CANADIAN TODAY SPRING 2019 | VOL. 3 | ISSUE 1 THIS ISSUE • Uniting the Army’s X-Men • A paratrooper’s first jump • De la protection des forces aux médecins volants • Life extension plans for the Leos • Taking aim at new sniper systems • A better way to buy C4ISR? • LAVs: Mobile, lethal and better protected Close Combat, Close Engagement Refining the capstone operating concept GENERAL DYNAMICS CANSEC 2019 PRESENTATIONS Enabling your TacCIS to Support Cyberspace Mission Objectives Vertex: Reliable Network, Survivable Architecture Join us in booth #1601 To register for the presentations, contact [email protected] www.gdmissionsystems.ca CANADIAN TODAY IN THIS ISSUE SPRING 2019 | VOL. 3 | ISSUE 1 THEME 8 CLOSE ENGAGEMENT by Chris Thatcher Facing future conflict across the full spectrum of warfare, the Army has evolved its capstone operating concept to better reflect the emerging reality. 14 X-MEN ORIGINS by Allan Joyner and Chris Thatcher It may still be testing its powers, but the transfer of the Canadian Combat Support Brigade to the field force has created a unit with skillsets, especially in the 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), not found anywhere else. 20 CHANGING (SOME) OF THE LEOPARD’S SPOTS by Allan Joyner Once considered an anachronism to Canadian operations, the tank has repeatedly proven its worth. Now the 2A4M Leopard is in the early phases of a life extension. 32 COMBAT ARMS LEADERSHIP by Chris Thatcher Few exercises test the combat skills of a young leader like Exercise Common Ground. Here’s a sample of what it’s like to spend 24 hours in the hot seat. 50 A NEW APPROACH TO BUYING TECH? by Chris Thatcher Land C4ISR is arguably the Army’s most high-tech program. Without changes to how technology is procured, it may face problems delivering six critical projects. DEPARTMENTS 67 SCIENCE & TECH by Peter Gizewski ARCTIC APPROACH: With the release of a new defence policy, the Army, defence scientists and academics have reviewed Arctic Concept 2021 to asses its validity and any outstanding equipment and support requirements. 70 ON THE HORIZON INFORMATION OPERATIONS: Call it hybrid, generational or unrestricted warfare, the information domain is being exploited in new ways. A new response is needed, BGen Jay Janzen explains. On the Cover: Captain Bourassa from the Royal Canadian Artillery School takes a brief respite during Ex. Turbulent Winds 2017. The school has taken steps since the summer of 2018 to better align its courses with its core exercises. Photo: Cpl Genevieve Lapointe CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2019 3 CANADIAN TODAY IN THIS ISSUE SPRING 2019 | VOL. 3 | ISSUE 1 FEATURES 24 SHEDDING THE WEIGHT by Richard Bray Operational clothing is the first layer of soldier survivability. But it can quickly pile on. To ensure the Army is buying the right gear, project leaders took an interesting approach. 36 MOBILE, LETHAL AND BETTER PROTECTED by Chris Thatcher As the last of 550 upgraded LAV 6.0 rumble into the field force, both the Army and the manufacturer are assessing future requirements. 40 ELITE SHOOTERS by Ken Pole Sniping is one of the Army’s most physically demanding trades. A system-wide project aims to modernize, replace or augment a range of weapons and sniper tools. 45 ELECTRONIC WARFARE by Ken Pole A project to modernize EW could result in unique Canadian-led capabilities to counter an adversary’s ability to manoeuvre within the electromagnetic spectrum. 48 AIR DEFENCE by Ian Coutts Singled out as a critical gap in the 2017 defence policy, ground-based air defence has become a priority. But the future system of systems will closely match that of allies. 53 PROTECTION DE LA FORCE AU MALI par Chris Thatcher Depuis le déploiement du Canada au Mali en 2018, les membres de 3R22eR protègent les médecins au sol et soutiennent les traitements une fois en vol. 56 PARATROOPERS by Ian Coutts The Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre’s bread and butter might be the basic round parachute course, but it’s preparing specialists for a lot more. 60 BETTER BANG FOR A BULLET by Chris Thatcher In an effort to better align its resources, the Artillery School is making two core exercises the culminating events for multiple courses. 64 ARCTIC MOBILITY by Ian Coutts As activity in the Arctic increases, and with platform fatigue a growing concern, the Army is looking for a replacement for its Bv206 articulated tracked vehicles. 