IAI Elta’s Radars Supporting Canada’s Missions We continue to deliver cutting edge solutions to the Canadian Armed Forces for the protection of Canada’s missions. IAI Elta’s multi mission radar family has surpassed over 100 systems delivered worldwide. Our radars are proven successful every day in live artillery firing and air defence target detection. Leap into the Future with Us. www.iai.co.il • [email protected] I GUEST EDITOR’S CORNER I by Tim Addison VOLUME 17:2 2020 NSS Progress DEFENCE • SECURITY • SAFETY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & Perspectives Chris MacLean [email protected] Although COVID-19 has had a significant impact across Canada, the National ADVISORS & CORRESPONDENTS Contributing Editor: Kenneth Pole Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) has made significant progress in 2020. Seaspan has U.S. Defense Analyst: Robbin Laird delivered their third Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel, and the first of the two Joint From the Tower: Hudson on the Hill Support Ships (JSS) are well into construction. Similarly, on the east coast, the first SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), HMCS Harry DeWolf, is now under RCN Tim Addison command and the second and third AOPS are well underway at the Irving Susan M Boyce Shipyard. This time last year, the Government was about to announce that Arie Egozi Chantier Davie had pre-qualified for inclusion as the third shipyard in NSS and, as Eugene Gerden part of this competition, negotiations are in the final stages for Davie to build six VAdm (retd) Darren Hawco Program Ice Breakers for Canada. ADVERTISING SALES Bob Lawrie, Director The question now, is what will the relative cost of warships used for at-sea [email protected] headwinds be like, in 2021 and beyond, replenishment. The Report compared SUBSCRIPTION OFFICE after the Government has come to grips the acquisition cost of the two JSS to the [email protected] with COVID? There have been sugges- Motor Vessel (MV) Asterix, modified by tions that spending on defence (and by Chantier Davie and currently under extension the NSS) are prime targets for lease to the RCN, and a similarly to be This edition brought to you by: reduction. Over the past year there have converted sister container ship, Obelix. IAI . 2 also been challenges to NSS projects on While the ships are comparable in their Leonardo DRS . 11 other fronts. The AOPS Project has come ability to deliver fuel and supplies to MDA. 13 under scrutiny in terms of its utility for other warships, and Asterix has done an Rheinmetall . 7 Canada and whether it’s providing value outstanding job of supporting the RCN Rolls-Royce. 4 for money. While it is true that the AOPS since it was put into service in 2019, the Team Victoria Class . 9 are lightly armed and have moderate PBO comparison was seriously flawed speed compared to a frigate or destroyer, in that it did not factor in the differences The support of our advertisers allows FrontLine to advance discussion they have all the capabilities required to in the construction and capabilities through informed commentary. accomplish their various missions. More which contribute to the difference in the importantly, the introduction of the sail-away price of the two vessels. When AOPS into service will fill a valued capa- reading the PBO Reports, one must note HEAD OFFICE bility gap for the RCN and permit the critical areas that are outside of the 2150 Fillmore Cr Ottawa ON Canada K1J 6A4 enhanced flexibility and adaptability in scope of study. Tel: +1-613-747-1138 addressing unique tasks and missions. Canadian parliamentarians, decision- [email protected] Canada’s Parliamentary Budget makers, and interested stakeholders are CP Publication Agreement #40874503 Office (PBO) recently reported on the advised to exercise caution when con- sidering future PBO Reports on other (USPS 025-603) Periodicals postage paid at Ogdensburg, NY NSS programs, including the Canadian U.S. address changes should be sent to Have an opinion? Contact us. SurfaceS Combatant (CSC). The com- OLS, PO Box 1568, Ogdensburg, NY 13669 pplexity of the CSC requirement presents FRONTLINE magazine is printed in Canada and published mmany uniquely Canadian challenges in by Beacon Publishing Inc. tterms of building a warship with multi- Change of address notices and new subscriptions should ppurpose capabilities, the latest in tech- be faxed to: +1-613-747-7319 or sent via the web site frontline.online nology and interoperability with allies, All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be re- aas well as meeting the requirements for produced or transmitted, in whole or in part, in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of industriali and technological benefits to the publisher. CanadaC . All opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 20202 certainly had its challenges... publisher or any organization or association affiliated with line this magazine. visit frontline. on