Mali: Harper plans to increase Canadian aid

 Canada plans to expand its support for the mission in Mali, but still deviates direct military aid, said Wednesday Prime Minister Stephen Harper .

"I'd like to see a broad consensus in the country on what we should do," he said while he was in Cambridge, Ontario, for an announcement in the car .

Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda took control of the north and made advances toward the south. According to the UN, tens of thousands of civilians have fled the combat zones.

France leads including air strikes against armed rebels trying to slow their progress.

For now, Canada sent a cargo plane to help French troops, after a request for support from the government of François Hollande. The Canadian C-17 is used to carry heavy equipment.

The Chinook heavy-lift helicopters in the sky back in 2013 Canadian

It is 21 years that major Canadian helicopters heavy lift tandem rotor Chinook have not flown here, but they will be back this year in the sky canadien.Le Canada indeed begin to take delivery of its new CH- Chinook 147F this year.

The new fleet of tactical helicopters CH-147F Chinook will be based at the 450th Tactical Helicopter Squadron, who recently returned to service and is installed at the Canadian Forces Base Petawawa (ON), but under the command of the 1st Wing Kingston (Ont.). It is May 18, 2012 the Minister of Defence Peter MacKay announced the re-establishment of the helicopter squadron.

As stated on the website of the CRA, the specific operational requirements that Canadian Chinooks have to fulfill to support the Defence Strategy First Canada include the ability to:

• circulate in large parts of the territory of Canada, including the Arctic, without relying on fuel caches, which were previously available, but are now less acceptable environmental point of view;
• operate reliably in remote and isolated areas with equipment technical support base;
• operate in threatening conditions where one might expect the presence of potential enemies and environmental hazards.

The new CH-147F Chinook Canadian are equipped with fuel tanks at long range, a modernized electrical system and equipment survivability of aircraft against as-self-defense measures increased, visual aids to navigation and of advanced avionics systems.

  

Personnel and aircraft of 450 Squadron participate regularly in operations across the country in support of continuous operational readiness of the Army and training activities.

"While Chinook are reintegrated into the business complex, 1 Wing ensures restore balance and possibly to restructure to meet national and international requirements, to the extent possible during the transition." Written on it Colonel Kevin Whale, commander of 1 Wing Kingston, in an article on the website of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

"In the country, as the Chinooks are delivered, 1 Wing must remain able to integrate regularly and thoroughly in the various brigades of the Canadian Army. In addition, it must retain its ability to intervene across the country to participate in the operations of Canada Command and regional joint task forces that help provincial and federal departments to manage disasters and national emergencies when local resources are insufficient. (...) In addition, there must be a sufficient number of helicopters to support national security at scheduled events such as the G8 or the Olympics, "said Colonel Whale.

"On the international scene," he adds, "there is a clear need to increase or maintain an integrated capacity of air mobility, recognition, and firepower. In addition, it must be able to operate in environments where the threat is high when operational forces Command, Canadian Expeditionary Force are deployed, as in the case of our recent operations in Afghanistan involving the Griffon and Chinook. To meet these needs abroad, there is a need for a well balanced combination of Chinook and Griffon helicopters in order to have capacity high priority. "

Canada to Buy Mine Clearing Roller System For Leopard 2 Tanks

Here are the details from the government’s notice of awarding the contract sole source via an ACAN:

The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for the integration of a Mine Clearing Roller System (MCRS) on the Canadian Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT) fleet. This includes acquiring 16 MCRSs, associated documentation, drawings, spare parts (two year supply), tooling, training, and other logistics support, and the right of use for Canada’s purposes only related to the MCRS. To complete the requirement, the Contractor must have an MCRS that has been tested and proven to operate on a Leopard 2 MBT.

Furthermore, Canada has developed new roller wheels (and associated hardware) to increase mine-kill effectiveness of the MCRS. Each roller bank consists of 14 new steel wheels approximately 900 mm in diameter, totalling approximately 5000 kg per bank. These roller wheels were developed to fit in the dimensional envelope of NSN 2590-01-499-3783 (roller bank assembly – excluding the standard roller wheels). Therefore, to complete the requirement, the Contractor must also possess the intellectual property rights for the roller bank assembly, NSN 2590-01-499-3783 (excluding the roller wheels).

