISSION Brian Stewart LINK Military brass bite their tongues over the 'hollow army' Why generals may be playing down the exhaustion of the Canadian army Brian Stewart, CBC News It is an extraordinary testament to the resilience of Canadian troops that they've been able to conceal how much this country's combat forces have been exhausted by years of war in Afghanistan. The refusal of the military to acknowledge the weariness means Canadians are unaware that the exhaustion of the combat mission is far worse than it has appeared. It's a fighting mission, we need to remind ourselves, that will continue for another 2½ years (until the end of 2011). Other allies have not been so silent about the drain of fighting Taliban in Afghanistan's southern provinces. British counterparts there, by comparison, frequently go to the mass media with complaints about lack of weapons and equipment, inadequate and overstressed forces, even poor tactics. Here, only Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the head of Canada's army, has said enough to raise eyebrows. He insisted in the spring that his troops will need a year's rest after Afghanistan, along with replacement of worn-out equipment. It's known within military circles that Leslie is far more concerned about the state of the army than he's admitted publicly. And so are his immediate superiors, including Gen. Walt Natynczyk, chief of the defence staff. 'The hollow army' While preparing a recent documentary about Natynczyk for The National, I was able to obtain a leaked internal military report on the state of the forces, signed by Leslie. The report actually refers to "the hollow army." The restricted report, circulated several months ago only within the uppermost levels of the Defence Department, points out the current efficiencies in all branches of the military. Its most searing conclusion is that the army "is now operating beyond its capacity." "The war in Afghanistan," the report warns, "illustrates deficiencies in the army and the Canadian Forces." More at link. |
saver111 - July 9, 2009 07:54 AM (GMT)
Canada to spend C$5 billion on military vehicles
Reuters
Wed Jul 8, 2:55 pm ET
TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada will spend about C$5 billion ($4.3 billion) on light armored vehicles for its military, the government said on Wednesday.
About C$1 billion will be used to upgrade the current fleet of light armored vehicles, with the remainder to go toward a new generation of combat vehicles and their upkeep.
The Canadian Forces will start using the new vehicles by 2012, with a fully operational fleet intended for 2015.
"The government is committed through its Canada First Defense Strategy to renewing the Canadian Forces' core equipment," Defense Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement.
"In addition to a renewed commitment to domestic security, this defense investment creates jobs, brings economic benefits to Canadian industry, and creates and sustains long-term employment for Canadians."
The government said it is currently looking at procurement strategies and specific requirements for the projects. It said all winning contractors will be required to spend one dollar in Canada for every contract dollar awarded.
General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, a unit of U.S.-based General Dynamics, which developed the military's current fleet of LAV IIIs, will work with the government to upgrade the current fleet.
Contracts for three new fleets of combat vehicles are expected to be awarded for 2011. The government said the new fleets would include close combat vehicles, tactical armored patrol vehicles, and force mobility enhancement vehicles.
The government said it would award contracts for the manufacture and assembly of the vehicles as well as for engineering and support services over the next 25 years.
($1=$1.17 Canadian)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090708/wl_can...litary_vehicles
Reuters
Wed Jul 8, 2:55 pm ET
TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada will spend about C$5 billion ($4.3 billion) on light armored vehicles for its military, the government said on Wednesday.
About C$1 billion will be used to upgrade the current fleet of light armored vehicles, with the remainder to go toward a new generation of combat vehicles and their upkeep.
The Canadian Forces will start using the new vehicles by 2012, with a fully operational fleet intended for 2015.
"The government is committed through its Canada First Defense Strategy to renewing the Canadian Forces' core equipment," Defense Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement.
"In addition to a renewed commitment to domestic security, this defense investment creates jobs, brings economic benefits to Canadian industry, and creates and sustains long-term employment for Canadians."
The government said it is currently looking at procurement strategies and specific requirements for the projects. It said all winning contractors will be required to spend one dollar in Canada for every contract dollar awarded.
