Canadian military eyes new ground-based air defence system at cost of $1B

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The Canadian army has began the method to buy a brand new high-tech system price as much as $1 billion that will probably be able to capturing down enemy plane, missiles and drones.

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Authorities procurement specialists will request concepts from trade someday this yr because the Canadian Military works out the specifics of what it desires in such a system.

Defence analysts and retired generals have pointed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as proof of the necessity for such tools.

The Liberal authorities initially outlined the proposed buy in its 2018 defence functionality plan. At that time, the federal government acknowledged such a ground-based air defence system would value between $250 million and $499 million.

However, even earlier than the procurement course of has begun in earnest, that price ticket has elevated. Throughout an April 5 briefing in Ottawa, military officers advised defence trade representatives the associated fee would now be between $500 million and $1 billion.

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A contact could be awarded in 2026 and the primary programs could be in place a yr later, trade officers had been advised.

“Nearly all of gadgets to be acquired by this mission will probably be fielded, commercial-off-the-shelf expertise,” Division of Nationwide Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier defined in an e mail to this newspaper. “The goal threats are rocket, artillery and mortar munitions, air to floor missiles and bombs, and remotely piloted plane programs.”

Throughout the April 5 briefing, trade officers had been knowledgeable the system would additionally be capable to goal cruise missiles, helicopters and fixed-wing plane. The brand new system wouldn’t be able to tackling bigger weapons, resembling theatre ballistic missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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The brand new system could possibly be outfitted with weapons or missiles or each.

The Canadian army should study whether or not it desires the air defence system mounted on mild armoured autos or one thing smaller, resembling vans.

Plenty of defence companies have already began advertising and marketing their programs in Canada because the mission ramps up.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has proven the worth of air defence programs, in line with defence analysts. Ukraine has been capable of cease Russia’s air pressure from controlling the skies over the battlefield utilizing quite a lot of anti-aircraft missiles and weapons. Ukraine claims to have destroyed 121 Russian helicopters and 97 fixed-wing plane. As well as, Russian drones have additionally been shot down.

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The warfare has highlighted a spot within the Canadian army’s capabilities because it has been with out an air defence system for the previous decade.

The Canadian Military was outfitted in 1989 with a state-of-the artwork air defence anti-tank system often known as ADATS. It was bought to guard bases in Germany in opposition to assault by the Russians, however, shortly after ADATS was delivered, the Chilly Battle ended and the programs had been shipped again to Canada. ADATS was often used for home safety, together with to offer safety from potential air threats in the course of the G8 summit in Alberta in 2002.

However, confronted with funds cuts ordered by the Conservative authorities, the military introduced it was eradicating ADATS from service in 2012.

The transfer left the Canadian Forces with out a major air defence system. Military officers acknowledged on the time that call was dangerous, however the service had decided it was acceptable within the brief time period. The military had plans to introduce a brand new air defence system round 2017, however that mission by no means went ahead.

In 2020, then military commander Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre advised Esprit de Corps army journal that ground-based air defence was a precedence for the service. “We see the evolving risk from drones, from rockets, and different types of oblique fireplace,” stated Eyre, who has since been promoted to chief of the defence workers. “We’ve got to have the ability to defend ourselves.”

He famous that refined sensors able to figuring out the placement of enemy positions in addition to detecting incoming warheads could be significantly essential for ground-based air defence.