Armée canadienne/Canadian Armed Forces

Rappel du premier message :

F-35 vs Typhoon vs SH

les futurs classe "Halifax"

Citation :

Canadian F-35 Lightning II Basing Announced

OTTAWA | While visiting 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced today that sixty-five F-35 Lightning II fighter jets will be based at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville and Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake.

“The acquisition of sixty-five F-35 Lightning II aircraft is the realization of our Government’s key commitment under the Canada First Defence Strategy to acquire a fifth generation fighter aircraft,” said Minister MacKay. “I'm pleased to announce 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec and 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta will equally serve as operating bases for Canada's new fighter jets. This provides continued and significant economic opportunities for these two communities.”

Delivery of the Canadian Forces sixty-five F-35 Lightning II jets is expected to start in 2016. We expect that no less than twenty-four operational aircraft will be located at each of the wings, with the intent of maintaining a 50-50 balance between the fighter squadrons. The remaining F-35s will be attached to a training squadron at a location to be announced in the future.

“Canada’s operational needs will be best served through continued use of the existing basing and infrastructure that are already supporting our fighter jet operations,” stated Laurie Hawn, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, during an infrastructure announcement at 4 Wing Cold Lake. “This announcement gives local authorities and businesses the certainty they need for long-term planning.”

“3 Wing Bagotville and 4 Wing Cold Lake have long and proud histories of protecting Canadian and North American airspace at home and contributing to coalition operations abroad,” said Lieutenant-General André Deschamps, Chief of the Air Staff. “With the arrival of the F-35 Lightning II,both fighter Wings will be well equipped to be at forefront of fighter operations to 2050 and beyond.”

3 Wing Bagotville and 4 Wing Cold Lake are vital components of the Air Force and the Canadian Forces, and they will continue to support the strong readiness posture that has marked the military’s operational success, at home and abroad. Canadian Forces personnel are key to maintaining the institutional agility that is essential to mission success, and the addition of the F-35 Lightning II fighter fleet at 3 Wing and 4 Wing will help them protect the safety and security of Canadians well into the 21st Century.

defpro.com

pas tout le monde est bete

Citation :

Canada - AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure Systems

WASHINGTON, September 15, 2010 -- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on September 13, of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of 8 AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure Systems (DIRCMs) as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $72 million.

The Government of Canada has requested a possible sale of 8 AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure Systems (DIRCMs), which consist of: 16 Small Laser Transmitter Assemblies (SLTA), 54 Missile Approach Warning Sensors AAR-54(V) (MAWS), 11 AN/AAQ-24(V) Processors, 12 AN/AAQ-24(V) Control Indicator Units, and 21 AAQ-24(V) Smart Cards; 2 SLTA, additional spare components which consist of 6 AAR-54(V) (MAWS), 1 AN/AAQ-24(V) Processors, 1 AN/AAQ-24(V) Control Indicator Units, and 4 AN/AAQ-24(V) Smart Cards; support and test equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government (USG) and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $72 million.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in North America.

The upgrade of Canada’s CH-47F CHINOOK helicopters with the DIRCM system will allow Canada to use this capability to enhance the survivability of its aircraft and crew for its medium-high lift helicopter (MHLH) mission at home and abroad. The upgraded CH-47F helicopters will be used during deployments into Afghanistan supporting coalition goals and U.S. national objectives. Canada, which already has AN/AAQ-24(V) systems as part of its CC177 (C-17 equivalent) fleet, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional systems.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be the Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Canada.

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2010/canada_10-42.pdf

Fremo a écrit:

les futurs classe "Halifax"

Pk tu rigole fREMO? elle semble pas mal cette Halifax

Citation :

Thales to Equip Canadian Frigates with SATCOM Antenna
Four of the Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigates will be provided with Thales UHF satellite communication (SATCOM) omni-directional antennas.
The Quadrifilar Helix (QHASS) antenna is specifically designed to provide enhanced low-angle performance in the UHF SATCOM frequency band.
The system is a compact and lightweight omni-directional antenna that can be installed on any platform to provide optimum link margin performance.
Thales Canada president and CEO Paul Kahn said a variant of the antenna has been in operation for five years with the navy on its Iroquois-class destroyers.