General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, a unit of U.S.-based General Dynamics, which developed the military's current fleet of LAV IIIs, will work with the government to upgrade the current fleet.
Contracts for three new fleets of combat vehicles are expected to be awarded for 2011. The government said the new fleets would include close combat vehicles, tactical armored patrol vehicles, and force mobility enhancement vehicles.
The government said it would award contracts for the manufacture and assembly of the vehicles as well as for engineering and support services over the next 25 years.
($1=$1.17 Canadian)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090708/wl_can...litary_vehicles
MSantor - August 7, 2009 07:35 PM (GMT)
Watch out Ivan!
| QUOTE |
Canada plans anti-sub exercises in Arctic By Randy Boswell, Canwest News ServiceAugust 7, 2009 2:01 PM Link: http://www.canada.com/news/Canada+plans+an...0642/story.html Caption Under Photo on News Link: HMCS Fredericton at anchor in Frobisher Bay near the city of Iqaluit, Nunavut. The Canadian military will conduct 'anti-submarine warfare' exercises during its annual Arctic sovereignty operation, which begins this week near Baffin Island. News Story: Just a month after two nuclear-powered Russian subs cracked through sea ice near the North Pole to test fire two long-range missiles, the Canadian military will conduct "anti-submarine warfare" exercises during its annual Arctic sovereignty operation, which begins this week near Baffin Island. The massive training mission, involving some 700 personnel from the Canadian Forces and a host of federal and territorial agencies, will also feature a simulated security emergency involving a "suspected downed unmanned aerial vehicle." Details about the Canadian Forces' three-week "Nanook 09" operation were released Friday at a Halifax press conference hosted by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who last week voiced concerns about a planned Russian paratrooper drop at the North Pole, scheduled for next spring to mark the anniversary of a Cold War parachute jump by two Soviet scientists. While planning for Nanook 09 has been going on for months, the recent Russian missile tests and the planned bolstering of northern military might among all five polar nations gives this year's war-games exercise in Nunavut an added sense of real-world currency. Canada, Russia, the U.S., Norway and Denmark — the only five countries with Arctic Ocean coastlines — have all agreed to peacefully sort out looming seabed boundary disputes under a UN treaty. But a host of potential challenges and opportunities related to the melting of the Arctic ice cover — including increased ship traffic, possible terrorist activity, an oil exploration boom, search-and-rescue gaps and environmental risks — have heightened global interest in the polar realm, and prompted some experts to warn that military tensions could rise in the region despite genuine, multilateral efforts to avoid conflict. Nanook 09 is the main element in a three-pronged Arctic training schedule this summer for the Canadian Forces that includes Operation Nunakput in the Western Arctic and Operation Nunalivut amid the remote islands of the High Arctic. The Baffin Island exercises, which run through Aug. 28, will coincide with a visit to Iqaluit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is expected to visit a Canadian warship and submarine during his Aug. 17-21 tour of the North. |
MSantor - August 19, 2009 06:24 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Harper observes Arctic military manoeuvres Last Updated: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 | 10:25 AM CT Prime Minister Stephen Harper boarded a Canadian warship on Wednesday to observe a massive military exercise aimed at demonstrating Arctic sovereignty. Harper arrived on the frigate HMCS Toronto by helicopter on Wednesday to observe an anti-submarine warfare exercise, which is being conducted as part of Operation Nanook in the eastern Arctic. Military officials said Harper is also expected to board the submarine HMCS Corner Brook when it dives in an area around Frobisher Bay. Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk will also observe the exercise. The operation involves about 700 military personnel on land and sea and in the air. It will include maritime surveillance patrols in the Hudson and Davis straits and aerial reconnaissance over much of the North. Emergency preparation The annual military exercise is partially meant to demonstrate Canada's sovereignty in the North in an area where Russian and American subs have long prowled. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is on a five-day tour of the three northern territories. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)Canada has also been in quarrels with Denmark over control of Hans Island, but they quietly began forging closer military links recently. The exercise, which will conclude on Aug. 28, is also meant to practise responses to emergencies such as an attack or a sunken ship, officials said. Harper's participation in the exercise is part of a five-day tour in the three northern territories. During the tour, which has included a number of Harper's cabinet ministers, the government has made a series of announcements related to the military and economic development. MacKay officially launched the North's first permanent army unit, Yellowknife Company, on Monday. Meanwhile, Harper announced Tuesday that the new Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency will be located in Iqaluit. |
