By: ANDREA GUNN THE CHRONICLE HERALD
The growing price tag on Canada’s new fleet of warships has left some experts wondering if there’s a more economical solution to rebuilding the navy.
In June the federal government more than doubled the $26-billion budget to build 15 new Canadian Surface Combatant vessels — the first of which is expected to be delivered in 2026 — to $60 billion.
The U.K. revealed plans this week to buy five budget Type 31e general purpose frigates, on top of the eight type 26 global combat ships currently being constructed by BAE Systems, at a cost equivalent of about $400 million Canadian a piece. This is a fraction of what their Type 26 global combat ships — which are one of the designs in the running for Canada’s new fleet — will cost.
Ken Hansen, a retired navy commander and defence analyst, said Canada ought to follow countries like the U.K. and Denmark in scaling back on what he calls outrageous military-grade engineering standards as well as considering purchasing some vessels with more basic capabilities.
“(These standards are) driving defence procurement to ridiculously high extremes when in fact there is no imminent conflict that would justify that kind of expenditure,” he said.
“Historically . . . what we have always done is a high-low mix, and it makes no sense to be sending a really high capability ship off to low risk tasks,” he said.
According to Hansen, a large portion of shipbuilding costs are due to using extremely high engineering standards for systems and subsystems — things like water, power, heating and ventilation — that are commonly available, something that he said Denmark has managed to opt out of.
“They use Caterpillar diesel engines for diesel generators and they use stuff from their marine industry, the best industrial standard is good enough.”
Hansen said it was once thought that over engineering could improve survivability, but that’s no longer true with modern weaponry.
“Engineering standards will not save you for a torpedo hit or high-speed missile hit. The only thing that will absorb the destructive power of modern weaponry is size. So you’re better off to build it bigger and then use redundancy to get survivability, and that’s what the Danes do as well,” he said.
Instead of two diesel generators on a ship, Hansen said, the Danes will have four or six because because they’re a 10th of the cost of a military spec diesel generator.
“What’s driving the government to say ‘Oh we have to put all this extra money in the program,’ is that they’re allowing the navy to dictate this requirement when there’s no historical justification for it. If you do the analysis on the lethality of modern systems for it, there’s no justification for it there either,” he said.
Hansen pointed out that the Arctic Offshore Patrol vessels currently being built by Irving in Halifax are being built to best commercial standards, which he said also has a positive impact on the Canadian economy.
“If it’s built to a best commercial standards there’s all kinds of Canadian companies that can contribute to its completion and there’s a real growth going on in Canadian industrial marine systems,” he said.
Steven Staples, vice-president of the Rideau Institute, called building a fleet of 15 single-class brand new surface combat vessels for the Canadian navy during a period when we’re primarily involved in land wars and air combat is a Cadillac plan.
“The navy is projecting on keeping a fleet that’s roughly the same size as it was at the height of the Cold War with what has not been a good rethink of what the role of the navy is in this time,” he said.
But Adam Lajeunesse, Irving Shipbuilding chair in Canadian Arctic maritime policy at St. Francis Xavier University, said building a new fleet that will sustain the navy for the next number of decades is not just about looking at what is needed to respond to the current threat landscape.
“We are buying these in the way that many states have always bought military equipment, not just to face current threats but as an insurance policy against what we may have to face in the future,” he said.
Monday, September 11, 2017
Avro Arrow Test Model Found in Lake Ontario
Raise The Arrow Press Release
"We have discovered the first example of one of the free-flight Arrow models, announced John Burzynski, Raise the Arrow expedition leader and CEO of Osisko Mining.
This free-flight Avro Arrow model was launched over Lake Ontario in the 1950s as part of the Avro Arrow design test program.
OEX Recovery Group Incorporated, which is financially supported by a group of Canadian mining companies and financial institutions, began the "Raise the Arrow" project to search and recover nine free-flight Avro Arrow models known to be in Lake Ontario.
The group is now planning the recovery of this first-found Arrow model.
"The Arrow is an important – and passionate - part of Canada's aviation and technological history as a reminder of what Canadians are capable of achieving. We are honoured to be part of this discovery, and would like to thank our sponsors, project participants and supporters for their efforts in making it possible."
Sonar images, pictures and underwater video from a Remote Operated Vehicle are being shown to media and project supporters by the OEX Recovery Group in Toronto today.
The images showcase one of the models from part of the free-flight Avro Arrow test program conducted at Point Petre between 1955 – 1957. The models were tested as one of the final steps in finalizing the flight design of the ultimate flying Arrow jet.
