Canada will be acquiring Portable Anti-X Missile systems, Counter Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, and Air Defence Systems as Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs), according to Defence Minister Anita Anand speaking at the March 9 Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence hosted by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.
According to a defence department statement:
“The urgent procurement of these capabilities will improve the self-protection of military members deployed in Eastern Europe as part of Operation REASSURANCE.
- The Portable Anti-X Missile systems (PAXM) – Urgent Operational Requirement project will provide PAXM systems including missiles, simulators and associated support to empower the CAF personnel deployed with the Canada-led multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia with training and the capability to destroy main battle tanks. As part of this streamlined procurement process, it is expected a Request for Proposal will be issued in the coming months with a contract award in mid-2023.
- The Counter Uncrewed Aircraft System – Urgent Operational Requirement (CUAS UOR) project will provide a CUAS capability that will provide protection measures against hostile Class 1 UAS for CAF personnel deployed in the Operation REASSURANCE theatre of operations. A Request for Information was issued on March 2, 2023. The project will be executed with a phased implementation approach. A contract award for Dismounted Equipment and Fixed Site Systems is estimated for Fall 2023. A contract award for Vehicle Mounted, Fully Integrated Systems is estimated for early 2024.
- The Air Defence – Urgent Operational Requirement (AD UOR) project will acquire a soldier portable Very-Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD) for the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia in order to defeat attack aircraft and Class 1 UAS within its area of operations. A Request for Information is expected to be issued in March 2023 and a Request for Proposal is expected during Summer 2023. The timeframe for contract award is currently estimated for early 2024.
According to the request for information (https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/tender-opportunities/tender-notice/pw-bm-036-28974) the deadline for responses is March 24, 2023.
The following are excepts from the RFI:
“The CUAS UOR intends to deliver several components: a) Dismounted directional System including a Radio Frequency (RF) Jammer; b) Dismounted omni-directional system including a RF detector, RF Jammer and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Jammer; c) Fixed Site System including a Command and Control (C2) system, RF detector, ability to conduct protocol manipulation; and…
“The CUAS capability will be deployed primarily to Canadian Army (CA) elements. These elements, based on a battalion of mechanized infantry, will tactically deploy CUAS systems throughout their Area if Operation (AO) to mitigate Class 1 UAS. A CUAS will defend these elements first by detecting, identifying, and tracking the UAS through a mixture of sensors (e.g. Electronic Warfare (EW), radars, and optics). Once their target is identified, the CUAS capability will degrade or defeat the enemy UAS with a soft-kill (EW) capability…”
For more information
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/03/minister-anand-updates-national-defence-stakeholders-on-progress-to-modernize-the-canadian-armed-forces-for-tomorrows-security-challenges.html
(Image:Shutterstock)