naval-technology

KMW a offre 20 LEOPARD 2 modernisé au Canada

La nouvelle version est LEOPARD A4M CAN



En juillet 2009, le Canada a commandé à KMW la modernisation des 20 chars de combat LEOPARD, est spécialement conçue pour les opérations dans Afghanistan. L’expérience des opérations en Afghanistan ont été incorporées dans la conception du nouveaux systèmes. De nombreuses technologies nouvelles ont été prises en collaboration avec les forces armées allemandes et l'Office fédéral de la technologie de défense et d'approvisionnement (BWB). La mise en œuvre réussie de l'élaboration, la mise à niveau et la rénovation a eu lieu dans moins d'un an.

Citation :

KMW liefert 20 modernisierte LEOPARD 2 an Kanada


- Panzer gehen umgehend in den Einsatz nach Afghanistan
- Einsatzfähigkeit auch in urbanem Gelände gewährleistet
- Entwicklung, Umrüstung und Auslieferung in weniger als einem Jahr

München/Bergen, 8. Oktober 2010 - Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) hat am 7. Oktober 2010 den ersten von 20 modernisierten Kampfpanzern vom Typ LEOPARD 2 A4M CAN an die kanadischen Streitkräfte übergeben. Das Roll-Out fand in Anwesenheit des kanadischen militärischen Repräsentanten bei der NATO, Vizeadmiral Denis Rouleau und dem General der Panzertruppen, Brigadegeneral Klaus Feldmann, auf dem Truppenübungsplatz in Bergen bei Hannover statt. Zahlreiche weitere Vertreter der kanadischen und deutschen Armee befanden sich unter den Gästen. Das nächste Einsatzziel der kanadischen LEOPARDen heißt Afghanistan.

Der kanadische Kommandeur Land Force Atlantic Area, Brigadegeneral Steve Bows, erklärte anlässlich der Übergabe der neuen Panzer: „Trotz der Komplexität des gegenwärtigen Gefechtsfeldes ist der Einsatz von Kampfpanzern im Verbund mit anderen Kräften nicht in Frage gestellt. Wir sind stolz, mit dem besten Kampfpanzer, dem LEOPARD 2, unserer Nation zu dienen und unsere im Einsatz befindlichen Alliierten zu unterstützen.“

Leben schützen „Made in Germany“

Im Juli 2009 hatte Kanada KMW mit der Modernisierung von 20 LEOPARD-Kampfpanzern beauftragt. Die neue Version, der LEOPARD A4M CAN, ist speziell für Operationen in Aghanistan ausgelegt. Die bisherigen Erfahrungen aus den Operationen in Afghanistan sind in die Konstruktion der neuen Systeme eingeflossen. In Zusammenarbeit mit der Bundeswehr und dem Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB) sind zahlreiche neue Technologien berücksichtigt worden. Die erfolgreiche Umsetzung der Entwicklung, Umrüstung und Instandsetzung erfolgte in weniger als einem Jahr.

„Die Flexibiliät und das Teamwork von KMW zur Unterstützung der bislang in Afghanistan eingesetzten LEOPARD 2A6M in den vergangenen drei Jahren war außerordentlich“, betonte der verantwortliche kanadische Programmanager Daniel Herbert. „Der modernisierte LEOPARD 2 spielt eine Schlüsselrolle für unseren Einsatz. Er ermöglicht uns, entsprechend mobil zu agieren und das Leben unserer Soldaten zu schützen “, so Herbert weiterhin.

Hier liegt auch der Leitgedanke der neuen Konzeptionierung: Der Leopard 2 A4M CAN schützt die Soldaten vor Angriffen mit Panzerfaustgeschossen und IED-Sprengsätzen ebenso, wie vor der ständigen Gefahr durch explodierende Minen. Den Ausgangspunkt für das Schutzkonzept stellen ein überragender Minen- sowie ein Rundumschutz dar. Auch gegen die extreme Hitze Südafghanistans haben die Ingenieure entsprechende technische Vorkehrungen getroffen. Darüber hinaus wurden durch die Integration einer Pioniergeräteschnittstelle für Minenroller, Minenpflug oder Räumschild die Fähigkeiten des neuen Kampfpanzers signifikant erweitert.