"We are so proud of our engineers who helped locate an Arrow free-flight model. Our advanced Canadian ocean technology plays a big part in this story, where our world-class underwater sensors and robotics helped find a piece of Canada's aviation history," says Karl Kenny, President and CEO of Kraken Sonar Inc. – a marine technology company engaged in the design, development and marketing of advanced sonar and acoustic velocity sensors for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles used in military and commercial applications.
The sonar images were captured using Kraken's AquaPix Synthetic Aperture Sonar deployed onboard the company's ThunderFish Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.
David Shea, Kraken's VP of Engineering recounted recent events. "The plan was to follow the trajectory of our recently discovered Nike booster rockets, and we prioritized our search grid to focus along the same trajectory. The group decided to conduct a search immediately beyond the location of our previous booster rocket. We had a very productive survey day and were rewarded with a fantastic discovery -- an Avro Arrow model and two more Nike boosters. As all of our sonar processing operates onboard the AUV in real-time, this significantly reduced our overall processing timeline, a critical factor during the search. We could access and view the sonar images immediately after we downloaded the data."
Shea says the "extremely high resolution of our AquaPix sonar made target identification very easy – this was clearly a delta-wing shaped model." Noting that historical footage shows that each model was launched with a Nike booster rocket, Shea explained that "following the 'trail' of booster rockets led us in the right direction."
With the support of archaeologist Scarlett Janusas, OEX will send divers to assess the integrity of the prototypes.
"Proper archaeological examination, recording and preservation work is the next order of events with the model." says Janusas. "The model will stay submerged until the biomass, including organic material and zebra mussels, can be removed."
Any of the free-flight test models that are eventually recovered will be housed at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa and the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario.
"The public has always shown a keen interest in the story of the Avro Arrow. We are thrilled to play a role in this partnership to bring the model back to life and to re-engage the public with this important chapter in Canadian aviation history," said Fern Proulx, Interim President and CEO of Ingenium – Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation.
OEX has pledged more than $600,000 to both museums to cover the costs of exhibiting any artifacts the team discovers and recovers.
The museums, in collaboration with the Canadian Conservation Institute, will provide historical information to support the conservation, treatment, and collection of any recovered models or materials.
The Avro Arrow free-flight models were launched over Lake Ontario in a series of flights conducted between 1954 and 1957. Nine test models (one-eighth scale replicas) of the fighter jet remain on the bottom of Lake Ontario. The Arrow was a symbol of Canadian manufacturing excellence.
The Raise the Arrow project (www.raisethearrow.com) is being led by the OEX Recovery Group Inc., which is sponsored by Osisko group of companies, in collaboration with their financial partners at National Bank, the Bank of Montreal, Canaccord Genuity, Maxit Capital, Eight Capital and Northfield Capital; the Canada Aviation and Space Museum (CASM), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the Canadian Conservation Institute, and Bennett Jones LLP. Support for this project is also being provided by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Scarlett Janusas Archaeology, Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Military Institute and Canada Company.
ABOUT THE AVRO ARROW FREE FLIGHT MODELS
When the Avro Arrow program was cancelled in 1959, all materials related to the project were ordered destroyed. The only known artifacts from the program remaining to be found are the free flight models.
The free flight models were launched over Lake Ontario in a series of flight tests conducted in the 1950s as engineers developed the revolutionary Arrow, which featured a radical delta wing and a Canadian-made jet engine that pushed it past the speed of sound. The free flight models were used in a series of aerodynamic experiments that helped fine-tune the aircraft's flight quality.
The free flight models were attached to high-powered booster rockets and launched out over Lake Ontario from a military test site east of Toronto. After separating from the booster rockets, the models flew at supersonic speeds. Their onboard sensors, revolutionary for the 1950s, transmitted flight data back to engineers on the ground. At the end of each flight the models lost velocity, crashed into the water and sank. For over sixty years the models have rested on the bottom of the lake.
In the past, privately funded missions have attempted to locate and recover the lost models, but all have failed due inadequate funding, water depths, search area size, and the amount of metal debris on the lake bottom – according to military records, more than 600 missiles were launched from the same site.
"We have discovered the first example of one of the free-flight Arrow models, announced John Burzynski, Raise the Arrow expedition leader and CEO of Osisko Mining.
This free-flight Avro Arrow model was launched over Lake Ontario in the 1950s as part of the Avro Arrow design test program.
