19 June – Domestic Response Co 3 and Augmented Civilian Care Team 2 receive a plaque commemorating the work of the military from Gale Coburn of Hawthorne Place Care Centre.
Home
IN THE NEWS
Jul 03
Manitoba resident Corey Hurren, a Canadian Ranger and former regular member of the Canadian Armed Forces, is being held by RCMP after a pickup truck was used 02 July to ram through the games at Rideau Hall. The driver, who was reportedly armed with a long gun, was arrested without incident after moving on foot toward the official residences of the Governor General and the Prime Minister, neither of whom was home.
Jul 02
A member of the Canadian Armed Forces, identified only as an armed member of the Canadian Rangers, is in RCMP custody after a pickup truck registered in Manitoba was used to ram the gates at Rideau Hall early 02 July. after which the driver proceeded on foot toward the official residences of the Governor General and the Prime Minister, neither of whom was at home. The Department of National Defence confirmed the suspect’s military status but declined further comment “at this time” as it is an RCMP investigation.
Jul 02
Nimrod Sheffer, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries since June 2018, has announced that he will step down after a successor has been trained. The former fighter pilot, who capped 36 years in the military as Deputy Commander of the Air Force, joined the conglomerate as vice president of strategic planning.
Jul 02
In an era of increasingly netcentric aircraft, Lockheed Martin says U.S. Air Force pilots at a Nevada base now can use a simulator and train alongside various types of virtual aircraft. Air Combat Command formally accepted the company’s Distributed Mission Training system in June and during test at Nellis AFB, pilots in four F-35 simulators interacted with pilots at other bases.
Jul 02
Nearly 78 per cent of Russian voters have backed constitutional reforms which, among other things, are designed to keep President Vladimir Putin in office until 2036. He is already the longest-serving leader in modern Russia since Soviet-era dictator Joseph Stalin and his political opponents say his aim is to be “president for life.”
Jul 02
Accusing Turkey of violating an arms embargo against Libya, France has suspended its involvement in NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian. The defence ministry’s announcement comes after France said Turkish naval vessels had threatened a French warship in the Mediterranean in June when it tried to inspect a Tanzanian-flagged ship suspected of smuggling weapons off the coast of Libya. The two countries have since exchanged a series of insults.
Jul 02
Some $270 billion in increased defence spending over the next decade has been announced by Australian Prime Scott Morrison. It will include long-range missiles and other measures to keep enemies at bay as the government focuses anew on domestic priorities but Morrison said Australia remains open to joining international coalitions.
Jul 02
Rules barring most foreign travellers from entering Canada have been extended by a month until at least 31 July as the federal government steps up its COVID-19 countermeasures. The restrictions apply to everyone except Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and U.S. citizens entering Canada for “essential” reasons. Closure of the Canada-U.S. border to all but essential workers and trade is covered by a separate order.
Jul 02
The multinational Airbus consortium has announced plans to lay off 11 per cent of its global workforce, mainly in the commercial aircraft division which, like other original equipment manufacturers, has been hit hard by COVID-19’s impact on international travel. The move affect–s 15,000 of its total workforce of some 134,000.
Jul 02
A series of flight tests involving software updates designed to correct a controls conflict on Boein737 MAX airliners has been completed by the company and the Federal Aviation Administration. The results are key to returning the aircraft to service after the global fleet was grounded in the aftermath of fatal crashes in Malaysia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia March 2019.
Jul 02
The U.S. says Turkish defense contractors will still be counted on to supply key components of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter, including centre fuselage sections and propulsion elements, at least through 2022. The Department of Defense disclosure effectively softens a U.S. administration promise to oust Turkey from the fighter program because it purchased a Russian missile defense system.
Jul 02
U.S.-controlled territory in eastern Syria is under pressure from Russian forces, part of what is described as a move to squeeze the U.S. out of the contested region, according to two current and one former U.S. official. The two countries have supported opposing sides in the long-running civil war but hitherto have communicated regularly to deconflict in the crowded battlespace.
Jul 02
Electro-optical technology designed by Israel-based Smart Shooter and featuring a “guaranteed hit” fire control system has been selected by the U.S. for dealing with unmanned aerial systems. “Drones . . . have become a persistent threat over the battlefield, enabling opposing forces to gather critical tactical intelligence and even make direct attacks,” says the company’s CEO.
Jul 02
The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter has completed initial sea trials for the U.S. Marine Corps. A U.S. Navy spokesperson says the test team completed launch and recovery as well as a range of shipboard compatibility tests.