Unverzichtbarer Partner für die NATO-Länder

Inzwischen verlassen sich die Streitkräfte von 16 Nationen auf den LEOPARD 2. Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Systemen kann sich der Panzer auch in einem stark gefährdeten Umfeld über längere Zeit exponieren. Die NATO-Partner Kanada und Dänemark setzen den LEOPARD 2 daher seit Jahren im ISAF-Einsatz in Afghanistan ein. Mit dem Schutz, der weit über jedem anderen Gefechstfahrzeug liegt seiner Mobilität und seiner präzisen wie hochwirksamen Bewaffnung stellt er für den Gegener ein enormes Abschreckungspotential dar und ist für die kanadischen Soldaten somit ein nicht mehr wegzudenkendes Schlüsselsystem im Einsatz. Mehrfach konnte der LEOPARD das Leben der Soldaten bereits retten. Dieser Schutz wirkt sich auch positiv auf die Moral der Truppe aus.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann

Die Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG ist Marktführer in Europa für gepanzerte Rad- und Kettenfahrzeuge. An Standorten in Deutschland, Griechenland, den Niederlanden, Singapur und den USA entwickeln, fertigen und betreuen über 3.400 Mitarbeiter ein Produktportfolio, das von luftverladbaren und hochgeschützten Radfahrzeugen (MUNGO, AMPV*, F2, DINGO, GFF4 und BOXER*), über die Aufklärungs-, Flugabwehr- und Artilleriesysteme (FENNEK, GEPARD, LeFLaSys*, Panzerhaubitze 2000, DONAR* und AGM) bis hin zu schweren Kampfpanzern (LEOPARD 1 und 2), Schützenpanzern (PUMA*) und Brückenlegesystemen (LEGUAN) reicht. Darüber hinaus besitzt KMW eine umfassende Systemkompetenz auf dem Gebiet ziviler und militärischer Simulation- sowie Führungs- und Informationssystemen und fernbedienbaren Lafetten mit Aufklärungs- und Beobachtungs-einrichtungen für Missionen bei Tag und Nacht. Auf die Einsatzsysteme von KMW verlassen sich weltweit die Streitkräfte von über 30 Nationen.

* Gemeinschaftsvorhaben mit nationalen und internationalen Partnern

www.pressrelations.de

Canadian F-18 fighter jet and a Russian Bomber :

(la photo date un peu, 2009), but a really beautiful shot !!

Citation :

Canadian Air Force to Receive Equipment Maintenance Training Solution


The Canadian Air Force is to receive an interactive 3D simulation solution from Ngrain for use in integrated information learning environment (AFIILE).
The virtual task trainer (VTT) solution will be delivered to maintenance technicians across the air force community to accelerate learning across a distributed learning environment.
The Ngrain solution will use interactive 3D simulations of the CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft to deliver results-driven training for aircraft maintainers and technicians.
In preparation for delivery, two Ngrain VTT solutions have passed the test for sharable content object reference model (SCORM) compliance on the AFIILE environment.
The mk46 lightweight torpedo VTT and the CP-140 Corrosion Control VTT, will enable students to explore the systems, identify parts, review key assembly / disassembly and maintenance procedures, and review troubleshooting exercises.
The VTT solutions are based on the 3D knowledge object (3KO), which is a unique approach that embeds subject-matter-expertise with detailed 3D models into a self-contained format.

airforce-technology

Citation :

Easing Out The CF-18

October 23, 2010: Canada has awarded $700 million in contracts to two commercial firms (Harris and L3) to provide maintenance for its F-18 fleet of jet fighters over the next nine years. These contracts are increasingly popular, as they provide a cheaper way to provide all the more complex maintenance, other than what the ground crews do on a daily basis. This involves major overhauls, management of spare parts and upgrades of equipment. This includes the airframe, engines and electronics. Canada expects to retire its 80 CF-18s by 2020, and replace them with 65 F-35s. The CF-18s were purchased in the 1980s. Of the 128 originally received, 103 remain and 80 have been upgraded and remain in regular service

strategypage

Citation :

Canadian Auditor General Slams Acquisition of Military Helicopters
Canadian National Defence is replacing and upgrading its helicopter fleet and will spend nearly $11 billion to acquire two new types of helicopters along with long-term in-service support. The CH-148 Cyclone is a maritime helicopter that will replace the Sea King helicopters; and the CH-147 Chinook is a medium- to heavy-lift helicopter. These modern and technologically sophisticated helicopters are expected to bring new and enhanced capabilities to the Canadian Forces

defpro

Citation :