OEX Recovery Group Incorporated, which is financially supported by a group of Canadian mining companies and financial institutions, began the "Raise the Arrow" project to search and recover nine free-flight Avro Arrow models known to be in Lake Ontario.
The group is now planning the recovery of this first-found Arrow model.
"The Arrow is an important – and passionate - part of Canada's aviation and technological history as a reminder of what Canadians are capable of achieving. We are honoured to be part of this discovery, and would like to thank our sponsors, project participants and supporters for their efforts in making it possible."
Sonar images, pictures and underwater video from a Remote Operated Vehicle are being shown to media and project supporters by the OEX Recovery Group in Toronto today.
The images showcase one of the models from part of the free-flight Avro Arrow test program conducted at Point Petre between 1955 – 1957. The models were tested as one of the final steps in finalizing the flight design of the ultimate flying Arrow jet.
"We are so proud of our engineers who helped locate an Arrow free-flight model. Our advanced Canadian ocean technology plays a big part in this story, where our world-class underwater sensors and robotics helped find a piece of Canada's aviation history," says Karl Kenny, President and CEO of Kraken Sonar Inc. – a marine technology company engaged in the design, development and marketing of advanced sonar and acoustic velocity sensors for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles used in military and commercial applications.
The sonar images were captured using Kraken's AquaPix Synthetic Aperture Sonar deployed onboard the company's ThunderFish Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.
David Shea, Kraken's VP of Engineering recounted recent events. "The plan was to follow the trajectory of our recently discovered Nike booster rockets, and we prioritized our search grid to focus along the same trajectory. The group decided to conduct a search immediately beyond the location of our previous booster rocket. We had a very productive survey day and were rewarded with a fantastic discovery -- an Avro Arrow model and two more Nike boosters. As all of our sonar processing operates onboard the AUV in real-time, this significantly reduced our overall processing timeline, a critical factor during the search. We could access and view the sonar images immediately after we downloaded the data."
Shea says the "extremely high resolution of our AquaPix sonar made target identification very easy – this was clearly a delta-wing shaped model." Noting that historical footage shows that each model was launched with a Nike booster rocket, Shea explained that "following the 'trail' of booster rockets led us in the right direction."
With the support of archaeologist Scarlett Janusas, OEX will send divers to assess the integrity of the prototypes.
"Proper archaeological examination, recording and preservation work is the next order of events with the model." says Janusas. "The model will stay submerged until the biomass, including organic material and zebra mussels, can be removed."
Any of the free-flight test models that are eventually recovered will be housed at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa and the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario.
"The public has always shown a keen interest in the story of the Avro Arrow. We are thrilled to play a role in this partnership to bring the model back to life and to re-engage the public with this important chapter in Canadian aviation history," said Fern Proulx, Interim President and CEO of Ingenium – Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation.
OEX has pledged more than $600,000 to both museums to cover the costs of exhibiting any artifacts the team discovers and recovers.
The museums, in collaboration with the Canadian Conservation Institute, will provide historical information to support the conservation, treatment, and collection of any recovered models or materials.
The Avro Arrow free-flight models were launched over Lake Ontario in a series of flights conducted between 1954 and 1957. Nine test models (one-eighth scale replicas) of the fighter jet remain on the bottom of Lake Ontario. The Arrow was a symbol of Canadian manufacturing excellence.
The Raise the Arrow project (www.raisethearrow.com) is being led by the OEX Recovery Group Inc., which is sponsored by Osisko group of companies, in collaboration with their financial partners at National Bank, the Bank of Montreal, Canaccord Genuity, Maxit Capital, Eight Capital and Northfield Capital; the Canada Aviation and Space Museum (CASM), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the Canadian Conservation Institute, and Bennett Jones LLP. Support for this project is also being provided by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Scarlett Janusas Archaeology, Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Military Institute and Canada Company.
ABOUT THE AVRO ARROW FREE FLIGHT MODELS
When the Avro Arrow program was cancelled in 1959, all materials related to the project were ordered destroyed. The only known artifacts from the program remaining to be found are the free flight models.
The free flight models were launched over Lake Ontario in a series of flight tests conducted in the 1950s as engineers developed the revolutionary Arrow, which featured a radical delta wing and a Canadian-made jet engine that pushed it past the speed of sound. The free flight models were used in a series of aerodynamic experiments that helped fine-tune the aircraft's flight quality.
