Report: JTF2 Relocation Delayed

According to an article in the Ottawa Citizen published today, by Defence insider David Pugliese the Department of National Defence's planned relocation of the special forces JTF2 Unit from its Ottawa location at Dwyer Hill to CFB Trenton is facing at least a year delay and a significant increase in the cost required to move.

JTF2 is Canada's anti-terrorism special forces, and they have been looking for a new home since 2005. Their current facility, Dwyer Hill, just outside Ottawa is an 80-hectare site that was formerly a horse farm which was purchased by DND in 1993 with the creation of JTF2. The site is designed for counter-terrorism training and includes; a pool, multiple firing ranges, and a rappel tower.

In 2008 the Conservative government announced that it would relocate JTF2 from its Ottawa facility to CFB Trenton, which would grant it more access to military transport aircraft which are flown out of Trenton. It also places the team on the 401 Highway, allowing for rapid deployment to Toronto or Montreal if they are needed. Stationing JTF2 in Trenton also places them next to the Canadian Forces Joint Incident Response Unit - which are responsible for  nuclear, biological, and chemical incidents. The Canadian Special Forces Regiment, are currently stationed at CFB Petawawa, and will stay there.

The initial estimate to more JTF2 was $346 million, which included moving, decommissioning, and building a new facility. The amount of the increase has not been disclosed, but an increase has been discussed, as well as delays. JTF2 is supposed to be in Trenton by 2019, but current contractor documents suggest they will still be occupying Dwyer Hill until at least 2020. That extension from 2019 to 2020 is costing $17 million.

DND has announced they still plan to move JTF2 - and will offer the site to other DND units following its Special Forces decommissioning. If no one at DND wants the site, it will be offered to Federal or Provincial departments. Following that, if no one steps forward to wanting the site, it will sell it on the open market in a fair and open process.

OP UNIFIER Taking Shape: Canada in Ukraine

The Department of National Defence announced yesterday that members of its Theater Activation Team (TAT) have been hard at work in the Ukraine setting up the Canadian Forces site for Task Force Ukraine that will deploy later this year.

Members of the CAF TAT team work with Ukrainian Soldiers to assemble the new dinning facility for CAF Task Force Ukraine personnel. Photo: DND; Aug, 15, 2015. 

Operation UNIFIER is Canada's contribution to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces through military capacity building in coordination with the US Armed Forces already on the ground in Ukraine.

The TAT team is largely based out of CFJOSG Kingston, other engineers, and specialists have been deployed from around the country to establish the Canadian camp near the International Peacekeeping and Security Center (IPSC) near Yavoriv, Ukraine.

The TAT team, approximately 90 CAF personnel arrived in the Ukraine on August 5, 2015 and before the beginning of September Task Force Ukraine will deploy.

Task Force Ukraine will be made up of approximately 200 CAF personnel that will be deployed until March 31, 2017. The majority of the first ROTO will be from 2 CMGB out of CFB Petawawa; while later ROTOs will be from 5 CMBG from CFB Valcartier.

RCNs Arctic Patrol Ships to be armed with MK-38's

It was announced that Irving Shipbuilding has awarded the defence contract for Canada's Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) to BAE Systems for the ships self-defence purposes.

BAE will provide up to 6 modified 25mm MK-38 Machine Gun Systems for the AOPS's. The contract stipulates the first gun systems will be delivered in 2017 (the same date as the first AOPS), and one system per year after until the end of the contract - again the same time table as the remaining AOPS.

Project Resolve: RCN's Interim Supply Ship

There is new(er) news about Project Resolve. Please be sure to also read: Asterix to Salvage Parts from HMCS Protecteur & Asterix iAOR to be ready by 2017

During election campaign, people expect little more than future promises on Defence issues - but we got news the other day that the Government has signed a letter of intent with Davie Shipbuilding in Levis, Quebec to retrofit a civilian container ship, the Asterix (a 1,702 TEU Boxship).