Honeywell Wins Auxiliary Power Unit Order for Canadian Chinooks

Honeywell announced today that Boeing has selected the 36-150 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) for CH-147 helicopters that will be delivered to Canada.
"Honeywell engines and auxiliary power units are powering helicopters around the world, but the Canadian Forces program marks the first selection of Honeywell's APU for a Chinook helicopter," said Vicki Panhuise, vice president, U.S. Defense Customers, Honeywell Aerospace. "The Honeywell 36-150 provides 75% more electrical power allowing the Canadian Forces an expanded mission envelope. It also provides higher reliability and lower operating costs for a proven battlefield workhorse." Honeywell will provide the 36-150 APU with first shipments beginning in 2011. Honeywell also provides the T55 engine for the Chinook helicopter. More than 6,000 T55 engines have been produced, flying more than 12 million hours worldwide.
An APU is a small turbine engine used for main engine starting, as well as providing electrical power to airframe and cockpit systems.

defenseworld

Citation :

Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornet crashes near 4 Wing Cold Lake



Winnipeg, Man. – At approximately 11:45 p.m. MST on November 17, a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet crashed in a field approximately 13 kilometers northwest of 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta.
The pilot, Captain Darren Blakie of 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron, successfully ejected from the aircraft and was taken to hospital upon being recovered. He is in good condition and is being released from hospital.
The exact cause of the crash is unknown at this time. The Directorate of Flight Safety has begun an investigation into the crash.
Source: CAF
Photo: Marcel van Leeuwen, ZAPP

Citation :

F-35 : moins de retombées que prévu pour le Canada


Le F-35, ou JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) construit par Lockheed Martin. Photo : Bloomberg

L'acquisition des 65 avions de chasse F-35 (ou JSF) conçus par Lockheed Martin devraient engendrer moins de retombées économiques que prévues pour les entreprises canadiennes, indique le quotidien Le Devoir en citant des documents du gouvernement américain.
Les retombées de l'achat des avions de chasse devant remplacer les CF-18 ne seraient donc pas de 12 milliards, comme le soutient Ottawa, mais de 3,9 milliards $.
Selon le document du Pentagone, aux Etats-Unis, le gouvernement canadien estimait lui-même que les retombées économiques pour le pays ne dépasseraient pas les 6 milliards $.
En fait, le programme devrait rapporter des contrats d'une valeur de 1,093 milliard $ entre 2002 et 2011 et de 2,817 milliards $ entre 2012 et 2026, écrit le Pentagone.
Pour l'instant, les entreprises du pays ont obtenu des contrats d'une valeur totale de 350 millions $, selon les récentes déclarations des ministres du gouvernement conservateur.

lesaffaires.com

Citation :

Saab Receives Additional Order for Further Radar Enhancement for Canadian Navy Halifax-Class Frigates

Defence and security company Saab has received an additional order of SEK 108 million [$15.43 million; €11.66 million - Ed.] from Lockheed Martin Canada for further enhancement of the Sea Giraffe 150 HC 2D radar for the modernization of the Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates. Deliveries are planned for 2011-2016. The original Contract was awarded in May 2009.

Saab has been a radar provider to the Canadian Navy since the early nineties. The received additional order is a further enhancement and modification of the existing Sea Giraffe 150 HC, and will secure a high level of operational availability as well as new and improved functions of the radar for years to come.

”We are very pleased that Lockheed Martin Canada and the Canadian Navy have selected Saab’s radar for this modernization program”, says Micael Johansson, Senior Vice President and Head of Saab’s Business area Electronic Defence Systems.

The new modified Sea Giraffe 150 HC will increase the performance in a high clutter environment, such as the littorals, as well as align the radar to the latest generation of Sea Giraffe AMBs. It will provide the Canadian Navy with a state-of-the- art radar that will complement other radar sensors onboard with its improved capability to detect and track low RCS (Radar Cross Section) targets on or just above the sea surface. New capabilities can easily be added and inserted to the radar to counter new threats or accommodate new requirements.

