The longer Canada takes to fill its fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft requirement, the better the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey will look. According to business development executive director Bob Carrese, the innovative and expensive aircraft that acts like both a fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft has logged over 100,00 hours, much of that in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan where it has more than proven it's CSAR capability. "Our cost per flight hour is coming down," Carrse said. "The metrics are getting better."
DEW joins BAE vehicle team
Alan Garwood of BAE Systems confirmed teaming arrangements with Thales and DEW Engineering as it prepares bids for the TAPV (Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle) and MSVS (Medium Support Vehicle System) programs. DEW is already a partner with BAE on the CCV (Close Combat Vehicle) program. "We have a lot of confidence in DEW's capabilities," he said.
NGRAIN teams with Cassidian, announces multiple contracts
NGRAIN CEO Paul Lindahl was sipping a CANSEC special Virtual Taste Refresher (a pun on NGRAIN's virtual task refresher training solution) while he talked about the recent deal which will see Cassidian market his company's training solutions around the world, to augment the EADS company's and maintenance support systems. He described it as a "strategic next step" in their relationship.
Elbit Systems showcases cutting edge tech
Elbit Systems used CANSEC to showcase a wide range of products, from advanced C4I to cuting edge electro-optic systems, as well as its partnership with L-3 Electronic Systems, Canterra Solutions. Among its displays were C4I software solutions for the infantry; unmanned aircraft systems such as the Hermes 90 and the mini/man-pack Skylark I-LE; an electronic warfare solution for submarines, TIMNEX II; and electro-optics such as the CORAL-CR hand-held (3-5 µm FPA) thermal imaging camera, MARS.
Eurocopter drops in
A full-size, rotary-wing aircraft is rare if not unique at CANSEC so the Eurocopter EC645 (complete with L-3 Wescam FLIR and Magellan rockets) in the vehicle area drew a lot of attention. Guillaume LePrince, Eurocopter Canada's vice-president of sales and marketing, said the EC645 is the basis of the US Lakota utility helicopter, with more than 350 machines ordered by the Army, Marines and National Guard.
Vector highlights range of programs
Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services used CANSEC to highlight its history of providing aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul services to a customer-base that includes National Defence, the US Army and Navy and the UK Ministry of Defence. "We continually work to enhance and expand our helicopter and fixed-wing repair and overhaul capabilities while also targeting turn-time reductions and enhancing customer value through initiatives such as the implementation of Lean manufacturing and Pulse Line processes," said John MacDougall, senior vice-president of sales and marketing.
TAPV process plays to Oshkosh-GD strength
Oshkosh Defense, partnered with General Dynamics Land Systems for the TAPV bid, had its tactical vehicle on display. Oshkosh regional manager Jeff Krumrei thinks the reliability-based approach of the TAPV RFP long-term support plan plays to an Oshkosh-GD Land Systems strength: "We don't have to be taught how to do performance-based approach to it. We've both had programs for a long time," he said.
New Zealand showcases high-tech
On the eve of CANSEC, representatives from a dozen New Zealand technology companies received a crash course in doing business with the Canadian federal government. Following presentations from key government departments, the delegation showcased a range of commercial technologies, many applicable to the defence and security industries. Rod McDonald, business development manager for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, said many of the companies were selected because, rather than competing with Canadian industry, they complement and fill unique niches.
The future for Cassidian in Canada
The defence and security division of EADS recently changed its name to Cassidian. In advance of CANSEC, the company provided an interview with its head of Canadian sales, Simon Jacques, to explain the name change and its Canadian focus.
Textron designs TAPV for Canadian army
With the bid deadline for the 500-vehicle Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) acquisition just weeks away, Textron Systems put its contender on display. "This vehicle is a newly-engineered vehicle that we've designed specifically for the Canadian Forces," said vice-president Stephen Greene. "You can configure this to allow for greater payload and versatility in the mission set - there is a lot of latitude there." The company is still looking for partners for the remote weapons station and some pieces of the vehicle electronics.
BAE Systems shows True Patriot Love
Alan Garwood, group business development director of BAE Systems, presented a cheque for $10,000 to Erin O'Toole, director of True Patriot Love Foundation at CANSEC on Thursday. TPL does great work supporting Canadian military families, and its gala events in various Canadian cities raise millions of dollars for Forces families.
