By David Pugliese
As the Royal Canadian Air Force prepares for the future several key equipment programs are taking precedent and moving towards being implemented.
The most high profile is the future fighter jet project which is valued at between $15 billion and $19 billion. The Canadian government received bids July 31 from all three suppliers that were eligible to participate. Those included the Swedish Government—SAAB AB with its partners Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG, MBDA UK Ltd., and RAFAEL Advanced Defence Systems Ltd; the U.S government with Lockheed Martin Corporation and its partner Pratt and Whitney; and the U.S. government with The Boeing Company, along with its partners Peraton Canada Corp., CAE Inc., L3 Technologies MAS Inc., GE Canada and Raytheon Canada Limited Services and Support Division.
Eighty-eight aircraft will be purchased to replace the current CF-18 fleet. The proposals will be evaluated on elements of capability (worth 60 per cent of the evaluation), cost (20 per cent of the evaluation) and economic benefits (20 per cent of the evaluation), according to Canadian government officials.
During the evaluation process, a phased bid compliance process will be used to ensure that bidders have an opportunity to address non-compliance related to mandatory criteria in their proposals, Public Services and Procurement Canada
noted.
The initial evaluation of proposals is anticipated to be completed by spring 2021. The Canadian government will finalize terms with the preferred bidder prior to the contract award, which is anticipated in 2022. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected as early as 2025.
Saab is offering Canada its Gripen E fighter aircraft along with a comprehensive support and training package and an industrial and technological benefits program. Saab officials say they are committed to delivering an industrial program that has been designed to generate long-lasting, high-tech employment opportunities, and business opportunities across all regions of Canada. “Saab’s Gripen fighter is designed to operate in harsh environments and defeat the most advanced global threats,” explained Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice President and head of Saab business area Aeronautics.
He noted that a unique element of the avionics design is that Gripen E’s system can be updated quickly, maintaining technological superiority against any adversary. “With Saab and Gripen, the Royal Canadian Air Force will have full control of its fighter system,” said Hjelm. “A guarantee to share key technology, in-country production, support and through-life enhancements will ensure that Canada’s sovereignty is enhanced for decades.”
Saab has formed the Gripen for Canada Team which consists of IMP Aerospace & Defence, CAE, Peraton Canada and GE Aviation.
Sweden and Brazil have already ordered Gripen E aircraft, with the first planes already delivered. Brazil has also ordered the dual-seat Gripen F and will be the sixth nation to operate Gripen, along with Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa, and Thailand. Additionally, the UK Empire Test Pilots School uses Gripen for test pilot training, the company noted.
Boeing is offering the Block 111 Super Hornet. Boeing noted that the aircraft is compatible with existing CF-18 infrastructure and the current RCAF air refueling tankers, making transition to the aircraft less expensive and relatively easy. The firm has also highlighted that the Super Hornet production line is continuing well into the future, with the U.S. Navy confirmed it is purchasing 78 of the aircraft which are equipped with a new computer, sensors and data links to boost the amount of information that can be received or transmitted. The aircraft also has satellite communications, which is important for Arctic operations, Boeing noted. Some stealth aspects have also been added and Boeing says it has been able to increase the life of the aircraft from 6,000 flight hours to 10,000 flight hours.
It is also pitching the new Super Hornet as less costly to maintain. The aircraft costs about $18,000 U.S. an hour to operate compared to the F-35 which costs $35,000 U.S. Boeing has also highlighted its long-term commitment to Canada and its track record of meeting or exceeding industrial benefits obligations. Jim Barnes, Boeing’s director for Canada Fighter Sales, pointed out that the firm has had a partnership with Canada for more than 100 years. The response the company submitted to the future fighter program builds on that legacy and “allows us to continue to bring the best of Boeing to Canada and the best of Canada to Boeing,” he noted.
Lockheed Martin is highlighting the fifth generation fighter technology of the F-35, making it the only such aircraft in the Canadian competition. In addition the company is hoping in the coming years to drop the cost of operating the stealth fighter to around $25,000 U.S. an hour.
Lockheed, as well, is highlighting the program’s value to Canadian industry. An analysis commissioned by the company claims that 150,000 new jobs will be created over the life of the program if Canada purchases the F-35. More than 110 Canadian firms already have contracts to supply components to the F-35 program and that has generated around $2 billion in contracts. For instance Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine is used in all three variants of the F-35. Curtis Wright builds rugged high performance processor modules and other computer components.
The downside of not selecting the F-35 could involve Canadian firms no longer building systems for the allied nations operating the aircraft. Lockheed Martin officials say if the F-35 is rejected by Canada then existing contracts would be honoured but that future contracts would likely be placed using industries in the nations that are buying the F-35.
The Canadian Armed Forces is already preparing for the new infrastructure needed for the next generation fighter jets. On Aug. 27 the federal government announced a $9.2-million contract to EllisDon Construction Services Inc., of Edmonton, Alta., for the design of a new fighter jet facility at 4 Wing Cold Lake, one of two main operating bases for Canada’s future fighter aircraft. A second facility and contract award is also planned for 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec. Combined, the infrastructure will support the long-term maintenance and operation of the 88 new aircraft. The Cold Lake facility will host two tactical fighter squadrons and will cover approximately 19,300 square metres, providing space for daily operations, maintenance, administration, mission planning, and simulator training, according to the federal government. It will also house operational and support training squadrons and their training facilities. Construction is estimated to begin at both bases in summer 2022 and finish up by 2025.
