Former ADM (materiel), Alan Williams, takes a critical look at the Canadian Surface Combatant procurement from the taxpayer's perspective. Comparing costs and quotes on similar projects from other countries, he finds that Canadian taxpayers are paying 2-3 times more for the CSC ships under the project management of Irving Shipbuilding.
Aug 15
(Ken Pole)
Canadian Armed Forces personnel now have clearly-defined options on how to lodge complaints about harassment, assault or other misconduct outside the traditional and all-too-often frustrating military chain of command.
Aug 08
(ARIE EGOZI)
Iran's very basic drone industry has been boosted by the war in Ukraine. Advanced armed UAVs have recently unveiled for purchase by Russia.
Aug 04
(ARIE EGOZI)
The Israeli Ministry of Defence plans to begin series production of the upgraded version of the Merkava 4 main battle tank this year. FrontLine sources have provided some details of the technological advances and expected innovations.
Sep 20
Less than two months into his new job as Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair has returned from a whirlwind visit to Scotland, England and Germany in what could be construed as a "charm offensive" designed to defuse NATO's frustration that Canada remains well short of the alliance's military spending targets for its members.
Sep 15
(DND News)
In 1993, Canadian soldiers faced what is considered by many to be the toughest and largest-scale action faced by our troops during the half-century between the Korean War and Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. Today, we commemorate their sacrifice and their intense commitment to peace and security.
Sep 15
(DND News)
A ceremony, including a fly-past, will mark the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Sunday, September 17, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Sep 15
(DND News)
15 Sept 2023 is designated Military Family Appreciation Day, and the Ministers of National Defence and Veterans Affairs issued a statement of support to Canadian military families. As an integral part of the Defence community, they bring their resilient spirit to each new posting, and strengthen the places in which they set down new roots. Military families represent Canadian values and embody the best of our country. (english and french messages)
 Collins Aerospace |
 Beretta Defense Technologies / Stoeger Canada |
 Cleeve Technology Inc. |
18 June 2023 –
Politicians, scholars and commentators have sought to explain or justify the apparent delinquency in Canada’s defence effort over the years. It remains unclear whether or how much the promised new defence policy update will address the matter of NATO's 2% minimum defence spending commitment.
18 June 2023 –
Former head of defence procurement at Canada's Department of National Defence, made the following remarks at the Standing Committee of National Defence hearing on 16 June 2023. He says the capital costs of Canada’s new fighter jets and surface combatant ships will exceed $100 billion dollars over a 10-year period, and could effectively bankrupt the Canadian Armed Forces unless new monies are injected.
30 May 2023 –
Chinese election interference is a hot topic in Canada today. Yet, while it is indeed a matter of enormous importance, it is one that must be placed in the context of the new Cold War against the West.
27 April 2023 –
The CAF is in crisis mode, attempting to deal with a lack of personnel and equipment, efforts to change its culture, operational pressures and reputational challenges. This huge machine cannot rapidly ramp up from dereliction when needed – it's time for Canadians to begin to recognize service to country as important, and give it the priority it deserves.
22 September 2023
(Ottawa Citizen)
More than six years after the 2017 Strong, Secure, Engaged policy paper disclosed plans for Canada to acquired armed drones, the Department of National Defence has confirmed plans to buy a fleet of General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers which can be fitted with Hellfire missiles at an overall cost of some $5 billion. “Should the finalization phase conclude successfully, contract award is expected within this fiscal year,” says DND spokesperson Jessica Lamirande. “We expect the first delivery in 2028.”
22 September 2023
(Breaking Defense)
The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports that a lack of depot capacity, access to technical data, insufficient spare parts and overreliance on contractors have undermined F-35 fleets’ mission capability rates. Only 55% of aircraft were mission-ready earlier this year, well short of 90% for the basic F-35A and 85% for the B and C variants.
22 September 2023
(BBC)
Recent disappearances of several high-ranking Chinese military officials, most notably Defence Minister Li Shangfu, are sparking speculation about whether President Xi Jinging has begun a purge. Li was being investigated over equipment purchases while three others, including a judge, have been removed from office.
21 September 2023
(National Post)
Faced with the October 30 expiry of a federal firearms amnesty, a gun lobby plans to seek a Federal Court injunction February 22 on grounds that many owners worry about the prospect of being labelled criminals if they don’t comply. The federal cabinet directive initially issued in 2020, and since extended, reclassified as prohibited a number of common military-style firearms and while owners can still possess them, the directive prohibits transfer of ownership.
21 September 2023
(BBC )
A 24-hour military “anti-terror” offensive against ethnic Armenian forces in the disputed South Caucasus enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh has ended with a declaration by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev that his country’s sovereignty has been restored.
21 September 2023
(C4ISRNet)
Authorities in Hong Kong have extradited to the U.S. a man accused of shuttling sensitive microelectronics into Russia amidst its invasion of Ukraine. Maxim Marchenko, originally from Russia, faces several charges, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to commit wire fraud and smuggling.
21 September 2023
(CTV)
One of Canada’s four submarines, HMCS Windsor, is back in Halifax for repairs after a “flooding” at sea in which three sailors suffered minor injuries. The navy says the September 10 accident involved “sea water stored in a tank inside the sub while at safe depth” 40 nautical miles from Halifax and that it took about 10 hours to return to base.
21 September 2023
(BBC)
Amidst a diplomatic dispute over what it said are market-destabilizing grain exports, Poland is no longer supplying Soviet-era weapons to its neighbour, preferring instead to re-equip its own forces. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was responding September 20 to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s complaint that some his country’s allies were “making a thriller from grain
21 September 2023
(Breaking Defense)
Air Force General CQ Brown was confirmed by the U.S. Senate late September 20 as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is the first break in a months- stall of more than 300 promotions resulted from an Alabama Republican’s legislative tactics in opposition to a Department of Defense abortion policy.
20 September 2023
(C4ISRNet)
The U.S. imposed sanctions September 19 on four companies and seven individuals in China, Russia and NATO member Turkey for alleged connections with Iran’s drone program. The Turkish persons accused are two money exchangers. Iran’s president has denied that his country supplied drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
