The government, national defence, naval priorities and expeditionary requirements have not been well served by explanations for reconsideration of the approved JSS program given the economic importance and operational urgency in replacement of the old fleet supply vessels. These have focused on bids that have greatly exceeded a badly miscalculated budget for capital and support allowances. This was set in the face […]
fleet replacement
23 posts
Dear Senator Kenny, Bravo Zulu on a plainspoken wake up call to Canadians. Jack Granatstein’s classics – “Who Killed Canadian History?” and “Who Killed the Canadian Military?” have fallen on essentially deaf ears, particularly where it counts in government. Let us hope yours and the work of the Senate on […]
Dave Perry has supplied a superb analysis of the Canada First Defence Strategy or CFDS. I particularly support his conclusion “The defence strategy is therefore competent, long term planning, devoid of any exciting new promises that might attract criticism for outlandish spending plans and un-needed equipment.” The strategy itself correctly […]
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the long awaited “Canada First Defence Strategy” (CFDS) yesterday. Or, as a cynic might put it, he repackaged several old announcements and planning document details, and attempted to pass it off as something new. The much awaited details? The Tories are serious about the North […]
It seems that these birds have escaped the chopping block for now, and the government will opt for a compromise on the AIMP continuation option that Col. Cable identified. On December 18, Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced that at least ten CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft are to resume their […]
The Canadian Forces took delivery of the first CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft in May 1980; the 18th and last CP-140 was delivered in August 1981. The original requirement for 24 aircraft was unilaterally reduced by the Trudeau government without a commensurate reduction in tasks to be performed. Consequently, the […]
Murray Brewster’s article [The Globe and Mail, “DND may be shopping for new subs, sources say”] casts an interesting light on the future of Canada’s submarine fleet. The existing four Victoria-class submarines are consuming the largest portion of the navy’s maintenance budget. A midlife refit to keep them operating into […]
The latest go around about submarine replacement was, as I understand it, the result of political direction to include a nuclear-powered submarine in the mix for an Oberon-class replacement option. Service personnel were very wary of this project for the infrastructure reasons noted as well as other concerns, especially about […]
Thank you for your comments but I feel compelled to respond to some of your statements, particularly those involving the ‘part-time’ and ‘relevant’ reserves. 1) I agree with your comment that there should not be a ‘choice’ between TRUMP replacements and A/OPVs but I fear such a choice has already […]