A new Canadian Army equipment program that could be worth almost $500 million is designed to select only U.S.-provided equipment, despite claims by Prime Minister Mark Carney the military will be reducing purchases of American systems.
The Joint Fires Modernization program will cost between $250 million and $499 million and see the acquisition of hardware and software to enable the Canadian Army to digitally share data and targeting information between its various units and coalition forces.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s a high-flying tale of carrots, sticks and political flip-flops.
American leaders have been urging Canada to boost its military spending and NATO contributions since the alliance’s founding, back in 1949. Some, like former U.S. president Barack Obama, have been polite about it, encouraging Ottawa that “the world needs more Canada,” while others, especially U.S. President Donald Trump, have been more blunt, referring to Canadians as “freeloaders” who are “delinquent” on military contributions.
Top military officers are warning serving members that Canada must prepare for a major world war within the next “three to five years.”
“Command is saying ‘get ready, brace yourselves.’ They said the next chapter is about to begin and it’s going to be like nothing we’ve seen before,” said one source who attended a recent assembly.
Kinetic warfare. Imminent mobilization.
Witnessing the ongoing public debate about fighter jets and submarines this fall has felt a lot like watching people argue over baseball, hockey or some other team sport.
Naturally, it has been particularly uncompromising online where the characteristics and quirks of each aircraft and boat have been analyzed to the nth degree with the kind of fan worship usually reserved for pro franchises.
Those who love the F-35, love it a lot. The same can be said for the Gripen. The mania is dialled back somewhat in the debate over whether to choose the South Korean KS-III submarine or Germany’s Type 12CD, but it’s still present.
The competition focused on each fighter jet’s capabilities in defending the North American continent and the likelihood of success in various missions against modern military forces.
The F-35 got a score of 95 per cent on military capabilities, with a total of 57.1 points out of 60.
By contrast, the Gripen-E finished with a score of 33 per cent, netting 19.8 points out of 60, according to the Department of National Defence (DND) ranking obtained by Radio-Canada.
Elbow People hardest hit.
A growing number of volunteers are walking away from the Canadian Armed Forces as crushing housing shortages, soaring costs and a lack of basic health care make military life untenable, according to a newly released internal report that paints a bleak picture of life in uniform.
Blacklock’s Reporter says the Evaluation Of Canadian Armed Forces Retention found more than 10% of CAF members were relocated in 2024, often into communities where housing was scarce and unaffordable.
(Incognito)
OTTAWA—For the senior brass at the Royal Canadian Air Force, there is no question whatsoever that they want the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning as the replacement for their aging fleet of CF-18 Hornet fighter planes.
They have wanted the F-35, and only the F-35, since this fifth-generation stealth strike fighter was first on the drawing board in 1997.
In 2010, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government announced a sole-source deal to purchase 65 F-35s for the Air Force at a cost of $9-billion for the aircraft, and a total program cost of $16-billion. However, as the F-35 experienced technical teething trouble, and the costs soared, Harper pushed the reset button on the entire controversial procurement.
Not sure Elbows Up TDS is the best mindset when evaluating fighter jets.
HALIFAX — Republican lawmaker Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina says it’s all good and well that Canada is finally meeting its NATO defense spending commitments, but Canada should make up for two decades of back dues — to the tune of $300 billion.
“Can we do a makeup payment for the 20 years of shortfalls as well?” Tillis told a Saturday panel at the Halifax International Security Forum, a international gathering of defense officials and security professionals.
The only money spent will be used to fortify Festung Ottawa against anticipated popular uprisings.
Canada‘s existing fleet of fighter jets is overdue for replacement. The CF-18s have been operating continuously since the early 1980s, longer than most of their pilots have been alive. The basic existing design of the fighter is even older than that.
They should have been replaced long ago. This was supposedly a priority for the Harper government. In theory, it was a priority for the Trudeau government, too. Now it’s a problem for the Carney government.
Canada’s instructions to submarine contract bidders highlight sustainment, economic benefits
Canada has formally issued firm bidding instructions to the two companies vying to build the navy’s new submarines, CBC News has learned.
The document went out to ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) of Germany and Hanwha Ocean Co. Ltd. of South Korea last week.
James Rourke, an official in the newly established federal Defence Investment Agency, acknowledged the document, which specifically outlines the federal government’s expectations and how the decision will be weighted, was delivered to both qualified bidders.
If they go with the South Korea bid it’s got to include BBQ, and the German bid, lots of strudel and beer.
New parents quickly develop a keen understanding of the gains to be had from anything that helps avoid waking the baby. Peace and quiet for one thing. A period of calm. A moment to think.
In Canada’s case, the baby is the current U.S. president. The president, as we know from repeat experience, is easily upset. When the president gets upset, he gets cranky, makes a lot of noise and causes untold disturbances. If you can, you want to avoid getting him upset.
Former high-ranking officers of the Canadian Armed Forces are mounting a defence of the planned acquisition of 88 American F-35 fighter jets, hoping to put an end to the ongoing courtship between the Canadian government and the Swedish firm Saab.
According to information obtained by Radio-Canada, a dozen former high-ranking officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force sent a letter to the federal government to reiterate the benefits of acquiring a full fleet of F-35s to meet Canada’s military needs.
Canada is apparently considering acquiring a mixed fleet of fighter jets. But this decision is being considered without any real strategic thinking.
Economic considerations seem to be taking precedence over military imperatives, even though several experts and military leaders strongly recommend a single fleet of F-35s, which is considered more consistent with continental defence needs.
OTTAWA—The latest media crap storm to hit the Canadian Armed Forces is clearly the responsibility of the very senior leadership tasked with steering Canada’s military institution away from such pitfalls.
It started with a startling headline in the Oct. 31 edition of The Ottawa Citizen: “Canadian military wants mobilization plan in place to boost reserves to 400,000 personnel.”
Defence Minister David McGuinty says Canada isn’t ruling out diversifying its fighter-jet purchases from more than one company in order to fulfil capability requirements.
“We’re grateful for any forthcoming offer that comes forward,” McGuinty told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday. “If anybody walks into Canada tomorrow from a sovereign wealth fund or with a joint venture in mind or is looking to set up a company in Canada to create 10, 20, 30, 40, 50,000 jobs, game on.”
What a load of BS.
