Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
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S sit rep Renewal team delivers plan to rebalance CAF priorities The search for "efficiencies" within National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces has become a little clearer with the release of a defence renewal charter and action plan. Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson unveiled outlines of the documents in October, saying the major initiative is intended to reduce inefficiencies, streamline business processes and reduce corporate overhead within the defence organization. "Let me be clear – I'm not talking about more cost cutting, but rather, about doing things smarter," he said. "This large-scale review of our business processes is aimed at freeing up resources that can be re-invested in defence. These resources will be redirected towards the continued modernization of the Canadian Armed Forces' capabilities, and other defence priorities. Our intent is not to reduce the number of Regular Force, Reserve Force or civilian employees. It is, however, expected that there will be a rebalancing of the workforce to address higher, operationally-driven priorities." The renewal charter and plan were drawn up by the Defence Renewal Team (DRT), an small group co-led by MGen Jay Milne and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Lindsey, that was originally stood up in 2012 by General Walt Natynczyk, then Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), and Robert Fonberg, then the Deputy Minister of National Defence. When he was appointed CDS last Fall, General Tom Lawson said the renewal effort would be his "centre of gravity" for the next three years. The team has drawn on the expertise of consulting firm McKinsey and the experience of allies also undergoing renewal efforts to develop the charter, its strategic vision, and the strategic level implementation plan. Both will be supported by more detailed plans developed by assistant deputy minister organizations such as ADM Information Management and ADM Human Resources. Through a series of town halls and other engagements with personnel, the DRT identified nine themes of renewal, six around performance initiatives – operations and training; maintenance and materiel; information management and technology; infrastructure; personnel; management systems – and three around organizational practice – strategic clarity; disciplined business execution; and openness and trust. Under operations and training, for example, it noted greater use of simulation systems across the CAF to reduce training costs. By investing in a simulator at the flight school for CH-149 Cormorant helicopter search and rescue crews rather than the current practice of sending those crews to a simulator located in the U.K., the Royal Canadian Air Force could reduce the number of flying hours required to train pilots on operational aircraft from 55 to 30 hours and reduce the length of the First Officer Pilot Course from 16 to 10 weeks, which would increase crew availability at the operational squadrons. And by transferring up to 400 flight training hours each year into the simulator, air force commanders would have more flying hours available on operational aircraft for search and rescue missions. The department hopes to find between $750 million and $1.2 billion in savings per year by 2017-18 through the process, which it will reinvest into improving frontline operational capabilities and readiness. In a technical briefing, senior officials acknowledged that civilian and military personnel could be affected by the initiative if they are unable to 6 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 www.vanguardcanada.com upgrade their skill set or move to new locations. They stressed that although the plan does not focus on staff reductions, it will seek to improve 22 different business processes and reallocate people, especially in headquarters, to other parts of the institution where they are needed. In total, DND hopes to "reallocate the equivalent of between 2,800 and 4,800 military and civilian personnel to address higher priority tasks." The backup plan Could Canada be reconsidering the infamous EH-101 helicopter for its maritime helicopter replacement program? The irony will be lost on no one if the government decides to re-open the program to replace its aging Sea King fleet. In early October, senior officials from National Defence and Public Works and Government Services met with representatives from three manufacturers to explore options if Sikorsky's CH-148 Cyclone is unable to meet expectations. To date, the government has not accepted any of the interim helicopters delivered to 12 Wing Shearwater for training purposes. In the room were executives from AgustaWestland, offering the AW101, a successor to the EH-101, NH Industries, representing Eurocopter's NH-90, and Sikorsky, supporting both the Cyclone and its U.S. Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk. Sikorsky has said it remains "committed to delivering the Cyclone with all of its highly advanced capabilities," but clearly the government has moved from criticizing the slow progress of the program to establishing a back-up plan. According to reports, a team from the Royal Canadian Air Force met last summer with the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom to take a closer look at the RN's AW101 Merlin. In July, AgustaWestland delivered the first AW101 Merlin HM Mk 2 helicopter to the RN, part of a $1.2 billion upgrade to 30 of the navy's Mk 1 helicopters that includes a state-of-the-art glass cockpit and improved aircrew mission console and avionics. AgustaWestland has been quick to capitalize on the opportunity. It issued a release last month saying it was ready to respond if the program is re-opened. "Events in Canada in the recent years have clearly demonstrated the AW101 is still the only helicopter which remains compliant and true to all the requirements of the original SOR [statement of requirement]. The AW101 maritime helicopter is a modern, proven rotorcraft system in service with the British Royal Navy, the Italian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force performing the widest scope of naval missions and with an outstanding track record of operational success." It would also be compatible with the AW101 Cormorant used by the RCAF for search and rescue. According to CBC, the three companies were provided "an abbreviated set of requirements" and given three weeks to respond whether their aircraft could meet the criteria. Given the history of this program, even past prime ministers will be watching for the results.