Jul 02
Analysis of an Iranian satellite launch 10 weeks ago suggest that the launch vehicle has a strong technical kinship with the country’s ballistic missiles, one of which has a stated range of 1,700km. Iran says its missiles are restricted to 2,000 km but the U.S. maintains that the satellite launch is a cover for building longer-range capability.
Jul 02
An explosion in Iran’s eastern mountains is believed to have occurred at an underground missile factory. Satellite imagery of the area east of Tehran show extensive charred not seen in previous images in the weeks leading up to the explosion.
Jul 02
U.S. President Donald Trump and 35 others accused by Iran in the January death of a senior military officer in January are the targets of an arrest warrant issued in Tehran, which is vowing to pursue Trump whenever he leaves the White House. While Interpol has said it would not consider Iran’s request, the development underscores the growing tension between Tehran and Washington.
Jun 30
The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Edward Cornwallis, currently undergoing a $12.1-million refit at Shelburne Ship Repair in Nova Scotia, will be getting a new name when commissioned back into service next year. The 18th-century British officer and politician for which it is named offered bounties in the mid-1700s for the capture or scalps of Mi’kmaw men in a bid to stop raids on British settlements. A new name will be recommended by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs.
Jun 30
BGen Dyrald Cross assumed command 30 June of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group from MGen Mark Misener in a small ceremony at National Defence HQ. Cross is the second commander since the group was mandated in December 2018 to provide enhanced casualty support and transition services to CAF members and their families.
Jun 30
The Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Fredericton is participating alongside British, French, German, Norwegian and U.S. forces in exercise Dynamic Mongoose off the coast of Iceland. Designed to hone anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills, the exercise began 29 June and is set to run until 10 July.
Jun 30
Even as the U.S. and Canada continue to deploy fighters to intercept Russian aircraft encroaching on North American airspace, the Russians have released footage of an interception of three U.S. aircraft flying toward its Black Sea borders. A Sukoi Su-25 was tasked with approaching the two U.S. reconnaissance aircraft and a tanker.
Jun 30
President Donald Trump has said he was not briefed about a Russian program which allegedly offeredAfghan terrorists bounties to kill U.S. service personnel but senior White House officials say the administration was aware early last year of the classified information and that it had been included in the President’s daily briefing notes.
Jun 30
South Korea has approved procurement of an undisclosed number of airborne early warning and control aircraft and more signals intelligence-gathering platforms, most likely Boeing 737 variants. The respective programs are budgeted at the equivalent of approximately $1.8 billion and $1 billion, respectively.
Jun 30
GM Defense has been awarded a $214.3 million contract to supply 649 new helicopter-transportable infantry squad vehicles for the U.S. Army over the next seven years. There is a follow-on requirement for 1,415 more of the vehicles capable of carrying nine troopers.
Jun 30
Washington-based Human Rights Watch is accusing Canada of flouting its international obligations by failing to repatriate and provide adequate consular assistance to 47 citizens, including 26 children, detained in northeast Syria. The adults, linked to the Islamic State terrorist organization, are being held by Kurdish forces. The Canadian government said it will not put its personnel at risk to gather evidence and repatriate the combatants.
ISSUES & IDEAS
Ross Fetterley reflects on annual defence budgets and the impact on capabilities from long-term funding shifts as COVID continues to force the federal government to implement measures that will inject liquidity into the economy.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is offering to personally lay tributes at graves and memorials in Normandy on behalf of relatives and veterans who cannot travel.
The federal government has done, and is continuing to do a very credible job of providing solid information and leadership during the health crisis facing the globe. Someone should tell Andrew Scheer to stop making COVID-19 a misguided political campaign (he lost already) and get onboard with trying to help Canadians deal constructively with the many challenges.
FEATURED ARTICLES 2020 |
 |
BY JAMES FRYER
A clearer distinction between 'compulsory' and 'discretionary' missions will help ensure the military's relevance for the most important challenges facing Canadians.
BY ROSS FETTERLY
As COVID continues to force the federal government to implement measures that will inject liquidity into the economy, now is the time to reflect on annual defence budgets and the impact on capabilities from long-term funding shifts.
BY STEPHEN SADLER
Toronto Police Trainers examine at recent protests from a best practices and crowd management perspective. Updated and consistent training is one part of the solution to change response tactics from aggressive escalation to serving the public right to peaceful protest.
BY CHRIS MACLEAN
Will 2020 finally be the year in which listening turns to hearing, and then to action? Change has begun. Hopefully our leaders will embrace and assist this grassroots progress, but if not, to borrow from General Mattis, we can still do it together, and we must not wait.
COVID-19 is both a threat-event and a national security concern, able to expose vulnerabilities of a nation and set the stage for grey-zone tactics by adversaries.