By David Pugliese
The Canadian Army is equipping its snipers with new weaponry and will soon be going to industry with its specifications. The procurement will be for 229 bolt action sniper rifles to be designated as the C21. The rifles will be used for long-range shooting and will come in two different calibres.
The C21 program is unique in that it will be open to all small arms companies which want to bid, rather than a sole-source purchase directed to Colt Canada.
The C21-Multi Calibre Sniper Weapon or MCSW will be a modular sniper rifle platform that will allow the use of various calibres to meet operations and training needs. The chosen calibre for operational use is the .338 Lapua Magnum while the preferred calibre for training is the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO (.308 Win), Warrant Officer Mike Tousignant, who is a sniper working in the Directorate of Land Requirements, explained to Esprit de Corps.
The system allows the user to swap between calibres while maintaining the same form, fit and functions provided by the common frame and its accessories, he added.
Viking Air Limited of Victoria, BC, and the Fuerza Aerea del Peru (FAP) have renewed their Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft support contract for a further five years. The deal was originally initiated in 2016. The FAP operates twelve Series 400 Twin Otters that provide civil protection, environmental monitoring, critical infrastructure support and emergency medevac services in the remote Amazonian regions of northeast Peru, according to Viking.
Logistik Unicorp Inc. has been awarded a contract to provide non-operational
clothing and footwear for the Canadian Armed Forces. The non-operational clothing and footwear contract (NOCFC) will provide the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces with clothing, primarily for non-operational and non-combat duties, all managed by one company. For example, these types of clothing and footwear are often worn when military members are participating in a parade. The benefits of this type of clothing solution include the ability for people to order items they need online and have it shipped to their door, according to the Department of National Defence. It also includes quicker turnaround times for product improvements, and a reduced risk of running out of stock.
Logistik Unicorp will be required to conform to mandatory Canadian content requirements, which in turn will help ensure that the majority of the manufacturing of clothing and footwear items is done in Canada.
The NOCFC will supply approximately 1,500 items of clothing for more than 160,000 people. This includes clothing items such as Regular and Reserve Force service dress uniforms, shorts, shirts, hats, shoes, as well as occupation-specific clothing items, such as those for civilian and military firefighters, military police and civilian drivers. Also included is clothing for the Canadian Rangers, Junior Rangers and Cadets.
A contract valued at $415 million was awarded to Logistik Unicorp Inc. of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, for an initial 6-year period. It includes options valued at up to $2.7 billion over 20 years.
CAE announced the appointment of Daniel Gelston as Group President, Defence & Security, effective August 24. He will be based in Washington, D.C. and will be succeeding Heidi Wood, CAE’s Executive Vice–President, Business Development & Growth Initiatives, who was also acting as interim Group President.
OSI Maritime Systems of Burnaby, BC, highlighted that NUSHIP Supply (II), the Royal Australian Navy’s new Supply class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship, has successfully completed its sea acceptance trials in Ferrol, Spain. OSI is contracted by Navantia to design and deliver Integrated Bridge Systems for the Royal Australian Navy’s SEA 1654 AOR Program. In addition, OSI is providing onboard training and supervision of the system as the ship transits to its delivery destination.
“Working directly with Navantia was a rewarding experience,” Ken Kirkpatrick, President and CEO, OSI Maritime Systems., said in a statement “It brought together partners from Spain, Australia, and Canada, and demonstrated the cooperation that is possible in the global ship building industry even with the challenges brought on by COVID-19.”
NUSHIP Supply (II) is the first of two ships being delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. When commissioned, the ships are intended to carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support for the deployed naval or combat forces operating far from the port on the high seas for prolonged operational periods.
The future Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the CCGS John Cabot, cruised out of English Bay in Vancouver on Aug. 18 to begin sea trials. The event marked another major milestone for this third Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV) built by Seaspan Shipyards under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
The future CCGS John Cabot began sea trials just six weeks after its official launch on July 3 at Seaspan’s North Vancouver shipyard, the company noted. The time span between launch and sea trials is considered best-in-class in the shipbuilding industry and echoes the ship’s 97 per cent complete status at launch, according to Seaspan. The firm pointed out that is a rare accomplishment at launch that exceeded international benchmarks.
On completion of sea trials, the future CCGS John Cabot will be prepared for delivery to the Canadian Coast Guard and then will sail to her home port St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. There she will take her place in the Coast Guard fleet alongside sister ships CCGS Sir John Franklin and CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier.
“Moving from launch to sea trials in record time, particularly during a global pandemic, is a testament to the incredible talent and determination of the Seaspan Shipyards team, and intense collaboration and teamwork from our supply chain partners and the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Mark Lamarre, Chief Executive Officer, Seaspan Shipyards.
The ship is the third OFSV built by Seaspan Shipyards under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. She will join her sister ships already in service — the CCGS Sir John Franklin, delivered in December 2019 and now stationed in Victoria, BC, and the CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier, delivered on June 2019 and currently stationed in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Montenegro’s Air Force has signed a purchase agreement for two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X’s from Bell Textron Inc. The aircraft will be used to train the Montenegrin military pilots. The Bell 505s will be built by Bell Textron Canada at their facility in Mirabel, Que.