The radar upgrade is part of a larger Combat Systems Integration contract, awarded to Lockheed Martin Canada in 2008, that will ultimately provide a new command and control system, radars, tactical data links, electronic support measures and other warfare capabilities for the Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates.

As part of this order, the fully owned Saab company, Saab Microwave Canada Ltd, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, will provide additional support services for the Canadian Navy.

defpro

Citation :

Canadian Armed Forces – The Role And Capabilities Of The Chinook F Model



As part of the Government’s commitment to strengthen the Canadian Forces, the Department of National Defence is acquiring 15 Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopters, Canadian F model Chinook (also known as CH-147F).
Supporting Operations
The Canada First Defence Strategy represents a commitment by the Government of Canada to provide the Canadian Forces (CF) with the right equipment, therefore enabling CF personnel to perform their mission of defending Canada and Canadian interests, today and well into the future. New Chinook helicopters are an important part of that commitment.
By summer 2012, personnel from the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces will begin test flights with Boeing on the first CH-147F helicopters. The first Chinook aircraft will be delivered by 2013 and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) will follow a year later in 2014.
The Chinooks will be delivered at a rate of approximately one aircraft per month, with all aircraft being delivered over a 12 month period.
Domestic Operations
Domestic roles for the Chinook helicopters will focus on the provision of logistical or mobility support to CF Land Forces and CANSOFCOM, other Government departments, law enforcement agencies, or other civil authorities. The Chinook helicopter will provide a vital capability to conduct secondary Search and Rescue when required and support major air disaster response across the continent, particularly in Canada’s North given increasing commercial air activity in that region. The Chinook will also be capable of responding to humanitarian emergencies such as fire, floods and earthquakes. The versatility, impressive capacity and long range of this helicopter make the Chinook ideal for operations in Canada’s vast territory and demanding environment.
Foreign Operations
Wherever the CF may be asked to deploy abroad , they are likely to deploy to a more chaotic and complex environment involving improvised explosive devices, mines, small arms fire, and other dangerous weapons.
Helicopter forces are vital to supporting adaptable military operations in these environments and must be prepared to assist ground-borne forces and ensure their own continued operations under increased threats.
The new Chinook helicopters will have a much enhanced self-protection capability over earlier Canadian Chinooks, including advanced anti-missile protection systems, radar and laser warning systems, ballistic protection, self-defence machine guns and advanced electro-optical and infra-red sensors to detect potential threats and assist aircrew in operating in reduced visibility conditions. The Chinook will provide the ground forces with the ability to reduce the reliance on ground routes where threats are high. As evidenced in Afghanistan, the capability of the Chinook to maximize the effectiveness of Canadian troops while reducing the threat to them is invaluable.
Chinook helicopters are in high demand across the entire spectrum of contemporary military operations, from humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping to high-tempo combat operations. These forces must train continuously and be prepared to deploy on short notice. Aircraft and aircrew must be available and prepared in advance to support the high levels of readiness and responsiveness required of the CF. These Chinook helicopters are needed now to prepare for and sustain operations in the future.
Equipped for Modern Battlefield
These new Chinooks will be dramatically improved compared to the old models operated by the CF in the 1970s and 1980s, with a full range of leading-edge systems which will allow them to operate effectively in a modern theatre of operations that has also changed dramatically since the Cold War era.

• With the extended range fuel tanks, they will have more than twice the range of the old Chinooks.
  
• To defeat anti-aircraft missiles, the new Chinooks will be equipped with a laser-based active missile counter-measure system, as well as a chaff and flare dispensing system.
  
• A radar and laser warning system will alert the crew if they are being targeted, and a full armour kit will provide crew and passengers with ballistic protection from small arms fire.
  
• The Chinook will be equipped with three defensive machine guns: two forward door guns and one on the aft ramp.
  
• A state-of-the-art Electro-Optic/Infra-Red sensor will allow the helicopter to operate effectively in very low light or reduced visibility conditions.
  

In addition to robust self-defence equipment, additional tactical procedures are followed to further mitigate threats that may be encountered. For example, the Chinooks can be flown with armed escort aircraft, and can use deception techniques in a wide range of day or night operations, all of which make the Chinook an ideal helicopter in a broad spectrum of demanding theatres.
Source and photo: Canadian Armed Forces

Citation :

Rheinmetall Gets $155M in Canadian Work


BONN, Germany - Rheinmetall has won two orders, totaling about 87 million euros ($115 million), to modernize tanks and supply grenade launchers for Canada.