MSantor - September 21, 2009 05:03 PM (GMT)
I support this, thought not at the expense of the Afghanistan mission:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...0921?hub=Canada
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...0921?hub=Canada
| QUOTE |
| Go back to peacekeeping; Canadians tell DND Updated Mon. Sep. 21 2009 10:28 AM ET The Canadian Press OTTAWA -- A public opinion poll conducted for National Defence says half of Canadians surveyed want their soldiers to return to a "peacekeeping only" role in the world. The Ipsos Reid research suggested there was "a small, but statistically significant increase," in the number of people who feel that way. The figure edged up to 50 per cent of the 1,300 people surveyed last March, compared with 46 per cent of those asked in a similar survey in 2008. The public supports the deployment of troops when it is "an observation and monitoring role over a more aggressive one for the military," said the survey, conducted in early March and released on a federal government website. That Canadians cling to the image of their soldiers as peacekeepers is something that grates on the military and its supporters, who argue the era standing in between warring factions largely ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The survey noted that there is a growing recognition among the public that times have changed and world conflicts are now more opaque. Even still, when focus groups were asked to identify their first impressions of the Canadian military, they chose peace signs, hands reaching out to help others, blue berets and helmets, as well as soldiers helping others rather than bearing arms, rather than the images of death and combat from Afghanistan. "When I thought of Canadian forces, I drew an army guy helping someone else - helping as opposed to destroying, peace rather than bearing arms - unlike the States," one participant told researchers. The results suggested to researchers that "other images of the Forces remain more deep-seated, despite the high profile of the Afghan mission in the media over the last few years." The nostalgia for the Pearsonian peacekeeping days and the demand that the military make humanitarian relief operations, rather than combat its principle focus seem to be tied to the realization that such operations offer "a clear-cut reason for Canada's involvement" over a defined period of time, said the survey. It's also easier to measure the outcome and success of a mission. The study noted there is also a feel-good factor, where the public sees such missions as contributing to the image of "helpful or good Canadians." The survey had a margin of error of 2.7 per cent 19 times out of 20. The poll also found a significant lack of understanding and confusion about Canada's mission in Afghanistan. There were two conflicting views on whether Canada should remain in the fight Afghanistan, with surprisingly many in the focus groups saying the country should 'stay the course' while others have come to the conclusion the war is unwinnable. "Many participants expressed the view that Canada should 'stay the course' in Afghanistan because of the potential damage that could be done to the Afghan people were they to pull out," the report said. "Participants expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis that could unfold if the Canadian Forces were to leave, particularly if there were a swift withdrawal from the country." Yet surprisingly many of those asked were unclear about Ottawa's 2011 deadline to end combat operations. "Certain participants suggested that an extension to Canada's mission should be considered only if it was requested by the people of Afghanistan," said the report. The survey was conducted around the same time Prime Minister Stephen Harper told a U.S. cable news network that he had doubts about the current direction of the war. "We're not going to win this war just by staying ... my own judgment is quite frankly we are not going to ever defeat the insurgency," Harper told CNN on March 1. Researchers said it may have influenced their results. Calls for the country to end its involvement in Afghanistan are getting louder. Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, a staunch supporter of the military, equated the ongoing fight in Kandahar to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, a comparison that has privately outraged many in uniform. He defended the provocative statements Sunday on a national political television program by saying politicians are too afraid of offending soldiers and their families by questioning the direction of the war. He said it's important to have an honest debate about the mission. |