The free flight models were attached to high-powered booster rockets and launched out over Lake Ontario from a military test site east of Toronto. After separating from the booster rockets, the models flew at supersonic speeds. Their onboard sensors, revolutionary for the 1950s, transmitted flight data back to engineers on the ground. At the end of each flight the models lost velocity, crashed into the water and sank. For over sixty years the models have rested on the bottom of the lake.
In the past, privately funded missions have attempted to locate and recover the lost models, but all have failed due inadequate funding, water depths, search area size, and the amount of metal debris on the lake bottom – according to military records, more than 600 missiles were launched from the same site.
DART Team on Standby for Caribbean Relief
The Canadian Press
The Canadian government and aid agencies were setting the wheels in motion Sunday to come to the aid of Caribbean islands who suffered damage by Hurricane Irma.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan tweeted Sunday evening that a team was being sent to determine how Canada can provide humanitarian assistance to the region.
Among the tools that the government can use is its Disaster Assistance Response Team, made up of members of the military and civilians from Global Affairs Canada. The DART can go to anywhere in the world on short notice to provide humanitarian assistance.
Meantime a Toronto-based aid organization said it sent four people to storm-battered St. Maarten to deliver supplies to those affected by Irma.
Rahul Singh, executive director of Global Medic, says the agency’s volunteers headed to the Caribbean country on a Sunwing rescue flight.
“Everyone’s trying to get out of the one place that we’re getting into,” he said.
St. Maarten, located on the Dutch side of an island divided between French and Dutch control, was devastated by the hurricane. An estimated 70 per cent of the homes were damaged or destroyed by Irma and four people have died, according to the Dutch government.
There was concern that hurricane Jose could hit the island Saturday night, but the Netherlands said the island was spared further damage because the storm passed farther from shore than expected.
Sunwing said its rescue flight left from Toronto on Sunday morning, and will drop off one tonne of humanitarian aid supplies, along with the Global Medic volunteers.
The Canadian airline said the flight will be picking up Canadians, Americans and Europeans stuck on the island.
Singh said his team of volunteers, which includes a paramedic, a firefighter and a pilot, will distribute hygiene kits and water purification kits, along with water purification units that will be used in hospitals.
“Our getting in could make the world of difference to the patients in that hospital with no clean water, to those 1,700 folks that are going to get aid, and to the overall emergency system,” he said.
On top of that, Singh said, they brought enough water purification tablets to purify a million litres of water.
“People have some pretty significant needs down there, and we’re racing against time to meet them,” Singh said.
He said the St. Maarten government has also asked that his team use drones to gather “aerial imaging and comprehensive mapping” of the damage.
More than 9,000 Canadians have registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad Service in the region, Global Affairs said Sunday, but added that the number only provides an estimate since registration is voluntary. Out of those registered in the area, 296 Canadian citizens have requested assistance.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected, both Canadians abroad and their families at home,” spokeswoman Natasha Nystrom said in a statement. “During this difficult time, the Government of Canada is making every possible effort to assist Canadian citizens affected by hurricane Irma and those who may be affected by hurricane Jose.”
She said Canada’s diplomatic missions are working with local authorities, airlines and tour operators to further help affected Canadians.
Canada is also working with international partners such as the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, France and the Netherlands to information and co-ordinate our efforts, she added.
The Canadian government and aid agencies were setting the wheels in motion Sunday to come to the aid of Caribbean islands who suffered damage by Hurricane Irma.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan tweeted Sunday evening that a team was being sent to determine how Canada can provide humanitarian assistance to the region.
Among the tools that the government can use is its Disaster Assistance Response Team, made up of members of the military and civilians from Global Affairs Canada. The DART can go to anywhere in the world on short notice to provide humanitarian assistance.
Meantime a Toronto-based aid organization said it sent four people to storm-battered St. Maarten to deliver supplies to those affected by Irma.
Rahul Singh, executive director of Global Medic, says the agency’s volunteers headed to the Caribbean country on a Sunwing rescue flight.
“Everyone’s trying to get out of the one place that we’re getting into,” he said.
St. Maarten, located on the Dutch side of an island divided between French and Dutch control, was devastated by the hurricane. An estimated 70 per cent of the homes were damaged or destroyed by Irma and four people have died, according to the Dutch government.
There was concern that hurricane Jose could hit the island Saturday night, but the Netherlands said the island was spared further damage because the storm passed farther from shore than expected.
Sunwing said its rescue flight left from Toronto on Sunday morning, and will drop off one tonne of humanitarian aid supplies, along with the Global Medic volunteers.