L-3 from top to prop
L-3 MAPPS showcased its integration capabilities at CANSEC this year. As marketing director Wendy Allerton said, "We're already on four platforms, but we're stepping it up with integration that goes from bridge to propeller." With naval and government shipbuilding business estimated as much as $40 billion in the decades ahead, Allerton reports good interest in the Bridge To Propellor solution.
Ultra Electronics TCS launches UltraMove
Ultra Electronics TCS used CANSEC to launch UltraMove, a system that provides on-the-move IP services, including voice, data and video, in a portable transit case, and is designed to be deployed almost anywhere - an invaluable asset on the outskirts of military networks or in disaster areas.
Novatel unveils first single-enclosure GPS anti-jam antenna for land vehicles
Calgary-based NovAtel announced at CANSEC that the company, in collaboration with QinetiQ, has developed the world’s first single-enclosure GPS anti-jam system small enough for light armored and other land-based military vehicles, a product it calls GAJT (pronounced Gadget).
Sept 9 - COM DEV Canada and its subsidiary exactEarth are using micro and nano scale satellite platforms to deliver more data, communication and services to more customers at a lower price.
Sept 9 - With the Minister of Defence currently reviewing a new space policy, Col. Andre Dupuis, Canadian Forces director of space development, was limited in what he could say about it, but he assured the DEFSEC audience in Halifax that it had a "whole of government" approach as well as buy-in from all the departments that were involved in its drafting.
Sept 9 - Within weeks of the UK election, Canadian cabinet ministers were in London to forge connections with the new Liberal-Conservative government. The topic Industry Minister Tony Clement and then-Transport Minister John Baird wanted to discuss with their UK equivalents - trade.
Sept 8 - The British are back in Halifax - in force. More than 25 companies from England, Scotland and Wales will be staffing United Kingdom Pavilion booths at DEFSEC Atlantic 2010.
Sept 8 - The Thales-DEW Bushmaster lurking at the end of the DEFSEC exhibit hall is not in Halifax just to take a few days off at a trade show. The TAPV is in town this week to work.
CANSEC 2010
Thales Canada, DEW team on TAPV Bushmaster
Thales Canada kicked off this year’s on-site announcements with the signing of an exclusive teaming agreement with DEW Engineering and Development that will see the Ottawa-based company assemble Thales’ Bushmaster should the vehicle be selected for the TAPV (tactical armoured patrol vehicle) program. Almost 700 Bushmasters are in service with forces in Australia, the Netherlands and other NATO allies.
Filling the skill set gap
Paul Lindahl, CEO of Vancouver-based NGRAIN, and Arnold van den Hoeven, Director of Canadian Defence and head of the company’s new Ottawa office, speak with Vanguard about the military’s challenges driving the demand for their products.
Boeing supports advanced composites R&D consortium
On the eve of CANSEC, at a reception in Ottawa, Boeing and its Canadian industry partners announced the creation of a research and development consortium to further the manufacturing of advanced composite materials for aerospace and other industries.
L-3 to deliver STINGER to the CF
L-3 Communication Systems-West confirmed during CANSEC that it will deliver its Common Data Link Ground System, otherwise known as the STINGER, to the Canadian Forces. The announcement came just days after Toronto-based L-3 Electronic Systems trumpeted a new partnership with Elbit Systems Land and C41 called Canterra Solutions to produce products and services for the Canadian Army.
BAE and DEW Engineering target Close Combat Vehicle program
BAE Systems and Ottawa’s DEW Engineering & Development signed a teaming agreement to collaborate on Canada’s Close Combat Vehicle (CCV) program during CANSEC 2010. DEW will complete final assembly of the turret and integration and test for the vehicle should BAE win the CCV competition.
UPDATED (NEW VIDEO):Oshkosh, General Dynamics team on vehicle programs
On March 22, the Oshkosh Defense and General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announced a partnership to pursue two of DND’s wheeled vehicle programs: the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) and the Standard Military Pattern (SMP) portion of the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS).
ScanEagle surpasses 17,000 combat flight hours
The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft recently logged its 17,000 combat flight hour with the Canadian Forces. The UAV, built by Washington-based Insitu, a independent subsidiary of Boeing, has completed more than 1,700 sorties for the CF since it was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008.