4 CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2019 MAY 29-30, 2019 EY CENTRE, OTTAWA CANADA’S GLOBAL DEFENCE & SECURITY TRADE SHOW GOVERNMENT OF CANADA REPRESENTATIVES Produced by: CANADIAN ASSOCIATION #CANSEC2019 OF DEFENCE AND @CADSICanada SECURITY INDUSTRIES canseccanada.ca CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2019 5 CANADIAN TODAY EDITOR’S NOTE CONTRIBUTORS Last fall, as heavy rains, freezing rain and snow Publisher & Editor: Christopher Thatcher pelted much of Norway, members of 5 Canadian Contributing Editor: Ken Pole Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) waged an Contributing Editor: Ian Coutts intense battle across a more than 7,000 square Contributing Editor: Allan Joyner kilometre mountainous corridor against a heavily armed mechanized enemy. Contributing Writers: Richard Bray, Peter Gizewski The fight was part of Trident Juncture, NATO’s Photographers: Allan Joyner, Daniel Rogall largest exercise since the end of the Cold War. Contributing Photographers: Cpl Shilo Adamson, Cpl Nicolas Alonso, Over 50,000 troops from 31 countries took AB Zach Barr, MCpl Jonathan Barrette, MCpl Julie Bélisle, Cpl Ken Beliwicz, part in an air, land and maritime Article 5 response to an enemy invading a Matthew Boudreau, Cpl Jean-Roch Chabot, Cpl Jay Ekin, Cpl Stuart Evans, northern NATO member. Mylene Frenette, Sgt Marc-André Gaudreault, PO 2 Belinda Groves, While the primary objective was a demonstration of NATO’s collective Cpl Richard Hallé, MCpl Jennifer Kusche, Janice Lang, Cpl Genevieve Lapointe, defence and ability to move large numbers of troops, interoperability was Sgt JF Lauzé, Sgt Norm McLean, Steven McQuaid, Cpl Trevor Matheson, Avr a critical focus. Caitlin Paterson, Cpl Matthieu Racette, Cpl Vuong-De Ramos, AS Camden Scott, Colonel Stephane Boivin, the then-commander of 5 CMBG, led a manoeuvre AB Erica Seymour, Roger Simard, LS Lisa Wallace brigade comprised of his headquarters, the light infantry battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment, and various enablers, plus French, Bulgarian, US Marine Corps Content Coordination: Directorate of Army Public Affairs and Norwegian detachments for reconnaissance, explosive ordnance disposal Graphic Design: Stoneway Creative Inc. chemical and biological response, close air and fires support, and civil-military Web Development: Wavelength Media engagement. Social Media: Allan Joyner Productions Working alongside brigades from Norway and Sweden, they fought their way Advertising: Christopher Thatcher through offensive and defensive operations against an enemy force comprised of Italian, German and British brigades. CONTACT US Interoperability remains a challenge, Boivin acknowledged. Through a federated network and some ingenuity on the part of his signals squadron, We welcome article ideas and feedback. the headquarters was able to connect those operating at the brigade level Phone: 613-983-8141 into the Army’s Land Command Support System network. Email: [email protected] “We were one of the few that, from the get go, was able to establish comms Mail: 300 Greenbank Road, Unit 2, Ottawa, ON, K2H 0B6 with all the key stakeholders,” he said. “I could involve the Bulgarians, the Web: www.canadianarmytoday.com Norwegians, the Marines and the French without problems. Everyone was working together in the HQ on one system that spoke to all … [because of] the time my guys spent working the problem.” FOLLOW US At the tactical level, where countries have their own VHF radios and crypto, it was far more difficult. Boivin solved the problem in part by deploying liaisons with manoeuvre units to be able to communicate directly via radio. “That worked well,” he said, “[but] we had to find a way around the problem. The CdnArmyToday @CdnArmyToday young [soldiers] at the lowest levels came up with initiatives that pushed concepts of operations and communications; it was not always perfect, but SUBSCRIPTIONS it was an enabler to that fight.” A robust network in dispersed operations is central to the Army’s future [email protected] capstone operating concept. In this issue, you’ll find articles on some of the Canadian Army Today is published by Cremona Ink considerations by the Army’s land warfare centre for a Future Network and ISSN 2561-584X (Print) • ISSN 2561-5858 (Online) on the core projects that comprise Land C4ISR, a program that could solidify Canadian Army Today is an independent publication and does not represent the views of the Canadian Army, the Canadian Armed Forces or the Department of National the brigade and tactical networks that connect headquarters to vehicles and Defence. Editorial does not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. All material dismounted troops. published remains the copyright of Cremona Ink. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. Chris Thatcher, Editor Printed in Canada. Publication Mail Agreement Number: 43470516 6 CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2019 CANADIAN TODAY OOIN OR ORE Visit Canadian Army Today online The only magazine dedicated to covering the Canadian Army. Find news, features, videos, photos and more. canadianarmytoday.com Photo: Canadian Forces Combat Camera CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2019 7 Members of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment review obstacle removal sites and vehicle checkpoints during Matawa Sapper in October 2018, a training exercise for both the regiment and junior offi cers from the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering qualifying to become troop commanders. Photo: Dan Rogall 8 CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2019 Close Engagement AN EOUTION IN TE ARYS OPERATING CONCEPT By Chris Thatcher alling it the hitchhiker’s guide to the written in 2007.