The acquisition of a new Canadian special forces vehicle will replace the existing fleet of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) show here. (DAVID PUGLIESE PHOTO)
By David Pugliese
A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS was supposed to be issued this year for a fleet of Next Generation Fighting Vehicles (NGFV). But that won’t be happening, according to officials with the Department of National Defence. DND intends to procure approximately 55 to 75 NGFVs to provide the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) with a tactical multi-role vehicle for their specific and unique tasks and roles. The NGFV will replace the existing fleet of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), which will soon exceed their life expectancy.
The Department of National Defence had initially expected a request for bids to be issued in the spring of 2021. That, however, slipped to sometime in 2022 because of COVID-19 related issues.
At this point, the schedule has once again been revised with a request for proposals to be issued in the fall of 2023 to qualified suppliers. But even that could slip further.
DND plans to release sometime this fall a revised procurement schedule as well as details about which companies have qualified to provide bids. The new delays are “in part a result of COVID restrictions over the past 2 years, but mainly due to a change to a more tailored and structure procurement approach as per guidance offered by industry,” said National Defence spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande. The project is still estimated to cost between $100 million and $249 million.
The key mission of the NGFV is Direct Action (DA), according to CANSOFCOM. The DA mission is to enable tactical manoeuvre of personnel and equipment into operational zones including directly onto objectives and to support the extraction of other assets, it added. “To accomplish this mission, the NGFV must possess key components to address lethality, mobility and survivability,” CANSOFCOM noted in a statement. “The NGFV requirement will include a modern electronics and communications architecture that will allow the NFGV to operate with the current communications, sensors and surveillance equipment utilized by the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. In addition, the lethality capabilities will be modernized with the incorporation of a Remote Weapons System into the NGFV. “
The NGFV fleet is expected to be comprised of two variants; one type would be for combat and other for support. The Combat Variant would be designed to move a minimum of four personnel equipped with full combat personal protective equipment, personal weapons and combat supplies. This variant is expected to be equipped with one of three different weapon station configurations: a remote weapons station or RWS; a RWS with Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) capability; and a Crewed Turret.
The SIG Sauer P320 handgun is being introduced into service by CANSOFCOM. U.S. military personnel also use the same pistol. (U.S. DOD PHOTO)
From October 28 to November 15, 2019, four potential suppliers showcased their vehicles for CANSOCOM at the demonstration held at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
CANSOFCOM operators and technicians examined and drove the vehicles through a course with different types of terrain, such as trails, steep inclines and sand. They were then able to provide their feedback directly to the NGFV procurement team.
CANSOFCOM has declined to name the suppliers who demonstrated their vehicles. Meanwhile, CANSOFCOM leadership has announced it is moving ahead to bring into service “a newly procured pistol.”
Strangely, CANSOFCOM claims it can’t discuss the type of handgun that was purchased because it does not discuss equipment acquisitions for reasons of operational security. (This claim is false in that the command has indeed discussed equipment procurements and has released photos of such equipment). It is known already publicly, however, that the Canadian government spent $680,425 for the purchase of the SIG Sauer P320 handgun for CANSOFCOM.
The introduction into service of the P320 was temporarily delayed after a member of Joint Task Force 2 accidently shot himself with his handgun during training in Ottawa in the fall of 2020.
The incident, which resulted in a flesh wound, prompted a temporary halt to Canadian special forces training with the P320, a development reported by CBC in February 2021. At the same time, SIG Sauer issued a statement noting it was “working with Canadian Special Operations Forces Command to resolve an incident involving the unintended discharge of a P320.” The gun in question had been extensively tested and found to be safe, the firm noted. “The investigation revealed the use of an incorrect holster not designed for a P320,” SIG Sauer added in its statement.
In its statement issued June 22, 2022, CANSOFCOM noted that an investigation into the November 2020 incident “concluded the weapon is technically sound and functioned according to the technical requirements.”