Its subsidiary, Rheinmetall Canada, will supply the Canadian Army with 304 automatic grenade launchers and 250,000 rounds of various kinds of 40mm ammunition by January 2012. The order, worth about 70 million euros ($92.57 million), is under the Close Area Suppression Weapon project, and the weapon will be called the C16 Automatic Grenade Launcher System.
Rheinmetall Canada, acting as the general contractor for this project, will handle project management, assembly, integration, logistical support, spare parts and life-cycle support during military operations.
Rheinmetall will also modernize and overhaul 42 Leopard 2A4 tanks for about 17 million euros ($22.48 million), beginning in 2012. The tanks, which came from the Dutch military, will be refitted to meet Canadian Army standards and enable integration into C4I structures.

defensenews

Citation :

La remise en service du NCSM Victoria encore repoussée



L'achèvement des travaux de réparation du sous-marin NCSM Victoria de la marine canadienne a été de nouveau repoussé. Il s'agit de l'un des quatre sous-marins de classe Upholder achetés par le Canada à la Grande-Bretagne, il y a 12 ans.
Le sous-marin est en cale sèche à la base militaire d'Esquimalt près de Victoria, en Colombie-Britannique, depuis plus de trois ans. Il devait reprendre du service à la fin de l'année 2009. Son retour en mer avait d'abord été reporté à la fin de 2010, puis maintenant, jusqu'au milieu de l'année prochaine.
Le ministère de la Défense avait expliqué le retard par un manque de pièces et de connaissances techniques, mais il semble que ces problèmes aient été réglés depuis.
Le ministère a affirmé que les leçons tirées des travaux du NCSM Victoria seraient appliquées à la rénovation des trois autres sous-marins, parmi lesquels le NCSM Chicoutimi, ravagé par un incendie qui a causé la mort d'un marin en 2004 lors de son voyage inaugural dans l'Atlantique Nord.
Le NCSM Chicoutimi a été transporté à Victoria l'année dernière pour des travaux dont la facture est estimée à 100 millions de dollars. On ne prévoit pas son retour en mer avant 2012.
Le Canada avait acheté les quatre sous-marins à la Grande-Bretagne en 1998 lors d'une transaction controversée valant plusieurs centaines de millions de dollars.

Radio-Canada

Citation :

First Arrival of Canadian Armed Forces CC-130J Hercules Tactical Aircraft in Afghanistan



OTTAWA – The Canadian Forces are proud to welcome today their first deployed CC-130J Hercules tactical aircraft into operational service at Kandahar Airfield in support of our UN-mandated, NATO-led mission to Afghanistan.
“This Government has an incredible record of providing our men and women in uniform with the necessary tools to do the job that is asked of them,” declared the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, during his recent visit with Canadian Forces members serving in Afghanistan. “These impressive new aircraft – which were delivered on budget and ahead of schedule – will serve Canada and Canadians well for years to come,” he said.
“The quick introduction of the J-model Hercules in Afghanistan clearly demonstrates the Air Force’s flexibility to sustain vital airlift mission in the complex environment of high-intensity joint operations,” said Lieutenant-General André Deschamps, Chief of Air Staff. “Our air wing operations in Afghanistan highlight the value of an agile and expeditionary Air Force.”
The CC-130J provides additional capability and reliability, and will help ensure our continued success in operations thereby helping the Air Force to meet its goal of being the “best in class” for its size, while remaining highly interoperable with our allies.
“The operations in Afghanistan clearly show that the men and women of the Air Force are expertly trained, extremely professional, and highly motivated to make a vital contribution to operational success,” said Colonel Paul Prévost, Commanding Officer of Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) Air Wing.
The first CC-130J Hercules tactical aircraft arrived in Canada on June 4, 2010, six months ahead of the original scheduled delivery date. The Air Force team demonstrated its agility, flexibility and professional capabilities by readying the aircraft and its crews for deployment to Afghanistan in less than seven months. Training, maintenance and operation procedures needed to be adapted to the specific characteristics of this aircraft, while ensuring an efficient and effective implementation schedule that will facilitate safe, effective, and sustained operations.
The new CC-130J Hercules aircraft will belong to the Tactical Aviation Unit (Task Force CANUCK), which is part of the JTF-Afg Air Wing. This tactical aircraft will be used for missions such as intra-theatre transport of troops and cargo, battlefield illumination, and drops of combat packages. A second CC-130J Hercules aircraft will deploy to Afghanistan in late Spring 2011.
All 17 CC-130Js will be based at 8 Wing Trenton, along with the future Air Mobility Training Centre that will house the equipment and personnel required to train the operators and maintainers of the CC-130J Hercules aircraft.
Source and photo: Canadian Armed Forces

