What's Canada Buying? January 2, 2013

• Wanted:  hardware to help in researching Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) defence, work with an international search and rescue satellite system, and Canadian companies interested in helping stockpile hardware for helipads
• Wanted:  an Israeli-made mechanical anti-mine roller for Canada’s Leopard tanks - more from the company on the product here.
• “The Department of National Defence (DND), Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central) at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, Borden, Ontario, has a requirement to have an outside contractor provide Accommodations, Meals and Facility Services to hold the 2013 National Cadet Marksmanship Championship in St. Catherines, Ontario from 1 May 2013 to 13 May 2013 inclusive. There will be approximately 137 cadets, 25 coaches and 55 staff members for a total of 217 personnel who will be involved with the Championship. The estimated value of the contract is $130,000.00 (taxes extra) …. Name and Address of the Pre-Identified Supplier …. Brock University ….”
  
• F-35 Tug o’ War (1)  What the PM said (to CTV News)
• F-35 Tug o’ War (2)  What the Parliamentary Budget Officer said (to ipolitics.ca)
  
• F-35 Tug o’ War (3)  Biz columnist’s take  “The F-35 fighter plane is shaping up as the biggest fiasco in the history of military aviation. If anything’s to be gained from the monumental botch that is the costliest and most multi-functional military aircraft project ever attempted, the Joint Strike Fighter program from which the F-35 is derived should be taught at the Royal Military College and its peers worldwide. It is an epic case history of supplier over-reach on the part of defence contractors, and deficient decision-making by public policy makers ….”- more from Mark Collins here.
• F-35 Tug o’ War (4)  “A former Canadian fighter pilot believes the military’s pending purchase of F-35 stealth fighter jets is an expensive mistake.  Retired Major Stephen Fuhr questions the performance and $75 million price tag per jet, for an estimated $9 billion total price tag to the Canadian Government.  “The people who are supporting it are in love with the idea of the F-35,” says Fuhr, who is making his concerns public ….”
  
• F-35 Tug o’ War (5)  Senator & former general:  We Need the Thing  “Amid the media and Parliamentary frenzy over the estimated $46-billion cost to replace Canada’s aging CF-18s with F-35 stealth fighters, a fundamental point has been missed entirely. The first and most important obligation of the government is the security of the country, its sovereignty and the safety and well-being of its citizens. Our politicians must do a better job of remembering this, especially since Canada is a particularly challenging country  to secure. That means getting the best equipment possible ….”
  
• F-35 Tug o’ War (6)  Another reporter’s take  “…. It is not clear that the Super Hornet would be much of a bargain. A minimalist version may cost a little less than an F-35. The more potent and modern variants will likely cost a little more. While it can be argued that a single-engine jet like the F-35 may be less expensive to operate than the twin-engine Super Hornet, the Super Hornet may be considered “safer” and may carry a larger weapons load.  These are among the many tradeoffs — or real issues — that bureaucrats will have to consider as they conduct an “options analysis” that Harper promised when he pushed the reset button on the purchase of Canada’s next and probably last manned fighter eight months ago.  After that will we see whether the prime minister zigs or zags.”
  

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