A new Canadian Army equipment program that could be worth almost $500 million is designed to select only U.S.-provided equipment, despite claims by Prime Minister Mark Carney the military will be reducing purchases of American systems. Read MoreThere has been growing frustration among some Canadian defence firms that the military is ignoring Carney’s call to decrease reliance on U.S. suppliers.
There has been growing frustration among some Canadian defence firms that the military is ignoring Carney’s call to decrease reliance on U.S. suppliers.
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A new Canadian Army equipment program that could be worth almost $500 million is designed to select only U.S.-provided equipment, despite claims by Prime Minister Mark Carney the military will be reducing purchases of American systems.
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The Joint Fires Modernization program will cost between $250 million and $499 million and see the acquisition of hardware and software to enable the Canadian Army to digitally share data and targeting information between its various units and coalition forces.
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But the technology for the Joint Fires Modernization will be acquired through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process with the U.S. government, according to the draft request for proposals provided to the defence industry.
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Not only does that exclude Canadian and European companies from bidding but the FMS process — which is a direct equipment purchase from American companies via the U.S. government — does not require any industrial benefits for Canada.
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Multiple defence industry officials contacted the Ottawa Citizen to raise concerns about the Joint Fires Modernization program, complaining that army commander Lt. Gen. Michael Wright and Defence Minister David McGuinty are ignoring domestic firms and European companies for upcoming major equipment programs.
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Those contacting the Ottawa Citizen did not want to speak on record about their concerns for fear of jeopardizing future efforts to obtain government contracts.
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But a review of the draft request for proposals clearly outlined the requirement for U.S. technology. “All components of the Digital Joint Fire Support C2 software will be used in conjunction with the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System and subsequently the AFATDS Artillery Execution Suite, available to Canada via Foreign Military Sale,” noted one of the requirements.
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Other key components of the project require modules and software that only American firms have access to through the U.S. government.
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Radios to be used are those operated by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army and which are only available to American suppliers via the U.S. government. Standard Canadian military radios are not included in the requirements.
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Neither Wright nor the Canadian Army responded to a request for comment. McGuinty did not respond to a request for comment.