StandbyS for 2021! FRONTLINE magazine occasionally receives unsolicited features and materials, including letters to the editor; FRONTLINE reserves the right to use, reproduce, publish, We want to hear from you. TimT Addison, a former Navy officer, republish, store and archive such submissions in whole or in part, in any form or medium whatsoever, without compen- [email protected] is Director of Naval Affairs at the sation of any sort. FRONTLINE magazine is not responsible Naval Association of Canada. for unsolicited manuscripts and photographic material. © Beacon Publishing Inc 2020,ISSN 2563-7029 All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. – Edmund Burke FrontLineMilitary Defence / National Security Features / Public Protection Issue 2, 2020 Putting Politics & Procurement & Defence... in Context 6 Joint Support Ship v. Budget Office? 26 Manned-Unmanned Teaming by Hudson on the Hill by Robbin Laird The JSS project timeline is much longer than it The shift from land wars to conflicts in should be, but is well underway. So why, after all contested air and sea spaces, means new this time, did the House ask PBO to review costs? concepts of operations and systems are developing, and this requires collaboration 10 How Serious is NATO about Deterrence? 10 between the services. by VAdm (retd) Darren Hawco The Alliance must be ready to discern, deter, 30 Honour House, Honour Ranch and if necessary, defend. To do this, NATO by Susan M Boyce needs to consider deterrence from the lens of When military personnel, veterans, and first today and not the past. responders (or their family members) need medical treatment in Metro Vancouver, or 14 FrontLine Innovation Platform (FLIP) respite and new treatment strategies for FrontLine Report 26 PTSD, there are places to stay. This is an Accenture, Army Innovations, Beretta Defence amazing story of selflessness to make a real Technologies, Collins Aerospace, D.S. Raider, difference when our protectors need help. DRDC Valcartier Research Centre, IAI, Polar Knowledge Canada, Rheinmetall Canada. 33 Operation Laser Update by Ken Pole 22 Russia Shifts to Contracted Army? While still evaluating lessons learned from by Eugene Gerden its deployments during the first wave of the Russia’s next stage of massive military reforms 30 pandemic, the Canadian Armed Forces is may include a contracted military, particularly ready to be tapped for full-out vaccine land force, within the next decade. deployment when needed. 25 Nano Satellites 34 FrontLine Security News Retirements, promotions, and movement by Arie Egozi from one company to another, one role to With adversaries developing cruise missiles to another, both industry and CAF leaders. add existing arsenals of long-range ballistic Swiss Armed Forces, L3Harris WESCAM, missiles, Israel is looking to nanosatellites to and Israel’s F35 variant test aircraft. keep watch for missile launch preparations. 25 Send Address Changes to: OPERATION PROJECTION Asia-Pacific frontline.online November 2020 – Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force [email protected] conduct Deck Evolutions with HMCS Winnipeg during ©Beacon Publishing Inc. 2020 Operation Projection. Corporal Jeff Coffee acts as the Deck ISSN 2563-7029 (Print) Director during the landing of the CH-148 Cyclone on ISSN 2563-7037 (Online) deck. Op Projection Asia-Pacific shows Canada’s ongoing CPC Publication Agreement #40874503 commitment to global peace. During this operation, CAF BEACON PUBLISHING personnel have been conducting training, exercises, and 2150 Fillmore Cres Ottawa ON Canada K1J 6A4 engagements with foreign navies and other international No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in security partners. part without the written permission of the publisher. Beacon Publishing Inc. retains all rights to published material. Visit our web site daily frontline.online Issue 2, 2020 I FrontLine Magazine I 5 I FROM THE TOWER I by Hudson on the Hill Joint Support Ship v. Budget Office? Back in June 2010, some six years after the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) had begun studying its options, the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled a plan to replace the RCN’s two auxiliary oil replenishment (AOR) ships. After decades of service, these naval work horses had “been ridden hard and put away wet,” were long overdue for replacement and, being single-skin hulls, were no longer environmentally friendly (and probably never were) despite major refits. Coupled with serious safety issues, the RCN was eventually forced to pay them off early: HMCS Preserver in 2015 and HMCS Protecteur in 2016. The first phase of the project to replace the point where, in June 2020, a $2.4-billion them with modern new Joint Support Ships contract for full-rate construction followed, (JSS) was underway. RCN planners initially setting the stage for delivery of the first JSS had hoped for three or even four new ships in 2023, and the second a year or so later.