Former ADM (materiel), Alan Williams, takes a critical look at the Canadian Surface Combatant procurement from the taxpayer's perspective. Comparing costs and quotes on similar projects from other countries, he finds that Canadian taxpayers are paying 2-3 times more for the CSC ships under the project management of Irving Shipbuilding.
Aug 15
(Ken Pole)
Canadian Armed Forces personnel now have clearly-defined options on how to lodge complaints about harassment, assault or other misconduct outside the traditional and all-too-often frustrating military chain of command.
Aug 08
(ARIE EGOZI)
Iran's very basic drone industry has been boosted by the war in Ukraine. Advanced armed UAVs have recently unveiled for purchase by Russia.
Aug 04
(ARIE EGOZI)
The Israeli Ministry of Defence plans to begin series production of the upgraded version of the Merkava 4 main battle tank this year. FrontLine sources have provided some details of the technological advances and expected innovations.
Sep 20
Less than two months into his new job as Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair has returned from a whirlwind visit to Scotland, England and Germany in what could be construed as a "charm offensive" designed to defuse NATO's frustration that Canada remains well short of the alliance's military spending targets for its members.
Sep 15
(DND News)
In 1993, Canadian soldiers faced what is considered by many to be the toughest and largest-scale action faced by our troops during the half-century between the Korean War and Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. Today, we commemorate their sacrifice and their intense commitment to peace and security.
Sep 15
(DND News)
A ceremony, including a fly-past, will mark the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Sunday, September 17, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Sep 15
(DND News)
15 Sept 2023 is designated Military Family Appreciation Day, and the Ministers of National Defence and Veterans Affairs issued a statement of support to Canadian military families. As an integral part of the Defence community, they bring their resilient spirit to each new posting, and strengthen the places in which they set down new roots. Military families represent Canadian values and embody the best of our country. (english and french messages)
 Beretta Defense Technologies / Stoeger Canada |
 Collins Aerospace |
 Babcock Canada Inc |
18 June 2023 –
Politicians, scholars and commentators have sought to explain or justify the apparent delinquency in Canada’s defence effort over the years. It remains unclear whether or how much the promised new defence policy update will address the matter of NATO's 2% minimum defence spending commitment.
18 June 2023 –
Former head of defence procurement at Canada's Department of National Defence, made the following remarks at the Standing Committee of National Defence hearing on 16 June 2023. He says the capital costs of Canada’s new fighter jets and surface combatant ships will exceed $100 billion dollars over a 10-year period, and could effectively bankrupt the Canadian Armed Forces unless new monies are injected.
30 May 2023 –
Chinese election interference is a hot topic in Canada today. Yet, while it is indeed a matter of enormous importance, it is one that must be placed in the context of the new Cold War against the West.
27 April 2023 –
The CAF is in crisis mode, attempting to deal with a lack of personnel and equipment, efforts to change its culture, operational pressures and reputational challenges. This huge machine cannot rapidly ramp up from dereliction when needed – it's time for Canadians to begin to recognize service to country as important, and give it the priority it deserves.
28 September 2023
(CNN)
Slovakia, a NATO member since 2004, is about to elect its fifth prime minister in four years and the apparent front-runner is Robert Fico, a Russian sympathizer who says “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” provoked Vladimir Putin into invading Ukraine. Landlocked Slovakia has a 97-kilometre eastern border with Ukraine, which it has supported up to now.
28 September 2023
(Breaking Defense)
The U.S. has approved the sale of 24 Lockheed Martin F-35s to the Czech Republic. The procurement itself is valued at some US$5 billion while an additional $1.5 billion will be spent on airbus upgrades and other related projects.
28 September 2023
(Reuters)
Prime Minister Trudeau apologized September 27 after a Nazi-allied war veteran was formally recognized by then House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota during last week’s visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Embarrassed at home and abroad, the PM also said the government had reached out diplomatically to Ukraine.
28 September 2023
(Breaking Defense)
Taiwan has high hopes for a planned fleet of at least eight submarines, the first of which is being readied for seat trials in October. “If we can build up this combat capacity, I don’t think we will lose a war,” says Admiral Huang Shu-kuang, the program coordinator and national security advisor to President Tsai Ing-wen.
28 September 2023
(CP)
The federal government is trying to address growing concerns about generative artificial intelligence with a voluntary code of conduct for developers. Innovation, Science & Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne expects it to “build safety and trust as the technology spreads.”
27 September 2023
(Globe & Mail)
Commander Martin Pelletier, presiding over the court martial of Lieutenant-General Steven Whelan, was “annoyed” by a delay September 26 while lawyers argued for hours about the relevance of “embarrassing” emails. Whelan is alleged to have made “improper considerations” in evaluating a subordinate in 2011.
27 September 2023
(CTV)
A 98-year-old Ontario resident is at the heart of a domestic and international political outcry about his Second World War involvement in Nazi Germany’s battle with Russia. The core of the debate is whether Yaroslav Hunka was a patriot or a war criminal who could be extradited.
27 September 2023
(BBC)
Months of “intense diplomacy” have resulted in North Korea’s repatriation of a U.S. Army Private who crossed from South Korea in July. Travis King, handed over in China, is being returned home for what a U.S. official says will be “a re-integration process that will address any medical and emotional concerns.”
26 September 2023
(CBC)
Antony Rota, the Ontario Liberal MP who has served as Speaker of the House of Commons since 2019, announced today that he is resigning. All parties had sought his resignation after he had lauded a constituent during Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Parliament last week. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, had served in a Nazi division during the Second World War and while Rota apologized, that wasn’t enough.
26 September 2023
(CBC)
Polish Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek said today that he has “taken steps” to having a 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian extradited for trial. Yaroslav Hunka, a member of a Nazi division during the Second World War, came into the spotlight last week when he was recognized as a “hero” by House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota, his Ontario MP.
