Vanguard Magazine

20 JUNE/JULY 2024 www.vanguardcanada.com I N T E R V I E W with most of our capabilities. I meet with industry regularly, as does my team. There are many different components. One is delivering on the commitments that we've made and contracts that we signed while recognizing the challenges of inflation and global supply chains. But what I focus on is this: where are we going as a Force in the future? And what does industry see as options to address gaps? Or where are efficiencies that we don't currently see? What do we see in the Air Force in 2035? What do we see in the Air Force in 2040? What is always important is understand- ing where the gaps and seams are amongst different allies, so we can complement each other where we have similar capa- bilities, or if not, to sync capabilities and it make it easy for supply chain maintenance support. Industry plays that pivotal role of making sure we have a sustainable Force within Canada, especially if supply bor- ders get closed. It's recognizing that they also want to provide us optionality as we go forward and things to consider until we get to a contract, at which point we move forward. Q Are there any final comments you wish to make? Yes. In the last 19 months, we have signed six significant contracts worth - when you add up all the different components - $60 billion to deliver up to 211 new or modi- fied aircraft in the next five years. That is over half of our capabilities in aircraft and fleets. It's the most significant moderniza- tion effort since the Second World War. There was a big surge in the early sixties, but with not as many platforms and not as much complexity. That does not include other contracts that we've already been putting in place, such as Fixed Wing Search and Rescue, the Hornet Extension Project, and the new Tactical Control Radars that we're delivering to our wings. It is a time of significant modernization for our Air Force. It is our 100th anniver- sary where we recognize our past mem- bers, our current members, and those who want to join the Air and Space Forces of the future. And it is the most uncertain, complex global security situation I've ever seen in my entire career. This is something we must take very seriously to make sure that we can deliver the Air Force that Can- ada needs, working with our joint partners and fulfilling our mission, which is the de- fence of Canada and our homelands. And I think we're on a very good pathway to get there. It won't be easy. There will be many challenges along the way. But if everybody is there to support us, I know we'll be suc- cessful. That's why we've always been suc- cessful, because people have been the cor- nerstone of our existence, as they wil be for the next 100 years. Industry participates every day, whether it's delivery of assets, or the maintenance and in service support contracts that go along with most of our capabilities. I meet with industry regularly, as does my team. CC-330 Husky. Image: DND Grob 120TP. Image: Grob Aircra

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