What's Canada Buying? August 25, 2012

• Way Up North  “They went toe-to-toe with the Taliban in the dusty laneways of Kandahar without batting an eye, but it’s the mighty polar bear that’s giving the Canadian army pause for thought.  The military had been on the lookout for an “anti-predator weapon” with which to equip both Arctic Rangers and regular force units whenever they operate on their own in the North.  In the meantime, it has issued First World War vintage Lee-Enfield rifles to units based in southern Canada for use whenever those northern response companies are dispatched to the Arctic.  The issue of “protection from predators (polar bears) was brought forward” at a meeting last year in Resolute, Nunavut, where the military was discussing what kinds of equipment it needs to operate in the remote, unforgiving terrain.  “Army tasks for now include presence (sovereignty), support to the population (disasters, etc.), recovery (MAJAD, downed satellites, SAR assistance, etc.),” said a Sept. 14, 2011 briefing note prepared for the head of the army, Lt.-Gen. Peter Devlin.  “Although the norm is for our personnel to work closely with Rangers, the possibility exists of operating for a brief period without their close support.” ….”  - no briefing note shared, but here’s some documentation and discussion over at Milnet.ca on a replacement for the Canadian Rangers’ Lee-Enfield.
• F-35 Tug o’ War  More calls for some slack from potential vendors re:  proving the academic qualifications of their staffers/sub-contractors in a timely fashion – a bit more in the latest bid request amendment here.

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