by David Pugliese
HMCS Toronto, shown here in a 2019 photo, has arrived at Davie Shipbuilding for a major Docking Work Period (DWP) program. (US NAVY PHOTO)
HMCS TORONTO ARRIVED at Davie Shipbuilding in May for a major Docking Work Period (DWP) program. HMCS Toronto is expected to enter the Lorne drydock at Davie in the coming weeks where it will spend several months before re-entering service for the Royal Canadian Navy.
The entire fleet of 12 Halifax-class frigates is undergoing major DWP designed to keep the vessels operational until at least 2040. While the HMCS Toronto received several upgrades in 2015 under the Frigate Equipment Life Extension (FELEX) pro- gram, the current DWP will include major maintenance activities as well as a number of engineering changes, Davie noted.
The HMCS Toronto DWP is part of an initial $500 million contract awarded to Davie to perform maintenance work on three frigates. The warship follows HMCS St. John’s, which has successfully undergone a major DWP at Davie and is due to return to service for the RCN this summer, the firm noted.
Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training announced May 5 its partnership with Executive Flight Centre, a leading Canadian provider of aerodrome site sup- port services, for Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program.
In partnership with strategic Canadian suppliers, the Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training program says it will set the stage for the next generation of military aircrew training, while pushing Canada’s economic and strategic goals forward.
“We are thrilled that Executive Flight Centre has joined the Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training Team. Our team of global leaders provides first in class military aircrew training that is delivered locally by leading strategic Canadian partners with operations from coast-to- coast,” noted Jana Lee Murray, FAcT Program Director for Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training.
The FAcT program will deliver aircrew training for military pilots, air combat systems officers and airborne electronic sensor operators. Training of air combat systems officers and airborne electronic sensor operators is currently done in-house by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Aircrew training services will include classroom instruction, simulator and flight training, as well as numerous on-site support activities.
Arcfield Canada Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Arcfield, has been awarded a two-year contract extension by the Department of National Defence to provide engineering and logistics support services for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Avionics (AVS) Optimized Weapon System Support (OWSS) program. The award, which represents follow-on work for the company, has a total value of $50 million.
Under the contract extension, Arcfield Canada will continue to provide support for the entire CF-18 avionics suite and associated support equipment through the end of March 2024. Arcfield Canada administers the complete lifecycle man- agement, engineering support services, supply chain management, and mainten- ance, repair and overhaul of avionics systems for the CF-18 fighter fleet. To date, the company has completed more than 70,000 repairs on the CF-18 avionics.
As the prime contractor on the CF-18 AVS OWSS program, Arcfield Canada Corp. has been providing comprehensive in-service and integrated logistics support for the RCAF’s CF-18 fighter aircraft for more than three decades.
he defence industry can expect a request for information from the Canadian government as preparations are laid for the eventual purchase of a ground-based air defence system. This photo shows ADATS, a previous Canadian military air defence system. (FILE PHOTO)
“We are pleased that the Department of National Defence and the RCAF has trusted Arcfield to continue its service for the CF-18 aircraft,” said Jacques Comtois, director of Canadian operations, Arcfield Canada. “For 35 years, our organization has been a dedicated and valued partner to the Canadian Armed Forces supporting Canada’s fighter fleet, and we look forward to continuing that partnership through this contract.”
This OWSS extension follows the award of a two-year task order to upgrade the CF-18 fleet with a new two-way data link capability, valued at $28 million.
The defence industry can expect a request for information from the Canadian government as preparations are laid for the eventual purchase of a ground-based air defence system. The estimated cost of the project is between $500 million and $1 billion.
The system would focus on dealing with the threats from incoming rocket, artillery and mortar munitions, air to surface missiles and bombs, and remotely piloted aircraft systems. The system would also be able to target cruise missiles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
A contact is expected to be awarded in 2026 and the first systems in place a year later.
The Canadian Army had plans to intro- duce a new air defence system around 2017 but that project never went forward.
In 2020 then army commander Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre told Esprit de Corps that ground-based air defence was a priority for the service. “We see the evolving threat from drones, from rockets, and other forms of indirect fire,” explained Eyre, who has since been promoted to chief of the defence staff. “We have to be able to protect ourselves.”
He noted that sophisticated sensors capable of identifying the location of enemy positions as well as detecting incoming warheads would be particularly important for ground-based air defence.
Saab’s programmable Carl-Gustaf munition, designated HE 448, was fired for the first time in front of an audience at a live fire event in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company announced May 6. The firings took place May 3-4, 2022, in front of an audience with representatives from 30 different nations and included shoulder- fired engagements demonstrating the capabilities of the new programmable High Explosive (HE) round. A new Fire Control Device (FCD), designated FCD 558, was also demonstrated at the event, according to Saab.
The new HE 448 programmable round has the ability to communicate with the new Fire Control Device 558 via a new protocol known as Firebolt. The HE 448 round provides the FCD 558 with the exact information on round type and propellant temperature and combines this with target distance entered by the operator to determine the best trajectory. This means that Carl-Gustaf operators will be able to quickly configure a chambered round and so increase their operational effectiveness, Saab officials noted.
The firings indicate the new systems are ready for delivery, according to the company. In December 2021, Saab was contracted to deliver the new HE 448 munition and Fire Control Device 558 to the Swedish Armed Forces.
Canada’s Air Defence Anti-Tank System (ADATS) was considered too expensive to replace if damaged during training. As a result these vehicles have spent most of their 30 year service life in a warehouse. (FILE PHOTO)