Le Mistral s'appréte pour étre le navire qu'a connu le plus de succés à l'export pour les Français, après le Scorpène sale sabot

Citation :

Le Canada s'intéresse aux Mistral de DCNS /Presse


PARIS, 7 janvier (Reuters) - Le Canada a exprimé un "très fort intérêt" pour l'achat de deux navires de la classe Mistral du constructeur DCNS, lit-on vendredi dans La Tribune.
DCNS, contrôlé à 75% par l'Etat et à 25% par Thales, "est en train de prospecter des chantiers navals, au Québec notamment, pour les associer industriellement au contrat, après le feu vert du gouvernement canadien", écrit le quotidien.
Il précise que les deux navires seraient fabriqués sur place et que le groupe viserait une signature en 2012.
Un porte-parole de DCNS s'est refusé à tout commentaire.

Citation :

Canada Signs Deal For New Radar Systems




OTTAWA - Canada on Jan. 25 announced a C$55.6 million ($55.7 million) contract to modernize two military radar systems said to play a major role in defending North American airspace.

The deal, announced by Defense Minister Peter MacKay, is part of a major effort by Canada to upgrade its Air Force, a drive that includes the acquisition of new F-35 fighter jets.
The radars will replace aging systems in Alberta and Quebec, providing "long-range air surveillance and aerospace control capability" in support of military operations in Canada and abroad, a statement said.
They will be delivered starting in February 2013.
MacKay also announced the purchase of 14 aircraft cargo loaders for C$5.6 million ($5.6 million) from TLD America

defensenews

22-01-11 A-stan

Citation :

Chinook helicopters to be sold as Afghan mission ends



OTTAWA — National Defence has put "For Sale" signs on the air force's Chinook helicopters in Afghanistan -- two years after taxpayers shelled out $282 million to buy them.
The department recently sounded out allies in the war-torn country to see whether any are interested in the heavy battlefield transports, purchased second-hand from the U.S. Army.
Some defence analysts suggest Canada might be better served by bringing the choppers home for domestic operations, perhaps improving the search-and-rescue system.
So far there have been no takers for the five CH-147D choppers, which were rushed into Afghanistan after the Manley commission made it a condition of Ottawa continuing the war until 2011.
Canada initially purchased six aircraft in a government-to-government arrangement with Washington, but one was shot down by Taliban small-arms fire in Panjwaii district, west of Kandahar city, last August.
To make up for the loss, Ottawa leased a D model American Chinook for the reminder of the mission. Defence officials refused to say at what cost.
If no buyers are found for the Canadian Chinooks they will be packed up and brought home when the combat mission ends in July, said the general who leads the transition headquarters.
"We're still looking to divest ourselves of them," Brig.-Gen. Charles Lamarre said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.
"They're going to have to push that through and get them sold before we shut things down. If by chance we don't, we'll still have a responsibility to look after that equipment."
The air force picked up the Afghanistan choppers intending to sell them once the combat mission ended. The decision was made, in part, because there was a new fleet of helicopters on order.
The Conservative government signalled its intention to spend $4.7 billion on 15 new Chinooks a few years ago. The new choppers are latest model -- the F series -- and have been modified with extra-large fuel tanks and improved sensors.
But Rob Huebert of the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary said the older Chinooks could serve a vital role in Canada.
They could free some of the newer helicopters for operations in the Arctic, or even bolster the country's hard-pressed search-and-rescue fleet, he said.
"I don't think having too many helicopters is a bad thing," Huebert said. "The type of capability and the type of lift the Chinooks provide can always be put to use here."
Having the surplus Chinooks around would give the military the opportunity during the summer to station one or two of the newer long-range helicopters in the North, where the Harper government has said it wants a more robust presence.
The air force has long had availability and spare parts woes with its CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters, and operations of that aircraft have been restricted to the East and West Coasts.
Huebert said the extra Chinooks could slide into search-and-rescue operations in Central Canada, where the smaller Griffon helicopter has been covering the gap.
The cost of maintaining and operating the older Chinooks might be slightly higher, he said, but likely not prohibitive to the extent that other fleets would have to be shut down.
The air force has said it would be expensive to keep the D model aircraft.
The Defence Department was asked for comment, but refused to discuss the rationale for ditching the helicopters.

