22 Jan – MCpl Lombardo demonstrates how to pitch an arctic tent during a Winter Warfare course at International Peacekeeping and Security Center near Yavoriv, Ukraine.
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IN THE NEWS
Feb 22
A Saskatchewan First Nation is taking a big step into the military sector with a $1 million contract. Pro Metal Industries is now the first completely Indigenous-owned company to become a supplier for General Dynamics Land Systems. The company will fabricate and machine components for GDLS’s light armoured vehicles.
Feb 22
Australia has launched its third annual military sales catalogue as part of wider efforts to increase defence exports, the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra has announced. The catalogue showcases world-leading Australian defence industry products, services, and technology available for export to foreign governments, the DoD said.
Feb 22
United States President Donald Trump may be doing his best to render NATO irrelevant and certainly to undermine traditional American alliances with European allies, but Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be doing his best to save it, says David J. Bercuson.
Feb 21
PAL Aerospace will be incorporating a leading-edge optical search system that can detect small objects such as fishing buoys and people in the water over significant areas. This technology will be a boost for search and rescue, fisheries surveillance, counter narcotics or border protection efficiency.
Feb 21
Brigadier-General Andrew Downes, Surgeon General and Commander of Canadian Forces Health Services Group, has issued a statement on the recent public health notice regarding an external, third-party dental clinic in Kingston, Ontario.
Feb 21
Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia will build and integrate the low-frequency active and passive towed-array sonar system and the company's next-generation hull-mounted sonar aboard the future Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC), Ultra officials announced this week.
Feb 21
The federal government now faces four proposed class-action lawsuits over a $165 million accounting error at Veterans Affairs that shortchanged more than 250,000 former soldiers, sailors and aircrew, CBC News has learned.
Feb 20
President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday of a resolute response if the U.S. decides to station missiles in countries neighboring Russia. He said that Russia would respond to any deployment of new intermediate-range missiles in Europe by targeting the United States itself and not just the countries where they are deployed, according to a Reuters translation.
Feb 20
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a directive centralizing all military space functions under a new Space Force, which will be overseen by the Department of the Air Force.
Feb 20
The German Defense Ministry on Wednesday said it is evaluating separate bids from NATO and Canada to buy a high-altitude surveillance drone that has been parked at a German air base for years after the cancellation of the Euro Hawk program in 2013.
Feb 20
A Steinbach, Manitoba, business owner has successfully located the family of two soldiers connected to a 102-year-old letter found in a pile of papers. Through a mixture of publicity, social media tips, interested historians and help from the Canadian military, descendants of both men — four in total — have been found.
Feb 20
The CAF has reported on Twitter that a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, currently deployed on Operation PROJECTION, experienced a hard landing on board Naval Replenishment Unit ASTERIX West of Kauai, Hawaii. No serious injuries were reported to @CanadianForces or civilian personnel during the incident.
Feb 20
Canada is facing renewed pressure to keep its military helicopters in Mali until a relief force of Romanian aircraft arrives in October. Last week, members of the all-party House of Commons defence committee heard the appeals directly from a senior UN representative and government officials in the troubled west African country.
Feb 20
Canada’s top soldier has apologized after a Facebook recruiting ad about women wearing makeup in the military drew fire for what some are calling a negative portrayal of females.
Feb 19
Pakistan responds to allegations stemming from the Pulwama attack in which nine people were killed in a Kashmir gun battle. Pakistan denies any role in the bombing, but India has accused the state of being complicit. The following letter was released from the High Commission for Pakistan on 18 February 2019.
Feb 19
The inspection of a dental clinic in Kingston, where a number of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) patients have been treated, has identified improper cleaning and sterilization of dental instruments, which could result in blood-borne infections like Hepatitis and HIV. While no such infections have been reported and the risk is considered low, the Surgeon General is taking precautions to ensure the health and safety of these CAF members.
Feb 19
One of Australia's senior military figures says the threat of cyber attacks against the nation's infrastructure and military networks is on the rise. MGen Marcus Thompson says the job of protecting Australia from serious cyber threats was only becoming more challenging.
Feb 19
British forces are to step up Arctic deployments to protect NATO's northern flank from Russia, the UK Defence Secretary has announced. He said that said the Royal Marines have launched a ten-year program that will see over a thousand troops train each year with their Norwegian counterparts, building up to a brigade-strength deployment in the near future.
