Are the dollars still there?
Since its inception in 1983, the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries – albeit under several different names – has focused on the improvement of the relationship and exchange of information between industry and government, in particular National Defence.

Every year CADSI sponsors a series of half-day events with each of the military’s services to provide members with a better understanding of future Land, Air and Maritime requirements and an appreciation for current defence research and the opportunities to help shape that future.

In recent months, both the Army and the Air Force have presented their future acquisition programs (for a good idea of what is being recommended, see: www.defenceandsecurity.ca/UserFiles/File/2010/2010ArmyOutlook/DLR%28E%29.pdf and www.defenceandsecurity.ca/UserFiles/File/2010/2010AirForceOutlook/ColRHMeiklejohnEN.pdf).

Both are proposing ambitious agendas. But in light of Canada’s commitments at home and abroad, and not withstanding the looming draw down in Afghanistan, it is hard to see how the necessary equipment that they have identified could be cut back. So if Canada is to maintain its robust presence, current budget commitments must be maintained.

While the Navy has yet to deliver its presentation to CADSI, recent media reports have raised concerns about its capability given that half of its fleet of coastal patrol vessels will soon be in mothballs. The government rejects any claims that it is not supporting the Navy, particularly in this, its Centennial year, noting that the Navy will actually receive an additional $200 million to its budget. Despite the assurances of stable funding for the entire CF, many will be waiting anxiously for government announcements on a range of projects this summer.

Sperwer UAV retires to museum
The CU-161 Sperwer is winging its way to the Canada Aviation Museum following its recent retirement from active service. The unmanned reconnaissance drone was part of overseas operations, most notably in Afghanistan, from 2003 to 2009, and logged over 4,300 flight hours on more than 1,400 missions.

The unarmed aircraft, capable of flying at altitudes above 16,000 feet for up to 5 hours, was equipped with a camera able to relay target images at a maximum distance of 150 kilometres from the ground operator. One of its critical weaknesses, however, was landing, which required help from parachutes and air bags. The Israeli-designed IAI Heron replaced the Sperwer.

IN BRIEF
COM DEV International began work on the design phase of the Canadian Space Agency’s RADARSAT Constellation Mission, which includes development of key payload subsystems, under a $720,000 authorization-to-proceed order by prime contractor MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates…

Although Boeing is investing US$130 million to speed up the production rate of the CH-47F helicopter for the U.S. Army, the increased rate will not affect the schedule for the Canadian Chinook. Canada is scheduled to take delivery of 15 F models between 2013 and 2014…

North Vancouver-based Washington Marine Group and Thales Canada have signed an agreement to produce a single solution for the future build and in-service support of the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, a program valued at approximately $2 billion dollars for six ice breaking patrol vessels…

Eurocopter Canada sold three EC130 B4 single-engine helicopters to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in March for forest fire management work and utility missions, increasing the ministry’s fleet of EC130 B4s to seven…

The mapping operations of Ottawa-based OSI Geospatial received a $4 million contract from an undisclosed customer for digital mapping production services over the next 12 to 18 months…

Héroux-Devtek in May confirmed a $26.5 million investment in its Kitchener, ON, landing gear facility, which employs 160 people. The new program will also receive a $3.975 million contribution from the Ontario government…

EADS Defence & Security and Motorola demonstrated the ability of the CORP25 radio network and Motorola XTS 2500 radio to support the RCMP “O” Division system call and request-to-talk features. The RCMP awarded EADS a contract in January…Raytheon and Boeing successfully fired their first Joint Air-to-Ground Missile from a ground-based rotary-wing launcher during a recent test program…

Insitu, which is providing the CF with the ScanEagle mini UAV, recently demonstrated the interoperability between ScanEagle video with metadata and the U.S. Army’s One System Remote Video Terminal.