By David Pugliese
In the period up to 2025 the Army plans to begin early investment in what it is calling the Digital Army, including command, control, communications, computers, intel- ligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR), and key sustainment platforms. Concept testing, research, modeling, and experimentation to inform the way forward will also be integral. “During this build, the Canadian Army will make difficult decisions regarding which capabilities to divest to make room for more relevant ones,” it noted in the strategy released last February. “It will also continue to assess the strategic environment and the changing character of war to ensure these decisions are relevant to the situation.”
During the second phase, or Build 2, this period from 2025-2030 will see a digital Army unfold through the fielding of modern C4ISR, soldier, protection, and “combat-enabling” capa- bilities. Build 2 will continue to make investment, re-organization, and divestment decisions but continue to emphasize research and experimentation with which to inform future modernization efforts, the strategy pointed out.
Those are lofty goals but will the Army receive the funding to make this possible?
The Liberal government, under pressure from the U.S. and NATO in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has promised more funding for the Canadian Armed Forces.
As future spending has already been earmarked for the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force for its big ticket acquisitions of ships and aircraft, the Army has been largely on the sidelines in regards to high-profile major acquisitions. That is the situation so far.
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been largely a land of- fensive. The emerging lessons learned so far have focused on the need for armour, counter-armour capabilities, air defence, logistics and a well-trained land force.
In the coming months the Army will find out if the Liberal government will include it in a significant way as part of its future plans.
The Army, however, isn’t entirely lacking in equipment renewal projects in the process of moving forward.
The request for bids for the Logistics Vehicle Modernization Project was released to industry on Dec. 9, 2021. The LVM project will modernize and improve the Canadian Army’s light and heavy logistics vehicle capabilities.
The project will, among other things, see the acquisition of a replacement for the Light Support and Heavy Logistics Vehicle Wheeled fleets (LSVW and HLVW). It will involve the purchase of new light trucks and trailers of a 4 to 5 tonne cargo capacity as well as modules to mount on the trucks and trailers that will provide accommodation space to conduct various tasks (such as office space and workshops).
The project will also deliver a heavy truck and trailer system with a 16.5 tonne cargo capacity, trailers for engineer construction equipment and to transport a main battle tank, modules for accom- modation and specialized cargo (such as fuel) and an armoured protection kit for the cab. This fleet of trucks will be supported by an in-service support arrangement that provides for parts and sustainment for the planned 20 to 30 year life of the vehicles.
Initial operating capability for LVM is scheduled for around 2026 with full operating capability in 2029, according to Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier.
The cost of the LVM project is officially estimated to be between $1 billion to $4.99 billion but the DND has declined to narrow down that wide range of costs.
Going into the bid request (RFP release), the list of qualified suppliers included the following: General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada Corporation, General Dynamics Land Systems, Incor- porated, and Daimler AG; Iveco Defence Vehicles; Mack Defence LLC and ARQUUS; Oshkosh Defence Canada Incorporated and Oshkosh Defence, LLC; and Rheinmetall Canada Inc. and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH.
Daimler Truck AG originally qualified but withdrew as a qualified supplier in September 2020 to participate as part of the General Dynamics team. Navistar Defence LLC withdrew in September 2021 to participate as part of the Rheinmetall team.s
While there will be fewer vehicles in CAF service, the specific quantity of trucks has not been outlined, according to the DND.
The Canadian Army also has plans to improve its anti-tank capabilities with a new generation system as well as giving the M72 Light Anti-Tank Armour Weapon more punch and a new role.
Maj. Carl Gendron, who is responsible for soldier systems weapons and ammunition within the Army’s Directorate for Land Requirements, says the service wants a fifth generation anti-tank system. The new weapon would be non-line-of-sight and could be operated in a fire-and- forget mode, he explained in an interview with Esprit de Corps magazine. The range would be 4,000 to 5,000 metres and the system would be carried by two soldiers.
The aim of the Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) program would be to find a replacement for the legacy Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) anti-tank weapon system.
The Army’s schedule is for options analysis for the project to start next year. Acquisition would be in 2027 with the first systems arriving in 2028-2029 timeframe. Final delivery would take place in 2032-2033.
he acquisition of the ATGM would have other ramifications for the Army. “We’re looking at the Carl Gustaf as well because if we introduce the ATGM replacement at the platoon level - which is the aim right now – then what do we do with the Carl Gustaf?,” said Gendron. “Do we decentralize that at the section level because the section level lacks anti-tank punch?”
Gendron said the Army is also looking at moving the M72 into a new role with a new warhead.
In other welcome news for the Army, the procurement of a new pistol is back on. A new bid package was issued to companies on Feb. 18, Department of National Defence spokesperson Jessica Lamirande said.
She said 7,000 pistols would be initially purchased for the Canadian Army. Options to buy additional handguns for the Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Navy will be acted upon later. In total, up to 16,500 pistols will be bought. “We expect a contract award in the next six months, with first deliveries anticipated in early 2023,” Lamirande said.
In addition, the Canadian Army is seeing the arrival of new armoured vehicles. The new Armoured Combat Support Vehicle are being produced at General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada. The second variant of ACSV (Ambulance) was accepted at the factory by Canada in July of last year.
The project will deliver 360 vehicles, based on the Light Ar- moured Vehicle (LAV) 6.0 chassis, according to Army officers. The eight variants include: command post; ambulance; repair; recovery; fitter/cargo; engineer; electronic warfare; and troop carrier. As the project continues, initial operational capability is expected in 2023.
Also on the horizon is the LAV Specialist Variant Enhancements or LAV SVE. That project will acquire and integrate a new Target- ting Independent Viewer or TIV for the 47 LAV 6.0 Observation Post Variants. The TIV will possess state of the art optics including a laser designator for the Joint Terminal Attack Controller.
The project will also modernize the Target Observation and Fire Control System (TOFCS) for 47 vehicles. TOFCS would be precise enough for modern artillery requirements and useable at every crew station in the LAV 6.0. The project will be implemented in 2023, with first deliveries in 2025. The cost is estimated to be between $100 million and $249 million.