Feb 19
General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, has been awarded a $37.2 million (USD) contract to deliver 60 hardware kits for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Light Armored Vehicle Reset Program.
Feb 19
Taxpayers spent $161,000 for photographers to take images of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on his various trips in what the Liberal government says is proof that Canada is re-engaging on the world stage.
Feb 18
Justin Trudeau's principal secretary and long-time friend has resigned amid allegations that the Prime Minister's Office interfered to prevent a criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. In a statement, Butts denies accusations related to pressuring former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to help the Montreal-based engineering giant avoid a criminal case on corruption.
Feb 18
During the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels over the weekend, Defence Minister Sajjan reiterated Canada’s unwavering commitment to the Alliance and the transatlantic bond. He also underlined Canada’s leadership on key NATO missions like the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup and NATO Mission – Iraq.
Feb 18
Yesterday, the Royal Canadian Air Force marked the arrival of the first two interim fighter aircraft from Australia. These first two are the single-seat F/A-18A model. They were flown to Cold Lake, Alberta, from Nellis, Nevada, where they were participating in Exercise RED FLAG.
Feb 18
Just two days after resigning as Minister of Veterans Affairs, Jody Wilson-Raybould was still keeping up with plans to visit with veterans. Last Thursday, she visited the George Derby Centre, a senior care centre located in Burnaby, B.C., to help distribute Valentine’s Day cards made by students. The visit was planned while she was still in office.
Feb 16
Canadian companies are set to vie for attention and contracts as one of the world’s largest military trade shows kicks off this weekend in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. FrontLine interviews CADSI President Christyn Cianfarani at IDEX.
ISSUES & IDEAS
The Prime Minister's most trusted political advisor, a friend of many years, surprisingly resigned on Monday, setting off a maelstrom of speculation as to the depths of possible legal interference from high levels of the Trudeau government related to the SNC-Lavalin case.
Public Safety Minister Goodale says Canadians captured while fighting alongside terrorist groups in Syria will have to assume responsibility for their own decisions.
A new U.S. report indicates that the effects of climate change should be considered an issue of national security with potential impacts on DoD missions and military installations around the world over the next two decades.
FEATURED ARTICLES 2018 |
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For our first edition of Top Global Innovators, FrontLine has gathered a select group of organizations that take their innovative priorities seriously. Contact us today for consideration in the Fall 2019 edition.
A list of recent leadership changes in industry and government: CarteNav Solutions; Raytheon Integrated Defense; ADGA Group; David Pratt & Associates; Business Council of Canada; Ultra Electronics (Maritime Systems); BC Ferries; Fleetway Inc; JRB Kanata Group; Ashbury College; Scotiabank; Canadian International Council; AIAC; Royal Roads University.
BY ROBBIN LAIRD
The evolution of the role of fighters is at the center of the shift to recraft combat capabilities and operations as operational contexts change.
BY CHRIS KILFORD
At first glance, Canada’s current overseas military deployments may appear rather haphazard with troops situated in relatively small numbers across thousands of miles. However, when the missions are collectively examined, a strategy becomes clear.
Submarine Force has had a busy year in 2018 – in particular, it two highly successful, simultaneous, out-of-area deployments.
BY CHRIS MACLEAN
Instead of ‘getting on’ with a competition to replace Canada's aging fighter aircraft, a distraction in the form on "interim aircraft" was created to further delay the much-dreaded competition. And now even the Auditor General is crying foul.
BY RICHARD BRAY
CAE-built flight training devices for ground school training are currently being upgraded by CAE to enable additional NFTC simulator training.
BY HUDSON ON THE HILL
Two years ago, VAdm Mark Norman was temporarily relieved as VCDS. His lawyer, Marie Henein, is revved up for a showdown in court, but may have difficulty getting access to classified documents needed to defend her client.
BY THERESA McGUIRE
The Arctic Ocean is so beautiful, but can be deathly cold & unpredictable. Having a well-prepared, self-sufficient team is critical for the Canadian Coast Guard when it comes to marine safety and emergency response.
BY KEN POLE
The Military Flying Training System (MFTS), a contract that facilitates the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in preparing aircrews for eventual assignment to frontline squadrons, is operated by Lockheed Martin and Babcock International, using Airbus helicopters.
BY ROBBIN LAIRD
The challenge of the 21st century incorporates incredibly invasive infrastructure threats. Direct defence strategies must quickly include these threats as part of any comprehensive national security concept.