www.ctv.ca

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Citation :

New Canadian Leopards roar into Afghanistan

The newly upgraded Leopard 2 A4M battle tanks are delivered to Afghanistan.

Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan received five of twenty upgraded Leopard 2 A4M CAN (Leopard 2) tanks between December 2010 and mid January 2011. The new tanks arrived freshly off the production line of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) as part of the tank replacement project by the Director General Land Equipment Program Management to replace some of the Leopard 2 A6M CAN tanks that have been deployed in theatre since 2007.

The deployment of the upgraded tanks will ensure Canadian soldiers continue to sustain ongoing combat operations and fulfill Canada’s commitment to its coalition partners until the end of the mission in Afghanistan.

Key upgrades on the Leopard 2A4M CAN include a general overhaul of the complete vehicle and 360 degrees of protection afforded by add-on armour. Other modifications include an all-electric digital turret, a digital central logic/main distribution system, a new commander system control unit, enhanced service brakes, an upgraded suspension and driver viewing aids. Environmental enhancements include chilled cooling vests for the crew and new camouflage nets.

The new tanks undergo a commissioning process when they arrive in Kandahar before they are loaded for battle. Some of them have already been pushed forward in support of combat operations.

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Citation :

Switzerland sells surplus Leopard 2 Battle Tanks to Canada

Switzerland sells 12 surplus Leopard 2 Battle Tanks (Pz 87 Leo) to Canada. The battle tanks supplied without armament and further components will be converted to protected special vehicles. Following the reduction of military strengths in connection with Armed Forces 95 and Armed Forces XXI, various weapon systems were decommissioned, mothballed, sold, or disposed of. The Leopard 2 Battle Tank (Pz 87 Leo) is one of many systems which are no longer needed in the originally procured quantity. Part of the Pz 87 Leo fleet was therefore mothballed at various storage sites. From the units of the Pz 87 Leo fleet of the Swiss Armed Forces, which are not foreseen for the quality maintenance program and not among the vehicles designated as spare material, 12 vehicles were now sold to Canada, which is already operating Leopard 2 Battle Tanks. The vehicles supplied to the Canadian Forces will be converted to support vehicles. The Pz 87 Leo are not sold in fully equipped condition. Among others, the following assemblies are removed: armament, radio-and inter-phone systems. The components which are not supplied are used as spare parts by the Swiss Armed Forces. armasuisse, the Competence Center for the procurement of complex systems, was tasked by the Head DDPS with the performance of the contract and the sale of the surplus equipment. The export of surplus armaments is subject to the War Material Ordinance, and to approval by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in Bern. The sale of the Pz 87 Leo is in compliance with the Federal Council decision of 10 March 2006 regarding the utilization of surplus war material of the Swiss Armed Forces. The parties agreed not to disclose the terms of sale. Background on the Pz 87 Leo The Pz 87 Leo (Leopard 2) was procured for the mechanised units of the Swiss Armed Forces with Armament Program 84 (AP 84). Of the 380 Pz 87 Leo originally deployed with the forces between 1987 and 1993, 134 combat vehicles were subjected to a quality maintenance program with Armament Program 06. The battle tanks, which have reached the first half of their planned service life, are adapted to the changed requirements with the necessary maintenance work. Of the Pz 87 Leo decommissioned in connection with the reduction, twelve vehicles were converted to armoured engineer and mine clearing vehicles. This special tank, which is used in combination with the Pz 87 Leo, is based on the tank chassis with corresponding new superstructures and additional equipment for the engineer service and for mine clearing.

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