Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/337874
Risk assessment of CF-18 replacement options The federal government is expected to make a decision within the next month on whether to proceed with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter or hold an open competition to replace Canada's fleet of CF-18s after receiving a re- port from the Royal Canadian Air Force on the risks associated with four jets all interested in the program. In June, the government held a technical briefing to highlight the meth- odology of the report and provide assurance from an independent review panel on its rigour and transparency and the comprehensiveness and un- derstandability of the results. The RCAF report assessed the ability of four aircraft – the Lockheed Martin F-35, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Aviation Rafale and Boeing Super Hor- net; the Saab Grippen opted not to participate in the market analysis – to execute the six missions outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy. The process was a major undertaking, according to a senior RCAF offi- cial, involving 40,000 hours of work over 14 months. "In all my years, I have never been involved in such a thorough evaluation," he said. Despite the rigour involved, he stressed that the report was not de- signed to compare one aircraft to another. Likewise, the review panel did not have a mandate to make recommen- dations on which aircraft best fits Canada's needs. But its members – Keith Coulter, a former pilot and deputy minister; Philippe Lagassé, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa; Jim Mitchell, a consultant and for- mer senior public executive; and Rod Monette, a former DM and Comptrol- ler General of Canada – said it provides an options analysis that is rich and deep enough for the government to trace the results and ultimately make a decision. The panel emphasized its challenge function throughout the process. The report examined each aircraft in two timeframes, 2020-2030 and 2030 and beyond, from a tactical, operational and strategic context. It assessed their ability to execute specific functions, their role in fighter operations in Canadian Forces' missions, and their long-term support and maintenance requirements and growth potential. The assessment also included the feasibility and expected costs of safe- ly operating the CF-18s beyond 2020. Given that all four aircraft would be highly capable through 2030, that assessment of growth potential might prove to be crucial. The F-35's evo- lution is just beginning, but in interviews at CANSEC, all three of the other manufacturers suggested they can match it. The Eurofighter has evolved with a 2020 concept already built into its development. "We don't know what the future will look like...but with this design we [can] make sure that we can cope with it," said Joey Borken- A fair process The government may still be evaluating its options for the Standard Military Pattern (SMP) component of the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) project, but one contender is giving the process high praise, even though he admits he's in the dark about where he stands. Major-General (Ret'd) John Urias, president of Oshkosh Defense, has had a lengthy career in defence procurement and says the MSVS process is one of the best he has seen. "It has been conducted very professionally. I think it is one of the most fair approaches to acquisition that I have ever seen. I have been very impressed with the quality of the workforce and the methodology." Oshkosh partnered with General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada and DEW Engineering and Development to offer two vehicles for the program. Urias said testing of the trucks was conducted at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center and evaluations remain ongoing. But beyond periodic requests for information, he has no idea where the company's vehicles stand. I INSIDE INDUSTRY 8 JUNE/JULY 2014 www.vanguardcanada.com stein, a pilot with extensive Typhoon experience. "All of the systems are meant to be evolved and further adapted to whatever comes out there." Yves Robins, Dassault senior vice president, said the Rafale as an incre- mental growth plan with one major midlife update planned for the 2030s. "That evolutionary capability is not a discovery for us, it is just built into the aircraft," he said. "If you look at the operational life of the Mirage 2000, it was introduced in 1970 and will be operational until 2025 at least." Howard Berry, Boeing's vice president of F/A 18 E/F International Sales, pointed to the U.S. Navy's considerable investment in over 700 Super Hornets and Growlers and its intention to operate both through the 2040 timeframe, despite the acquisition of the F-35C variant. "We're built for that growth," he said. Boeing has also invested heavily in what it calls the Advanced Super Hor- net, an advanced concept with conformal fuel tanks and belly-mounted external weapons pods that also calls for improved engines, avionics and weapons systems, upgraded radar and improved infrared search-and- track abilities. "These are all at a high technical readiness level. And there are more advancements to come," Berry said.