Vanguard Magazine

DESSP's significant capabilities to provide active wide-area surveillance, global maritime domain awareness, enhanced earth observation, and coherent change detection will enable the CAF to "remain ready to act in the service of Canadians – from coast to coast to coast – and sustain a continuous watch over Canada's landmass …and sea approaches," thus, it is strategically relevant. www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 15 SPACE seamlessly after RCM could be the answer DND needs to fill the current 7 years gap in space-based ISR capability that exists be- tween 2026 and DESSP's planned launch in 2033. DESSP's significant capabilities to pro- vide active wide-area surveillance, global maritime domain awareness, enhanced earth observation, and coherent change detection will enable the CAF to "remain ready to act in the service of Canadians – from coast to coast to coast – and sustain a continuous watch over Canada's landmass …and sea approaches," thus, it is strategi- cally relevant. It will significantly enhance the CAF's space-based ISR capabilities beyond RCM, employing a smart mix of space-based sensors that will provide more advanced ISR support to the CAF, NORAD, and NATO operations. There is little question that the Canadian govern- ment has clearly stated the requirement for DESSP, but with no government strategic plan for space and a growing federal defi- cit, will it be funded? References: 1. Canada's Defence Policy (2017), "Strong, Secure, Engaged", Chapter 2, Investment in the RCAF, Point 45, Pg-39 2. Canada's Defence Policy (2017), "Strong, Secure, Engaged", Chapter 6, New Initiatives ,Point 85, Pg-72. 3. Canada's Defence Policy (2017), "Strong, Secure, Engaged", Executive Summary, Pg-15 4. spaceQ.ca, https://spaceq.ca/the- canadian-space-agency-awards-8-con- tracts-for-studies-of-future-earth- observation-systems/ Background, para 2 5. Canada's Defence Policy (2017), "Strong, Secure, Engaged", Chapter 5, Strong at Home, Pg-60 Jeff Dooling was the Director of Space Requirements at National Defence Head- quarters in Ottawa from 2014-2017, where he was responsible for developing Space- based capabilities to meet Canadian Armed Forces operational requirements. Upon his retirement from the military, he started Dooling Consulting and is currently working with Space Strategies Consulting Limited. and competing revisit times. The answer is compromise and it has resulted in CSA's ongoing effort to harmonize multi-de- partmental EO requirements. Interesting- ly, CSA has included DND requirements in its long harmonized list, even though it is well aware of DND's intent to go it alone with DESSP. With EOSC estimated to also cost in the billions of dollars, it is unlikely that the cash-strapped Canadian government will fund both constellations if they are contemporaneous. However, the CSA is looking at options that would "ensure that Canada is able to seamlessly maintain this [EO] capabil- ity and enhance the operational services beyond 2026" which is the expected end of service date of RCM. Given the hor- rendous timelines for government pro- curement in Canada, CSA's aim to en- sure space-based ISR services continue Image 2: RCM, Credit: MDA Corp. artist concept

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