Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/439940
m mARITImE www.vanguardcanada.com dECEMBER 2014/JanUaRy 2015 21 solely to our defence groups. A national collaborative approach to underwater domain awareness is needed. To build homegrown Canadian ASW excellence, Canada must fi nd a way to unite its industrial base and move through the projects for recapitalization that will preserve and restore Canadian ASW prowess for the next fi ve generations. United, all players can deliver word leading ASW platforms for Canada, world leading technology for Canadian in- dustry, and a signifi cant return on investment to Canada. As a step toward this goal, General Dynamics Canada has spon- sored a new Undersea Warfare EDGE Innovation Centre in Dart- mouth, Nova Scotia. This ASW center of excellence is part of the EDGE Innovation Network, and is a place for Canada's top naval technology suppliers to work cooperatively with academia and government to develop leading-edge, operation-enhancing capabilities for the RCN, Royal Canadian Air Force, Maritime Air and allied naval fl eets around the world, as they work to reestab- lish critical ASW capabilities. The facility will harness expertise and technologies that enhance relationships with Canadian small businesses, expand national supply chains, and position Canadian industry to meet the navy's needs while promoting a continuous lifecycle of innovation. The immediate focus will be on meeting Canada's defence and security needs for the Canadian Surface Combatant, as well as across the entire spectrum of undersea warfare, including Canada's Arctic. This unique, open environment encourages military personnel to visit and engage with the EDGE team and its global members to experiment with advanced technologies and products, including: • The latest sensor technology; • Novel signal processing and display techniques; • Advanced automatic detection and classifi cation technologies; • Multi-sensor integration for maximum situational awareness; and • Integrated undersea warfare training systems. Each EDGE member brings unique perspectives and experiences to the partnership, as well as expertise. This combination will bring innovative solutions to market quickly, which can be applied at home and exported to the world. Looking to the future Although an important element of a more collaborative, more co- herent way forward for underwater sensing technologies and ASW in Canada, the establishment of the Nova Scotia EDGE facility is really only a fi rst step. As we consider the future of the navy, it's important to look back at what got us to where we are today. The key to Canada's unrivalled position in ASW in the past was collaborative Canadian innovation, necessitated by a clear mis- sion and purpose, sustained through stable R&D investment, and shared with defence and security partners around the world. By leveraging that collaborative approach once more, Canada can reclaim its reputation for excellence in underwater sensing and ASW. At the same time, it can deliver the capabilities and capaci- ties that are going to be needed by the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Armed Forces as Canada continues to contribute to maritime security and defence in missions both at home and throughout the world. WHEN CANADA'S MILITARY NEEDS TO IMPROVE SOLDIER SAFETY, THEY COME TO LONDON, ONTARIO. KONGSBERG PROTECH SYSTEMS Jørn Buø, President, Kongsberg Protech Systems Canada Kongsberg Protech Systems Canada is a world leader in remote weapon systems manufacturing focused on militar y protection and sur vivability. "In London, we have access to highly trained people with strong expertise in the defence sector," Jørn Buø, President. D I S C O V E R T H E A D V A N T A G E S O F L O C A T I N G I N L O N D O N , O N T A R I O W W W . L E D C . C O M LEDC_Vanguard-kongsberg_FA_02.indd 3 2014-03-31 6:04 PM