By the Canal: Bray’s Blog
Insights and information from CANSEC 2010
Tour de Force: France highlights defence sector
Call it a sign of the strength of French companies in the Canadian defence marketplace. As industry prepared for the kick off of CANSEC, the Embassy of France for the first time hosted representatives, politicians and media to highlight what Ambassador François Delattre called a “time…to renew a true partnership with the Canadian defence industry.” Excerpts of his remarks follow.
Ottawa-based DEW Engineering and Development and BAE Systems Bofors of Karlskoga, Sweden signed a "teaming" agreement at DEFSEC Atlantic 2009 to provide a "team Canada" approach to the production of the Bofors LEMUR Remote Weapons System (RWS).
Canada may have millions invested in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter, but the novel multinational airplane faces some stiff competition. Over the past year, officials with the DND's Next Generation Fighter Capability Office have been gathering data on a range of potential bidders for the project to replace the F/A-18, but the department has yet to set a date. Glenn Erutti, Boeing's program manager for F/A-18 international new business, spoke with Vanguard about the Super Hornet during DEFSEC Atlantic in Halifax.
If you believe the rhetoric emanating from pundits on the Arctic, it's hard not to conclude a conflict is looming on the horizon. But the "purveyors of polar peril," as professor Franklyn Griffiths has called them, may be stirring a pot that doesn't exist.
In Halifax for this week's DEFSEC Atlantic exhibition, James Detwiler, Boeing's international business development manager for P8/Airborne ASW&ISR Systems talked with Vanguard about the long-range maritime patrol aircraft's capabilities and its international market potential.
Marport C-Tech, based in Cornwall, Ontario, signed a teaming agreement with OSI Geospatial of Ottawa in advance of DEFSEC Atlantic in Halifax. Under the deal, Marport C-Tech will integrate its CSDS-85 Underwater Intruder Detection Sonar with the OSI Geospatial Asset Control and Tracking (ACT) system.
As DEFSEC Atlantic 2009 begins in Halifax, executive director Colin Stephenson talks about the opportunities this growing annual event creates.
Paris International Air Show 2009
Looking for a UAV?
So you’re a country trying to determine your unmanned system needs. Maybe it’s a tactical aerial vehicle (UAV) with missile capability for operations in a theatre like Afghanistan? Maybe it’s a family of UAVs for medium or high altitude surveillance along your border or coastlines? To which defence company do you turn? Everyone, it seems.
Economic downturn doesn’t deter Canadian deals
As goes the United States military industrial aircraft base, so goes much of the world’s military aircraft manufacturing. So speculation heading into the 100th anniversary of the Paris Air Show was on the numbers: would fewer companies attend? Would the number of deals – and the all important dollar figure – be down?
Integrating UAVs into congested skies
Most of us would step onto a high-speed train and never think to check for the controller. Would we have the same level of comfort boarding a plane and seeing no pilot? “The convergence of manned and unmanned is happening much faster than expected,” says David Vos.
Goose gets new avionics
Ottawa-based Mist Mobility Integrated Systems Technology (MMIST) has struck a deal with Rockwell Collins, one of the largest manufactuers of communication and aviation electronics solutions, to provide the CQ-10A SnowGoose with the Athena 411 flight control and navigation system. The cargo UAV is a multipurpose aerial platform that autonomously delivers up to 575 pounds of cargo to up to six individual locations (for a feature article from 2007, see http://www.vanguardcanada.com/SupplyFromTheSkyBray).
Magellan signs F-35 deal with BAE Systems
Magellan Aerospace has expanded its work on the F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter. On Wednesday, the Mississauga-based company announced it had been awarded a contract by BAE Systems to provide the horizontal tail components. The contract calls for up to 1038 sets of horizontal tails over the life of the F-35. Magellan has had a role in the development of the F-35 program since its earliest stages in 2001.
The RFP for a close-combat vehicle (CCV) may still be pending, but BAE Systems has partnered with DEW Engineering to advance its Hagglunds CV90 as a prime candidate for the program. For a clip, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1eGGyJ9fIE
Boeing used the opening day of CANSEC to announce the first US$25 million in contracts to Canadian companies as part of its IRB commitment for Canada's order of the ScanEagle small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV).