Canadian Military Would Need To Outsource F-35 Refueling

Canada will rely on either private companies or its allies for midair refueling if it decides to purchase F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to replace its CF-18 fighter aircraft.

But critics and analysts say the decision raises key issues about Canadian sovereignty and military capabilities.

Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) will not comment on the plan, but confirmation of the decision is contained in a brief passage in a government-ordered audit of Canada’s proposed F-35 buy. The 30-page audit by KMPG noted the cost of modifying the F-35s so they can be refueled in midair by Canadian aircraft is not included in the overall price tag of the fighter program because DND will not proceed with that option.

“With respect to air-to-air refueling requirements, DND will rely on NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command], coalition partners, or commercial refueling assets to meet operational requirements,” stated the audit, “Next Generation Fighter Capability,” released Dec. 2.

The Royal Canadian Air Force hopes to purchase the F-35A, which uses a boom refueling system. The service’s existing CC-150 Polaris tankers use only the probe and drogue system, which is used by the F35-B and C.

Alan Williams, DND’s former head of procurement who approved Canada’s participation in the F-35 program, said the department’s plan makes no sense.

Canada's F-35 program problems multiply

Canada's problems with its planned purchase of F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighter aircraft seem to be multiplying, with the latest controversy surrounding the jets' capacity for in-flight refueling.
With Canada's confirmation of the planned multibillion-dollar purchase still months away, and continuing uncertainty over the numbers Ottawa may eventually buy, questions are being raised about how the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will refuel when deployed by the Canadian air force.

The outlook for the refueling dilemma remains unclear. Canada will rely on either private companies or its allies for in-flight refueling if it decides to purchase the F-35s to replace CF-18 fighter aircraft, Defense News said on its website.
But if the outsourcing does occur one way or another that will pit Canada against embarrassing issues of national sovereignty, especially if the air force is forced to request refueling assistance from other allied forces.
But critics and analysts say the decision raises key issues about Canadian sovereignty and military capabilities.
A recent independent audit of the government's plans to buy F-35s revealed that current estimates for the planned purchase had no provision for modifying the F-35s so that they coul
d be refueled in flight by Canadian air force jets.
The alternatives being faced by the Canadian military include refueling through a private agency or refueling by a friendly government's aircraft.
In either case, the costs for Canada will be multiple and complex. Not only are Ministry of Defense plans silent on the actual cost of refueling the jet fighters but they also don't consider the diplomatic and political implications of expecting other nations' aircraft to refuel the F-35s after a multibillion-dollar purchase and deployment of the aircraft.
A 30-page audit by KPMG accountancy and tax advisory firm noted the Canadian defense department will have to rely on the North American Aerospace Defense Command, "coalition partners or commercial refueling assets to meet operational requirements."
The audit report, "Next Generation Fighter Capability," was released in December.
The F-35A jets earmarked for purchase by Canada will use a boom refueling system in contrast to the air force's current practice of using CC-150 Polaris tankers, which employ the probe-and-drogue system. That system is used by the F35-B and F35-C but is not compatible with the F-35s planned to be purchased by Ottawa.
Aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin says Canada will have the option to choose either or both refueling systems. Critics want to know how that will affect the jet's weight and functionality.
Confusion over the refueling capacity of Canada's premier fighter jets drew criticism from analysts and experts.
Alan Williams, a former head of procurement who was among those who approved Canada's participation in the F-35 program, said the department's plan makes no sense, Defense News reported.
"Are we going to spend a large amount of money on new fighters and then rely on allies to refuel aircraft over Canadian territory?" he asked. "Is Canada no longer a sovereign country?"
Defense analyst Martin Shadwick described the decision as a step backward for the Canadian air force.
The refueling issue is especially sensitive in Canada because of past blunders with the procurement program. Canadian forces had to do without strategic air-to-air refueling for a decade after the country retired its older fleet of tankers in 1997.
An aging fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft used in tactical refueling to CF-18 fighters is seen as inadequate.
Experts say Canada's lack of preparedness for an effective refueling program will limit its ability to contribute to international missions.
Debate over the F-35s' refueling capacity and compatibility with Canada's existing systems has raged since last year.
Liberal industry critic Marc Garneau accused the government of "forgetting" about the need to be able to refuel the fighter jets in the air during long flights and warned Canada might have to spend hundreds of millions on new equipment.
"It is getting more expensive every day. Today we discover that this plane cannot be refueled except by paying hundreds of millions of dollars more," Garneau said in Parliament. "How many hundreds of millions more and what else has the government forgotten to factor in?"
The government denies the F-35s will lack a compatible refueling capacity.

