Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/304887
22 APRIL/MAY 2014 www.vanguardcanada.com Fregattenkapitan Bjorn Laue j jOINT SUPPORT SHIP below the waterline. Lieutenant-Commander Bruno Trem- blay was quoted in a media report as say- ing Canadian derivatives of Bonn won't be identical to her. My sources are telling me that the list of changes to the German ver- sion is already well over 100 items. Design change is one of the key areas that affect cost increases. Conversion from Europe- an-standard power to North American- standard for 120-volt service will make local appliances and equipment usable without the nuisance of converters. However, if more signifi cant things, like the relocation of the machinery control room and operations room, are contem- plated then major increases in cost are al- most certain to develop, making the op- tion for a third ship less likely. Because of the reduced fuel capacity and multi-role utility of the ship, accepting less-than-de- sirable physical arrangements may be nec- essary to keep the option of getting a third ship viable. This is critically important to ensure the navy has operational sustain- ment where and when it is needed. Two ships cannot provide this and makes the effect of an accident or operational loss of one of them dramatically worse. FGS Bonn represents a new chapter in the developmental history of the Royal Canadian Navy. She will bring many new capabilities that will make the navy much more capable and relevant in the wider scope of global maritime security opera- tions. As Thomas Ruckert told me, "The Canadian navy will experience the same quality in German engineering as people in North America have come to know from owning German cars. Once you have had that, you will never want to go back to anything else." Ruckert may be right. I can't compare German ships to cars, never having owned a Mercedes or other type. What concerns me more than anything is the diversity of systems Canada is in the process of collect- ing through its current shipbuilding and modernization programs: British subma- rines, Canadian-American hybridized pa- trol ships, German sustainment ships and an as-yet to be defi ned new combat ship. Systems commonality seems to have gone 'out the window' as a central concept for the maintenance of our fl eet. If the German engineering experience does prove to be as addictive as Ruckert predicts, then the odds of adopting further German technology for the future combat ship would undoubtedly be higher. Com- petition from other shipbuilders around the world to overcome the German head start will present a very interesting spec- tacle in the years ahead. It could be that Canada is simply in too early a stage of development to be able to envision a fl eet as more than a collection of projects that produce hulls. If that is the case, then the immaturity of both our shipbuilding and fl eet planning processes will impose some heavy logistical burdens on the people that have to operate and maintain it through the coming decades. If this is a stepping-stone toward a mature and stable shipbuilding capability, then it is worth that price. From my perspective, learning from the Germans is an excellent way to start. fGS Bonn represents a new chapter in the develop- mental history of the Royal Canadian Navy. She will bring many new capabilities that will make the navy much more capable and relevant in the wider scope of global maritime security operations. Canada's Fixed Wing SAR aircraft are overdue to be replaced. Every day, SAR crews put their lives at risk without question to keep Canadians safe. They deserve the tools to do the job effectively and safely. They need a PROVEN, RELIABLE, AND LOW RISK SOLUTION. The United States Coast Guard, Portuguese Air Force, Chilean Navy and Royal Oman Air Force, among many others, refused to burden their crews with developmental or experimental solutions. They insisted on getting the best of proven technology. They chose Airbus Military. WANT A REFERENCE FROM SOME OF THE WORLD LEADERS IN SAR? JUST ASK THEM. The C295, with more than 20% Canadian content, will be supported by Discovery Air and Vector Aerospace. Find out more information at www.c295.ca Airbus Military, Astrium and Cassidian join forces for the success of your critical missions Vanguard.indd 1 15/01/2014 12:49:47