Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com JUNE/JULY 2021 17 PERSPECTIVE I n December 2020, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada completed the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) program's first vehicle vari- ant: a Troop Cargo Vehicle (TCV) manufactured for the Canadian Army. The company marked the occasion in May 2021 with a virtual roll-out ceremo- ny, a particularly special celebration given that General Dynamics' ACSV team met tight design and production deadlines while manufacturing safely throughout a global pandemic. The event was attended by more than 200 people, including a special appear- ance by the Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Harjit Sajjan. Also in attendance was the newly appointed vice president & general manager of General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, Jason Alejandro Monahan. Monahan took on his role this year with the responsibility to deepen and reinforce the company's commitment to the Cana- dian Armed Forces, with a renewed focus on expanding its product offering beyond its core market of light armoured vehicles (LAVs). Specifically, General Dynamics will leverage innovation resulting from research and development (R&D) invest- ments and complex project management and delivery experience to pursue non- traditional markets and opportunities. General Dynamics Land Systems-Cana- da has a strong commitment to innovation with more than 500 engineers focused on conceptualizing, designing and integrating the world's most capable solutions. "General Dynamics Land Systems- Canada has a unique ability to push in- novation to the limits and quickly convert ideas into real technologies and solutions for its customers," Monahan said. "We have made significant investments in re- search and development over the years, which allows us to integrate emerging technologies and capabilities into the LAV and developing platforms." This focus on R&D leads to the expan- sion of the company's suite of new prod- ucts -- products that maximize capability delivery, mission flexibility and solutions for evolving, asymmetric multi-domain operations. Academic cooperation, collaborative teaming and innovation partnerships, such as the advanced manufacturing superclu- ster NGen Manufacturing, serve as addi- tional fuel for its agenda of innovation. General Dynamics Land Systems-Can- ada develops tools that, through a digital backbone, leverage onboard health usage monitoring data by pairing it with artifi- cial intelligence, thus providing decision makers with comprehensive data to make timely and data-informed decisions. General Dynamics Land Systems-Cana- da's participation in the Department of Na- tional Defence's IDEaS program is another example of how innovation serves the cus- tomer on the ground. The use of robotics engineering and systems enables technology integrated on the LAV platform to allow for semi-autonomous or autonomous operator control in uncrewed vehicles. The extent to which these systems might enhance mission capabilities is astounding. General Dynamics' unwavering focus on optimizing soldier protection and opera- tional advantage is bolstered by innovative initiatives that evolve capabilities to meet the demands of the Future Security Envi- ronment. The Department of National Defence's Logistics Vehicle Modernization (LVM) project, for example, is a long-term fund- ing commitment that recognizes the shift- ing international landscape and the various threats that go beyond international bor- ders. The project will modernize and im- prove the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) light and heavy logistics vehicle capability, including improvements to payload, func- tionality, protection and mobility. General Dynamics has formed a best- of-industry team that includes Mercedes- Benz (Daimler Truck) and Marshall Can- ada. This highly experienced team has the technical skills, commitment to innovation and proven track record to modernize Canada's Logistics Vehicle fleet. In addition to logistics vehicles, the CAF is updating its fleet of Special Operations vehicles through the Next Generation Fighting Vehicle program. General Dy- namics is positioning the EAGLE as the optimal tactical truck for the program. Both programs represent significant and important capability needs for Canada and essential lines of business for General Dy- namics to deliver capability and support to the CAF. General Dynamics is helping Canada meet current and future climate change goals by applying emerging and devel- oped technologies to capability solutions, including electric and hybrid electric drive vehicles. Early this year, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada was proud to receive ISO 50001 certification of its main office build- ing and central manufacturing facility in London, Ontario. It was an achievement that aligns with the company's commit- ment to reduce its global environmental impact and came on the heels of securing LEED Gold certification for the main of- fice building. "Our world and the threats we face are quickly changing," Monahan said. "We need to disrupt models that have served us in the past to make sure we are ready for the future. As a business, we will also strengthen our three priority efforts: em- ploy and engage the best people, create and maintain superior client relationships, and relentlessly innovate. This is how we meet and exceed our clients' expectations and become their innovative leader and provider of choice." FOR THE FUTURE OF CANADIAN MISSIONS Sponsored Content INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

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