Both design contracts will also include options for the contractors to build the new facilities, and any additional infrastructure once the future fighter is selected, should Canada decide to exercise these follow-on options, the federal government noted.
Construction costs for the new fighter jet facilities are currently estimated at $272 million for Cold Lake and $250 million for Bagotville.
In the meantime, the RCAF will receive new weaponry for the CF-18 fleet as it prepares to continue operating those aircraft while it awaits the delivery of the future fighters and proceeds with the transition to that fleet. Raytheon Corporation, El Segundo, CA; General Dynamics Mission Systems, Marion, VA; The Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO; and Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, IA will all be involved in providing the RCAF with new weapons and various other systems for the fleet in a deal worth more than $1 billion.
The U.S. State Department approved the sale for the 50 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical missiles, radars and other various weapons. “This sale will provide Canada a 2-squadron bridge of enhanced F/A-18A aircraft to continue meeting NORAD and NATO commitments while it gradually introduces new advanced aircraft via the Future Fighter Capability Program between 2025 and 2035,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in the U.S. said.
Canada is acquiring 50 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical missiles; 50 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles; 10 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Special Air Training Missiles; 10 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical Guidance Units; 10 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units; 38 APG-79(V)4 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar units; 38 APG-79(V)4 AESA Radar A1 kits; 20 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C, AGM-154C; and 46 F/A-18A Wide Band RADOMEs.
Also included are additional technical and logistics support for the AESA radar; upgrades to the Advanced Distributed Combat Training System (ADCTS) to ensure flight trainers remain current with the new technologies; software development to integrate the systems listed into the F/A-18A airframe as well as other equipment.
The RCAF expects some of the new weaponry will be of use on the future fighter aircraft as well.
Another focus for the RCAF is the eventual introduction of a remotely piloted aircraft system or RPAS. The RPAS project is a new name for what used to be called the Joint Unmanned Surveillance and Target Acquisition System or JUSTAS, which began in 2007.
An internal DND audit released in 2014 noted that the JUSTAS operational requirements lacked clarity and consistency to ensure that all of the Canadian military’s capability deficiencies would be addressed by the acquisition.
But this time around the project has advanced significantly. The RPAS project entered the definition phase on April 5, 2019. As a result of an Invitation to Qualify process, Public Services and Procurement Canada selected L3 Technologies MAS Inc.; and the United States Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. as the two bidders for the project, said Department of National Defence spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande.
Under the ITQ process, L3 Technologies MAS Inc. proposed the Heron TP aircraft from IAI while the United States Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. qualified with the MQ-9 aircraft, added Lamirande.
“The project team officially initiated engagement with qualified suppliers in July 2019 as part of the Refine & Review Requirements (RRR) phase,” she said. “As part of the RRR phase, the project team will continue to engage Qualified Suppliers and develop a Request For Proposal for release anticipated in Fiscal Year 20/21.”
Project approval to enter implementation phase is anticipated in Fiscal Year 22/23, Lamirande told Esprit de Corps.
The RPAS project will procure a fleet of armed, medium altitude, long endurance remotely piloted aircraft and related equipment capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and precision strike in support of Canadian Armed Forces operations. The RPAS fleet will complement existing capabilities within the Canadian military, such as the CP-140 and the CF-18 fighter aircraft.
“This capability will be integrated into a network of systems to enable near real-time flow of information essential to CAF operations, and to support domestic law enforcement and civilian authorities, Lamirande said. “Additionally, it will significantly expand Canada’s ability to contribute to joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations with its allies.”
Team SkyGuardian consists of General Atomics (GA-ASI), CAE, L3 Harris and MDA. The team notes its multi-mission aircraft, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian and its nine hardpoints offer unmatched configurability to meet Canada’s mission requirements. MQ-9B SkyGuardian is the best solution to deliver multi-mission capability, a sustainable Arctic presence, interoperability with existing Royal Canadian Air Force assets and Five Eyes and NATO allies, all with low acquisition cost and sustainment, according to the team. GA-ASI has also noted it is involving Canadian industry in sustainment of the system and development of new capabilities for MQ-9B and other Predator series systems.
The second consortium, known as Team Artemis, is offering an enhanced Canadian version of IAI’s Heron TP platform. L3 Harris’ division in Mirabel, Que., has teamed with Israel Aerospace Industries to adapt the Heron TP for Canada’s specific requirements, the companies point out. The Artemis system uses the Canadian-made 1,200 shaft horsepower Pratt & Whitney Turbo-Prop PT6 engine, which allows the system to be capable of speeds, climb rates and altitudes that are unmatched in the medium altitude long endurance category, according to the team. The aircraft will be outfitted with an anti-icing system and capable of altitude greater than 45,000 feet. The aircraft will also be outfitted with the anti-jam GPS system provided by NovAtel of Calgary.
If Team Artemis wins the RPAS project the aircraft will be assembled by L3 Harris in Mirabel.
