TAPVs Well Suited for New Iraq Mission

By: David Pugliese, Defence Watch 

Canadian military planners are currently going over options for the upcoming mission to Baghdad starting in the fall. The deployment includes a force protection group of about 125 personnel. They will provide on-site security for the NATO headquarters in the Iraqi capital city as well a mobile force protection group. The force will be outfitted with armoured vehicles for transportation, according to the Canadian government.

Defence Watch asked Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s office if LAV-llls were going to be sent. But Byrne Furlong, Sajjan’s press secretary, said no final decision has been made yet on the type of armoured platform troops will use.

One Department of National Defence official suggested that armoured SUVs could be used since the patrols will largely be in Baghdad.

Which raises the question- what about using the new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle?

The vehicle is highly mobile and provides a very high degree of protection for its crew, according to the Canadian Army. It is not as big as the LAV-lll and could be better suited for an urban environment.

Furlong said more information on the composition of the mission and equipment it will use will be released at a later date.

While security is tight in Baghdad, there still attacks. The United Nations reported that 19 people were killed and 18 injured in various attacks in the city in June. In January, suicide bombers killed 38 people and injured more than 105 others

Canadian Army to Start Receiving TAPVs this Summer

By: David Pugliese, Defence Watch 

Defence Watch had previously reported on the delays affecting the delivery of the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles to the Canadian Army and the hope at the DND that the first will be delivered by August. That will be happening, the Army has now confirmed.


The fleet of 500 TAPVs will be distributed across seven bases and 24 units over a 17-month period.

The Canadian Army has said it expects to declare full operational capability by mid-2020, following training of all operators, and completion of user trials and exercises confirming operational readiness.

The TAPVs from Textron are being delivered in two variants, according to the army – General Utility and Reconnaissance. The vehicles are equipped with remote weapons stations, which allows gunners to aim and fire from the vehicle’s interior. The remote weapons stations come equipped with both a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher and a C6 machine gun, the army pointed out.

Photo above courtesy of Textron.

Delivery schedule below as outlined by the Army up until the end of 2017.

CAF's Armoured Patrol Vehicle Delayed Again

By David Pugliese, Defence Watch 

Delivery of the Canadian military’s new armoured vehicles has been delayed once again after problems were found with the steering systems of the vehicles ordered under the $1.2-billion program.

The first of the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles was supposed to be delivered in 2014. But in April, the Citizen revealed that significant technical problems dogged the armoured vehicles. Department of National Defence officials said the vehicles would start being delivered early this year.

That has been pushed back again because of additional technical problems, DND confirmed Thursday. It hopes to get the first vehicle out in August.

At one time, the $1.2-billion Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) program was seen as a Conservative government procurement project that was proceeding smoothly.

TAPV from Textron (Photo: Handout - Textron Canada) 

The government announced the project in 2009 as part of its re-equipping of the Canadian Army. Canada plans to buy at least 500 new vehicles from Textron, a U.S.-based defence firm that has set up offices in Ottawa.

The TAPV program has “experienced a number of significant technical issues, particularly affecting vehicle mobility,” then-defence minister Rob Nicholson was told in August 2014. There have been problems with the suspension, steering and other items on the vehicle, according to a briefing document released under the Access to Information law.

The technical issues significantly delayed the test program, the document added. “These accumulating incidents, which relate to the vehicle’s ability to travel distances on medium cross country terrain, led the project office to conclude the existing testing could no longer continue.”

The government is purchasing the TAPV to give troops what it calls a high degree of protection and mobility on the battlefield.

Textron officials told the Citizen in late May that a new round of testing had started and was proceeding smoothly. All the previously identified problems had been dealt with, they added.

But testing had to be halted in September 2015. That was done to investigate the reliability of the steering system, said Department of National Defence spokeswoman Ashley Lemire.

The problem was solved and testing resumed last month. Testing is to be finished in May, said Lemire.

“The technical issues have been addressed by Textron Systems Canada,” she added. “Though the government of Canada does not have present concerns, the qualification program will be completed in accordance with the contract in order to confirm that the vehicle fully meets requirements.”

Canada has an option to buy an additional 100 TAPVs. The $1.2 billion project budget also includes the building of infrastructure for the new vehicles, as well as the purchase of ammunition and service support for the equipment.

dpugliese@postmedia.com

CAF's Armoured Patrol Vehicle Delayed

In 2009 the government announced a $1.2 billion program to purchase upwards to 500 new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles (TAPV) for the Canadian Armed Forces. The contract was awarded to Textron, a U.S. based firm, which has since set up offices in Ottawa to help facilitate the purchase.

The CAF was supposed to begin delivery of the Armoured Vehicles in 2014, but testing delays in the vehicles caused an initial delay. Now, a further delay, will add another 15 months to the time table before the CAF begins to take delivery.

The TAPV's are experiencing significant technical problems when it comes to manoeuvrability and handling, which has halted the vehicles testing. That was in August of 2014.

According to information released by the Ottawa Citizen through access to information laws - there are still problems with the vehicles suspension, steering and other items vital to the vehicle.

This is a major problem when the TAPV was purchased to give troops an increase in protection, and a high level of mobility on any battlefield.

The contract allows Canada to decide to purchase an additional 100 TAPV's if we choose. The contract includes building infrastructure for the vehicles, support, and ammunition for its weapons systems.

DND provided no further details, other than the challenges Textron faces redesigning the suspension, and steering of the vehicle so it can provide what is necessary to keep troops safe while keeping a high level of mobility in various environments.