Vanguard Magazine

14 JUNE/JULY 2022 www.vanguardcanada.com CONTINENTAL AIR DEFENCE facilities geared to the CF-188 Hornet and will need to be upgraded to handle the F-35 both from an operating, security, and connectivity perspective. The FOLs are critical to NORAD's ability to power-proj- ect northward to meet potential threats. The same is true for the other key points highlighted by the government in this area. All of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) facilities at airfields such as 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, and 19 Wing, Comox, British Columbia, will require extensive upgrades to make them compatible with the new aircraft. The QRA's are a vital component of NORAD's and the RCAF's ability to mount effective airborne security over major cities and sensitive infrastruc- ture to deter and respond to potential ter- rorist acts. And although the details are still being worked out, the modernization of the RCAF's operational training infra- structure will need to adjust to the techno- logical leap forthcoming with the F-35. It will take years to implement the infrastruc- ture and training changes. The government is moving ahead with the acquisition of replacements for the RCAF's aging fleet of five CC-150 Polaris transport aircraft. Dual purposed for stra- tegic airlift and air-to-air refueling, the Po- laris are more than thirty-years old and be- coming increasingly expensive and difficult to operate. Recently the government an- nounced the purchase of two used Airbus A310-300s as part of the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC) project. The first of a planned six aircraft acquisition, will be modified at a later date to a multi-role tanker transport configuration. The new AAR aircraft will be a key element of the RCAF's ability to meet the government's NORAD and NATO obligations. Pitfalls The government has set forth an ambi- tious and correspondingly expensive set of programs which, although achievable, may run afoul of a number of pitfalls. First and foremost is funding sustainability. Al- though each of the investment areas un- derpinning improvements to continental air defence and NORAD modernization have substantial funds allocated to them, they are spread over a twenty-year period. While the length of the commitment is understandable, given technological and geo-political uncertainty, not to mention the slow-speed of the Canadian military procurement process, it leaves the "plan" susceptible to competing governmental priorities, changes in government, and that ever elusive factor – will. Right now, ably annunciated by the MND, support- ed by Prime Minster Trudeau, a militant and resurgent Russia is the catalyst for in- creased defensive measures. In very many ways, our current level of activity is remi- niscent of the Cold War. However, like the Cold War, the real, or perceived, di- minishment of the "threat-du-jour" may spark interest in another "peace-dividend" rendering the plan mute. Another issue to be considered is the abil- ity of the CAF to develop, procure, and, ul- timately, operate the new processes, facili- ties, and equipment. Simply put, will there be enough soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel to get the job done? Recent fig- ures indicate that the CAF is approximately 10,000 members short of its authorized strength of 100,000 regular and reserve personnel. And of that number, roughly 2,000 are allocated to the RCAF; critically important given the aerospace-centricity of air defence and NORAD modernization. There is no rapid solution to this dilemma as the complexity of these programs and ca- pabilities demand training, knowledge, and skill sets that take years to obtain. There- fore, even if the CAF manages to recruit the necessary personnel, it will still struggle to achieve government-directed goals. Improvements to continental air de- fence, centred on NORAD modern- ization, has long been a stated goal of successive Canadian governments. The proposed program, first articulated in 2017's SSE is poised to move forward at a rapid pace. And although there may be some difficulties ahead, the government's ambitious program outlines necessary steps to bring the enterprise into the 21st century. Satellite Communication Project – Polar (ESCP-P), the Tactical Narrowband Satel- lite Communication (SATCOM) – Geosyn- chronous Project, and NORAD's Project Pathfinder. In partnership with the US, the Tactical Narrowband SATCOM – Geosynchronous (TNS-GEO) project will provide the CAF with narrowband ultra-high frequency (UHF) SATCOM from 65° North to 65° South latitude – virtually the entire earth's surface less the High Arctic and Antarctica. To ensure dedicated, secure, and reliable communications for the Canadian north, ESCP-P with provide UHF narrowband and wideband SATCOMs in support of NORAD and Joint Task Force North. Other nations, such as New Zealand, Den- mark, Norway, the US, and France, have indicated an interest in working with Can- ada on this project. Although development will progress slowly, initial estimates are that the ESCP-P will commence operation in 2034, it will be interoperable with US and NATO militaries. Project Pathfinder is a combined NORAD – US Northern Command (USNORTH- COM) initiative to ensure information dominance leading to decision superiority (ie. The right decision at the right time in advance of a potential adversary). Build- ing upon existing and emerging technolo- gies, Pathfinder will permit increasingly rapid integration of more data from more sources to negate information-silos and cre- ate a "data-fabric" that analysts can exploit. A cloud-based architecture accessible, de- pending upon need and security protocols, will permit decision makers from the opera- tional to the tactical level the information required to make informed, rapid, and most importantly, correct decisions. Infrastructure and Support Funds in this activity area span the breadth of the country and will be heavily tied to Canada's new fighter aircraft. Interestingly, the purchase of 88 advanced fighter aircraft under the Future Fighter Capability Proj- ect (FFCP) is not touted as part of the gov- ernment's commitment to continental air defence and NORAD modernization – it is a separate project. Still, the acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35 will, of neces- sity, heavily influence virtually all aspects of the government's continental air defence goals. For example, the RCAF's current Forward Operating Locations (FOL) at Yellowknife and Inuvik, Northwest Ter- ritories, Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Goose Bay, Labrador, have basic shelter and support A North Warning System radar

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