The Canadian airline said the flight will be picking up Canadians, Americans and Europeans stuck on the island.
Singh said his team of volunteers, which includes a paramedic, a firefighter and a pilot, will distribute hygiene kits and water purification kits, along with water purification units that will be used in hospitals.
“Our getting in could make the world of difference to the patients in that hospital with no clean water, to those 1,700 folks that are going to get aid, and to the overall emergency system,” he said.
On top of that, Singh said, they brought enough water purification tablets to purify a million litres of water.
“People have some pretty significant needs down there, and we’re racing against time to meet them,” Singh said.
He said the St. Maarten government has also asked that his team use drones to gather “aerial imaging and comprehensive mapping” of the damage.
More than 9,000 Canadians have registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad Service in the region, Global Affairs said Sunday, but added that the number only provides an estimate since registration is voluntary. Out of those registered in the area, 296 Canadian citizens have requested assistance.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected, both Canadians abroad and their families at home,” spokeswoman Natasha Nystrom said in a statement. “During this difficult time, the Government of Canada is making every possible effort to assist Canadian citizens affected by hurricane Irma and those who may be affected by hurricane Jose.”
She said Canada’s diplomatic missions are working with local authorities, airlines and tour operators to further help affected Canadians.
Canada is also working with international partners such as the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, France and the Netherlands to information and co-ordinate our efforts, she added.
Canadian Firms prod Trudeau to approve Super Hornet deal
By: Daniel Leblanc, The Globe and Mail
Ten Canadian-based aerospace companies are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to stop blocking the purchase of 18 Super Hornet fighter jets, arguing they stand to suffer from the government's unwavering support of Bombardier Inc. in a trade dispute with Boeing Co.
"Prime Minister, we ask for your co-operation as we work with Boeing to keep our collective growth and innovation story unfolding here in Canada. Our partnership is deep and enduring, but it needs your engagement," said the letter sent on Tuesday by senior executives from firms such as Héroux-Devtek, L-3 MAS, CAE and GE Canada.
The letter, which calls on the government to advance "aerospace for all of Canada," is the most recent development in an increasingly bitter dispute between the Canadian government and Boeing. Ottawa is holding the Super Hornet contract as its main bargaining chip in its fight on behalf of Quebec-based Bombardier, while members of the "Boeing team in Canada" want to convince the government that its strategy will actually hurt Canada's aerospace industry as a whole.
Read more: Ottawa seeks second-hand jets from Australia amid Boeing, Bombardier dispute
"There is a bright opportunity in front of us that can be harvested, in a successful and mutually beneficial win for Canada, our Canadian companies, and Boeing," said the letter sent to Mr. Trudeau, his two key aides, Katie Telford and Gerald Butts, and five federal ministers.
At the heart of the dispute is Boeing's complaint against Bombardier over allegations of illegal subsidies and dumping that was filed in April with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The matter is currently in front of the U.S. International Trade Commission, with Boeing asking for tariffs to be imposed on Bombardier C Series planes sold in the United States.
Ottawa responded by lambasting Boeing for its actions against Bombardier, which is seen in the Liberal government as the crown jewel of Canada's aerospace industry, quickly putting the Super Hornet deal on hold.
A Canadian delegation recently travelled to Australia to see whether second-hand fighter jets, which are being placed on the market by the country's military, could instead fit Canada's needs for an "interim" fleet.
"Australia has flown a very similar F-18 to ours, it is one of the reasons why we have sent a team down to take a look at various options," Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters at a caucus meeting in Kelowna. "Our engineers will take a look at all the specs to make sure the airframe is worthy enough, making sure we look at the systems that are also employed. ... They will provide an assessment in short order."
Mr. Trudeau has himself sought to put pressure on Boeing to drop its complaint against Bombardier. On Tuesday, Mr. Trudeau called Eric Greitens, the Governor of Missouri, where Super Hornets are assembled, to highlight the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs that are now in play.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
"Canada is reviewing current military procurement that relates to Boeing, as Boeing is pursuing unfair and aggressive trade action against the Canadian aerospace sector. Meanwhile, Boeing receives billions in support from U.S. federal, state and municipal governments," the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday.
Still, the president of Boeing International has told Canadian media that Boeing will not back down in its fight against unfair subsidies.
"We recognize the Canadian government might be upset with us. We don't intend to upset anybody, but we plainly have to do what we believe is right," Boeing International president Marc Allen told The Globe and Mail.
