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Delivering the fih-generation multi-role fighter, the Canadian Surface Combatant, Remotely Piloted Aircra Systems, the upgrade of the CP-140 to ensure interoperability and future operations, the delivery of MAISR. INTERVIEW I said earlier, the vision and direction are primarily led by the Vice we're obviously significantly involved in this, with where operations command is, we are the end user. But we're trying to deliver on the vi- sion with relevancy, for our ISR technolo- gies and tools through the collaborative joint ISR force development program. We are an influencer and an advocate for this, as CJOC is the one that relies on this moving forward. Currently, in my role, I'm concerned with current operations and near-term force development. This was started by a previous commander Lieutenant-General Rouleau when we're talking about making sure we're going to be compliant with the future operating en- vironment. We advocated for medium to long term look into the joint ISR, which I talked about before. Right at the be- ginning, I said, we're all trying to figure out the same problem. How do we actu- ally operate in the future security environ- ment? And what do C4ISR platforms look like? What does C2 look like? What does this all look like in a future operating en- vironment? So, we're certainly advocating and working with the Vice's team on this, because we're going to be the key ones that are employing this in the future. Q Now that's very interesting. So, regarding requirements and how they're cascaded into forced generators or developed in-house within the CJOC, what are the key capital projects you're desiring to see to be delivered on? VAdm Auchterlonie: Well, I'll just prob- ably back up just for a second, you're talking about long term capital projects. Some keywords in there, long term capital projects, you can juxtapose that against, the rapid advancement of technology. So, when you take a long time to deliver a capital project, technology's going to take several iterations as it moves forward. So, it's hard to say where that long term capital project you're going to deliver in 15 years is going to be because technology is growing exponentially. So, it's tough to marry those two together. And the force generators are dealing with that now as they're trying to ensure that we have rel- evant capabilities in the future that are able to have the technologies of the day when they come online. So, it's tough. You don't want to develop something now and be static in your development. So then 20 years from now, when you deliver that platform, it's got today's technology twenty years from now, that may be ir- relevant. This is a real problem, so we're looking at that across many platforms. Ob- viously, key projects are moving forward. It's not just me as Commander CJOC, but the Canadian Armed Forces as well are concerned with this. Delivering the fifth- generation multi-role fighter, the Canadi- an Surface Combatant, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, the upgrade of the CP- 140 to ensure interoperability and future operations, the delivery of MAISR. And, to go back to this, these are key C4ISR platforms that the CAF is going to need to work in the future operating environment. And continued work, and continued development of our C2 systems as well as our, IM/IT backbones to work in to- day's environment. Because they are in a contested environment, we need to be assured they are secure. So, this is some- thing obviously moving forward. So not only the platforms within the C4ISR realm, and not only the major platforms of Canadian Armed Forces, but also the backbone to support that, they all need to be upgraded and they all need to be en- abled for the future as well. Q It's really fascinating because we know the way procurement works and traditional ways are not favorable to digital technology and how quickly technology moves at the speed of light, so it's going to be quite a challenge moving forward. VAdm Auchterlonie: You hit some- thing that's key. I give kudos to the Army, Navy, and Air Force and Special Opera- tions Force Command, because they're looking at this and they're really doing a good job. As well as the folks developing the joint capabilities, who are looking to address exactly that, and making sure that everything's open architecture so we can move forward and technology can advance along with us, make sure its data driven, so whatever the data source we can integrate it all. These are key components. And I think we've applied those lessons to the new platforms moving forward, whether it be fifth generation multi-role fighter or the Canadian Surface Combatant, they're going to be state of the art when they're delivered, because we are taking that into consideration moving forward. You just hit a really key point. So, thanks. Q There is little in the public domain about the DIER since it was launched. Please describe to us the motivation and desired/required outcomes of this effort. Are there any major findings or themes coming out of the work done to date? MGen Wright: Over the last two decades, whether due to the operational demands of www.vanguardcanada.com DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 21

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