Canadians in Afghanistan: what Operation Attention?

Nicolas Laffont is currently on assignment in Afghanistan with the Canadian Forces deployed for Operation Attention. 

For more than a decade that the Afghan war has begun and Canadians have been present since January 2002.

The combat mission in Kandahar which was based in the south of the country, ended in July 2011.

Since the present contingent of Canadian military declined to about 900 soldiers train Afghan security forces. This is what the military calls Operation Please note that the Canadian Contribution Training Mission - Afghanistan (CCFM-A).

Trainers, teachers, educators, advisors, ... In the context of this operation, Canada sent its military to provide support for training and professional development for national security forces of Afghanistan: Afghan National Army (ANA) Afghan Air Force (AAF) and the Afghan National Police (ANP).

The aim is to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan when NATO troops leave the country in 2014.

The Government of Canada has allocated a budget of nearly $ 700 million per year between 2011 and 2014 (500 million military presence, 85 million for the installation and close the training mission and 100 million in aid and development ).

After a rotation 0 in July 2011 and one rotation in February 2012, is now the "roto" 2 to be in control.Feature of this deployment? They are almost all Quebecers.

In October and November, it is indeed nearly 870 soldiers who flew from the Jean-Lesage International Airport Quebec City to visit the capital of Afghanistan: Kabul.

Distributed in a dozen camps in Kabul (and another in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif in the north), the new rotation is commanded by Colonel Roch Pelletier.

In the coming weeks, 45eNord.ca will visit each camp in which Canadians are:

• Camp Phoenix is the headquarters of the Canadian Contribution Training Mission - Afghanistan.
• Camp Blackhorse , the Centre consolidated commissioning. It is here that are formed kandaks , units of the size of a battalion of infantry, combat support, combat service support and route clearance for operational service.
• New stadium in Kabul , this is where the Academy of Medical Sciences of the armed forces (ASMFA). Canadians notify the clinical level and develop leadership in place.
• At the Kabul International Airport North , is the School of Afghan Air Force where Canadians are consultants that support instruction and mentors Afghan cadre.
• The Regional Military Training Centre - North is located at Camp Mike Spann in Mazar-e-Sharif. A team of Canadian Forces medical help establish a sustainable medical capacity within the Afghan National Security Forces.
• Camp Julien , the Centre for Literacy of Darulaman. 1400 Afghan can be accommodated at any time Canadians have established a Training Advisory Team.
• At Camp Alamo is the Military Training Centre in Kabul, which is the main training center for the Afghan National Army. The contingent of Canadian military to provide support Command Team and Afghan instructors.
• Finally, Camp Eggers is the headquarters of the training mission in Afghanistan, where NATO is a large contingent of Canadians whose mission commander training Canadian Major-General Jim Ferron, who also serves as Deputy Commander - Operations NATO mission.

Canada buys new simulators for chemical warfare

The Canadian government announced on November 30 the awarding of a $ 6.6 million contract to Patlon Aircraft, Halton Hills, Ontario, for simulators to improve training for Canadian soldiers in the use of sensors chemical agents.

To fulfill its mandate, the Canadian Forces must be able to function despite the presence of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear.

These simulators used to train soldiers of the Canadian Forces on the use of new portable devices for detecting chemical warfare agents and industrial chemicals in the context of military operations.