(*TEU - a Unit of Measurement = Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (i.e. a 20 Foot Sea Container))

According to several sources Davie Shipbuilding has purchased the Asterix for around $20 million and will spend upwards of $350 Million on retrofitting it to meet the Royal Canadian Navies requirements. 

For this all to take place,the Government was required to change its rules on sole-sourcing defence purchases. Otherwise, multiple firms would have been required to bid for the project, which could have led to further delays. 

The Government quietly added a line to the contract back in June 2015, that allows a deal to move forward to a single company, if the requirements are "urgent operational reasons, and fulfills an interim requirement."  This can possibly set a dangerous precedent for future projects or governments, as what defines urgent or interim? 

Little is known about the final ownership of the Asterix. It is highly unlikely that the ship will be owned by the Royal Canadian Navy - as it is Davie who reportedly purchased the ship. In all likelihood, Davie will then lease the ship to the Navy on a long-term basis until the planned Queenston-Class AOR vessels are built (The first in late 2020). The estimated cost for the lease - between $65 and $75 Million per year. What will happen to the Asterix after all 3 Queenston AORs are operational? That is another unanswered question - it will most likely continue to operate as a broader part of the Navy, most likely helping out on more humanitarian missions or as a central command ship for larger international deployments. The modified Asterix is expected to be in service for at least the next 20 to 25 years. There are no reports about whether or not Davie will sell the ship to the Navy at the end of the initial lease agreement. 

The Royal Canadian Navy currently does not have a supply ship, and temporarily rented a Chilean Supply Ship for exercises on the West Coast, and have leased a Spanish supply ship for the East Coast.  The Asterix will give the RCN supply capability until the Queenston-Class AORs arrive, but will also allow the Navy to maintain a high level of training on supply vessels. 

The Asterix is currently capable of carrying 1,702 twenty-foot sea containers. Davie will convert the ship into a Naval Supply Vessel, capable of replenishing other Navy vessels at sea. 

The conversion will include, modifying the hull and ballast systems, to be capable of carrying 10,000 liters of spare fuel. A landing pad will be added to the ship, large enough to allow for two Chinook sized helicopters to use it. Although it is more likely that the Cyclones will operate off of the ship. Accompanying the landing pad, will be two hangers for the ships own aircraft be to be stored. Accommodations for up to 350 personnel, including a large medical facility (mobile hospital) and a command center. Unlike the Queenston-Class, no mention of any weapons systems have been added to the design of the Asterix. 

Once all the modifications are complete, the ship will also be able to carry an additional 40 twenty-foot sea containers. (Down form the 1,702) 

The project name Davie Shipbuilding is using for this overhaul - Project Resolve, which has led to the nickname Resolve-Class AOR for the Asterix. It is currently only a temporary name, but I think HMCS Resolve has a nice ring to it. 

Election 2015: Harper Promises Increase in Reserve Force

Today at a Campaign stop in Fredericton, New Brunswick Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that if the Conservatives are re-elected, they would increase the number of Reserves in the Canadian Armed Forces from 24,000 to 30,000 within the next four years. That is almost a decade faster than the current Canadian Defense Strategy, which lists 2028 as the date for the Reserves to hit the 30,000 troop level.

The Prime Minister announced that a Conservative government would streamline the recruitment process for Reserves, and more to a more Central training system in Ontario and the Great Lakes region, so Reserves can train closer to home.

Such a surge will help increase the effectiveness of the Canadian Armed Forces, especially in response to Canada's Sovereignty needs, national emergencies (floods, and forest fires), and to help protect Canada's coastal and offshore waters.

In the 2011 Election the Conservatives took 8 of the 10 Seats in New Brunswick, and he is hoping to do just as well this time around. Canada's largest Eastern Military Base is CFB Gagetown located just outside of Fredericton.

To read the original CBC News Article: Stephen Harper Pledges Reserve Increase