Why is it that Canada takes such a ridiculous amount of time to procure new weapons systems. Instead of waiting as long as possible to start procurement, plan for the replacement ships, aircraft, submarines, AOPV’s etc., such that the procurement
process occurs during the active life of the system being procured.
Instead, Canada waits until whatever system is obsolete and ineffectual, before even beginning the process, and then it takes innumerable studies before an award is given.
Canada’s frigates are almost fifty years old, and still in service. The contract for our River Class Destroyers was awarded in 2019, yet they just started construction.
Canada’s submarines, already old when bought from the Royal Navy, commissioned as early as 1986, they will be forty years old, decommissioned by the Royal Navy after 18 years, yet we have the still in service.
The Royal Canadian Airforce’s CF 18’s are 40 years old, the oldest being 43 years old. What the hell is wrong with Canada’s procurement system?
Even less complex systems like Leopard Tanks are now almost 50 years old.
This is asinine.
And you wonder why Canadians aren’t interested in a career in the Canadian Armed Forces. Who wants to take the risk of going to war in your grandfather’s military equipment?
Canada has committed to spending 82 Billion dollars a year on the military.
Get the hell on with it, while we still have a sovereign nation.
Canada needs to double the size of the CAF’s.
Canada requires a military of 200,000, not 100,000 including reserves.
It may require conscription, which would serve Canada’s youth well. Maybe then they would appreciate the country they live in and get out and find a way to be productive.
As for Canada’s proposed submarines. There are six contenders for consideration. Pick one of them and get on with it as well. New AIP Propulsion SSB’s will be of huge practical value to Canada, especially if they are cruise missile or ballistic missile capable submarines.
As someone who served as a Naval Officer and wanted to stay in, but has his choices curtailed to a lack of available platforms, it would seem nothing has changed.
Well, one massive thing has, and that is the threat environment. Canada’s enemies are not simply over the North Pole, — they are over the border.
It’s time Canada rebuild its military industrial complex and planned for a more unstable, less predictable threat environment.
While 2.5% of GDP sounds like a lot, losing your country will cost one hell of a lot more.
Again, Canada: Get on with it!