Patlon established for this contract in partnership with the British company Argon Electronics Bedfordshire Argon simulators to provide for new chemical sensors. The Patlon provide virtual training system wireless Argon, PlumSIM, which electronically simulates the release of chemicals in a wide range of environmental conditions and initial training and in-service support throughout the product life .

The simulator Argon allow the Canadian Forces to train to handle the new detectors without the use of chemical sprays, which is both economically and ecologically.

In addition, instructors will be able to electronically monitor workouts. The simulator will be used primarily to Fire Academy and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Canadian Forces, the Canadian Forces Base Borden, in southern Ontario, and instructors specializing in defense chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear units based in the Canadian Forces across Canada.

The first simulator will be delivered in the spring of 2013. It is expected that full operational capability will be reached in the coming years.

The press release accompanying this announcement underscores that "the project simulators chemical detectors are part of a project to acquire much larger (85 million) by which the Canadian Forces will acquire (...) detectors of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, protective equipment, reconnaissance systems and decontamination, as well as new medical countermeasures to strengthen the ability (...) to survive and carry operations in an environment contaminated by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. "

Canada invests to improve training on chemical detectors in the Canadian Armed Forces

HALTON HILLS (Ontario) - The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Halton, and the Honourable Michael Chong, MP for Wellington-Halton Hills, announced today, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Associate Minister of National Defence and Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada Atlantic) (La Francophonie), the award of a contract to improve the training of men and women in uniform on the use of sensors chemical agents.

A contract for $ 6.6 million has been awarded to the company Patlon Aircraft & Industries Limited, Halton Hills (Ontario) on the acquisition of a simulator used to train soldiers of the Canadian Forces on the use of new mobile devices for detecting chemical warfare agents and industrial chemicals in the context of military operations.

"This announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide the Canadian Forces military equipment they need to accomplish their tasks, but also to protect them from dangerous and often difficult conditions of modern warfare," said Minister Raitt.

"Our government is committed to renewing and improving the facilities we provide our men and women in uniform, while creating jobs across the country, said Minister Valcourt. In this perspective, the agreement announced today, we will not only ensure that our soldiers have the technology of the most advanced training is to prepare to conduct operations, it will also generate economic benefits in Canada for several years . '

The company has established a Patlon partnership with Argon Electronics Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, to provide Argon simulators for new portable chemical detectors, fixed point and the Canadian Armed Forces. Patlon provide virtual training system wireless Argon, PlumSIM, which electronically simulates the release of chemicals in a wide range of environmental conditions. In addition, Patlon provide initial training and in-service support throughout the life of the product.

"Our government continues to focus on the economy and job creation, said Michael Chong. This contract will maintain approximately ten jobs here in our region, for highly skilled Canadians that will take in-service support and maintenance of equipment for many years. "

To fulfill its mandate under the Canada Defence Strategy First, to protect Canada and participate in international operations, the Canadian Forces must be able to function despite the presence of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological or nuclear. For over a decade, the Canadian Forces have strengthened their capacity in this regard by replacing aging equipment and obsolete technologies.

The project simulators chemical detectors are part of a project to acquire much larger, by which the Canadian Forces will acquire sophisticated equipment, either chemical detectors, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, protective equipment, reconnaissance systems and decontamination, as well as new medical countermeasures to strengthen the ability of the Canadian Forces to survive and operate in an environment contaminated by chemical agents biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. Thanks to project chemical detectors, valued at $ 85 million, the Canadian Forces will have modern portable detection systems that detect chemical warfare agents and a host of toxic industrial chemicals.

The simulator will allow Argon FCC train to handle the new detectors without the use of chemical sprays, which is both economically and ecologically. In addition, instructors have the ability to electronically monitor workouts.

The simulator will be used primarily to Fire Academy and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Canadian Forces, the Canadian Forces Base Borden, in southern Ontario, and instructors specializing in defense chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear units based in the Canadian Forces across Canada.

The first simulator will be delivered in the spring of 2013. It is expected that full operational capability will be reached in the coming years.