Mr. Allen urged the federal government to stop making a link between Boeing's case against Bombardier and the Super Hornet contract. "If you ask me my opinion, I wouldn't want the U.S. government trading national security for trade," he said.
Mr. Allen added the federal government should not forget that Boeing does $4-billion a year of business in Canada, with 560 suppliers and an overall impact of 17,000 jobs.
Bombardier has denied any wrongdoing and is currently defending itself in front of the U.S. International Trade Commission.
"The bottom line is that Boeing's petition is meritless and based on false assumptions, citing a campaign in which they didn't even compete," Bombardier Commercial Aircraft spokesman Bryan Tucker said. "Boeing's petition is a direct attack on innovation, competition, development and jobs on both sides of the border."
Ten Canadian-based aerospace companies are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to stop blocking the purchase of 18 Super Hornet fighter jets, arguing they stand to suffer from the government's unwavering support of Bombardier Inc. in a trade dispute with Boeing Co.
"Prime Minister, we ask for your co-operation as we work with Boeing to keep our collective growth and innovation story unfolding here in Canada. Our partnership is deep and enduring, but it needs your engagement," said the letter sent on Tuesday by senior executives from firms such as Héroux-Devtek, L-3 MAS, CAE and GE Canada.
The letter, which calls on the government to advance "aerospace for all of Canada," is the most recent development in an increasingly bitter dispute between the Canadian government and Boeing. Ottawa is holding the Super Hornet contract as its main bargaining chip in its fight on behalf of Quebec-based Bombardier, while members of the "Boeing team in Canada" want to convince the government that its strategy will actually hurt Canada's aerospace industry as a whole.
Read more: Ottawa seeks second-hand jets from Australia amid Boeing, Bombardier dispute
"There is a bright opportunity in front of us that can be harvested, in a successful and mutually beneficial win for Canada, our Canadian companies, and Boeing," said the letter sent to Mr. Trudeau, his two key aides, Katie Telford and Gerald Butts, and five federal ministers.
At the heart of the dispute is Boeing's complaint against Bombardier over allegations of illegal subsidies and dumping that was filed in April with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The matter is currently in front of the U.S. International Trade Commission, with Boeing asking for tariffs to be imposed on Bombardier C Series planes sold in the United States.
Ottawa responded by lambasting Boeing for its actions against Bombardier, which is seen in the Liberal government as the crown jewel of Canada's aerospace industry, quickly putting the Super Hornet deal on hold.
A Canadian delegation recently travelled to Australia to see whether second-hand fighter jets, which are being placed on the market by the country's military, could instead fit Canada's needs for an "interim" fleet.
"Australia has flown a very similar F-18 to ours, it is one of the reasons why we have sent a team down to take a look at various options," Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters at a caucus meeting in Kelowna. "Our engineers will take a look at all the specs to make sure the airframe is worthy enough, making sure we look at the systems that are also employed. ... They will provide an assessment in short order."
Mr. Trudeau has himself sought to put pressure on Boeing to drop its complaint against Bombardier. On Tuesday, Mr. Trudeau called Eric Greitens, the Governor of Missouri, where Super Hornets are assembled, to highlight the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs that are now in play.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
"Canada is reviewing current military procurement that relates to Boeing, as Boeing is pursuing unfair and aggressive trade action against the Canadian aerospace sector. Meanwhile, Boeing receives billions in support from U.S. federal, state and municipal governments," the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday.
Still, the president of Boeing International has told Canadian media that Boeing will not back down in its fight against unfair subsidies.
"We recognize the Canadian government might be upset with us. We don't intend to upset anybody, but we plainly have to do what we believe is right," Boeing International president Marc Allen told The Globe and Mail.
Mr. Allen urged the federal government to stop making a link between Boeing's case against Bombardier and the Super Hornet contract. "If you ask me my opinion, I wouldn't want the U.S. government trading national security for trade," he said.
Mr. Allen added the federal government should not forget that Boeing does $4-billion a year of business in Canada, with 560 suppliers and an overall impact of 17,000 jobs.
Bombardier has denied any wrongdoing and is currently defending itself in front of the U.S. International Trade Commission.
"The bottom line is that Boeing's petition is meritless and based on false assumptions, citing a campaign in which they didn't even compete," Bombardier Commercial Aircraft spokesman Bryan Tucker said. "Boeing's petition is a direct attack on innovation, competition, development and jobs on both sides of the border."
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