A Canadian soldier sustained a non life-threatening gunshot wound during a live-fire training exercise at the National Training Centre (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California on January 13th, 2010.
The soldier was evacuated by air to hospital facilities at Fort Irwin and subsequently transferred to a local medical facility for further treatment, accompanied by a Canadian Doctor.
The incident is under investigation by both Canadian and U.S. Military authorities.
Meggitt Training Systems Canada Inc. and A.F. Theriault & Sons Ltd. announced the successful construction of the 50th Hammerhead USV-T, an unmanned surface vehicle target, used to provide training solutions for military agencies in Canada and around the world, on December 19, 2009.
A.F. Theriault & Sons, one of the largest shipyards in Atlantic Canada, celebrated this milestone with a live water demo of the Hammerhead USV-T boat.
“It’s been great working with A.F. Theriault & Sons over the past five years,” said Spencer Fraser, general manager of Meggitt Training Systems Canada Inc. “Their boat building expertise has helped us accomplish our goals.”
The contract, awarded to the shipyard in 2005, requires the two companies to build a remote controlled target boat that can reach speeds of over 40 kilometers per hour to simulate a fast inshore attack craft for military training scenarios. The shipyard is responsible for building the Hammerhead USV-T boats in Digby, with MTSC later adding the necessary avionics in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. has conducted its first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF): four months after the contract was awarded. Flight operations are officially underway from the Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.
The service will support Australian forces by providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information directly to ground commanders in real time.
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. has signed a contract in excess of $7 million (CAD) with a confidential international client. MDA will use RADARSAT-2 data to deliver advanced derived information to support the customer’s requirements.
Esterline CMC Electronics has announced the following executive appointments which came into effect on January 4, 2010.
"We are implementing a new organizational structure to address the market environment, leverage our expertise in cockpit systems integration and avionics, and continue to effectively grow the company," stated CMC President, Greg Yeldon.
Patrick Champagne has been appointed Vice President, Cockpits and Systems Integration, a new business unit that has been created to build on the company's cockpit systems expertise and define the next generation of cockpit systems requirements, across military and commercial markets. Mr. Champagne previously held the position of Vice President, Engineering, at CMC.
James Palmer has been appointed Vice President, Aviation Products, a new business unit that has been established to leverage CMC's capabilities and develop new and next-generation aviation products for both commercial and military applications. Mr. Palmer will continue to be responsible for Commercial Services and Customer Support.
Jean-Michel Comtois has been appointed Vice President of Marketing and Sales, a single, integrated organization that is focused on effectively growing the company's commercial and military aviation business. Mr. Comtois previously held the position of Vice President, Military Aviation, at CMC.
EADS Defence & Security has been awarded the contract for deployment of its CORP25 digital radio communications network to service the RCMP “O” Division critical communications in the province of Ontario. The contract includes the rollout of a state of the art, open standard P25 IP-based digital public safety radio communication network and command and control centers that will expand across Ontario as the new Central Region Operation Communication System. The P25 digital communication network will also be used as the primary means to provide secure wireless communication during the upcoming G8 being held in Canada in June 2010.
The rollout is a multi-step approach with a number of phases. Phase 1 of the project will be implemented in time for exclusive use to secure the G8 Summit and be spread out across a 360km corridor in Ontario. The second and larger phase will extend the network to cover the entire province and replace the existing Central Region Operation Communication System.
General Kinetics Engineering Corporation (GKE) of Brampton, Ontario announced that on December 29, 2009, it completed a transaction to buy Active Shock, Inc. (ASI), from its founders.
The combination of GKE and ASI creates a supplier with a broad range of damping systems for vehicle and seating applications. The joint product portfolio positions GKE to respond to customers seeking ride control solutions that improve performance within the "iron triangle" of Payload, Protection and Performance, whether for new platforms or for upgrades to the legacy fleet.
"The acquisition of Active Shock makes a great deal of sense for us", said Chuck Williamson, President of General Kinetics. "The Active Shock system expands our product line to include a proven, high performance ride control solution. Many of our customers are searching for advanced damping and ride height control solutions to achieve mobility targets, deal with variable armor configurations, reduce life cycle costs and improve operator safety, and we can now provide the resolution to many of these problems." "In addition, ASI establishes a US base for Business Development, allowing us to improve our already high standard of customer service while remaining ITAR-compliant."
Lockheed Martin successfully flight tested its F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter engaged with its STOVL propulsion system. This is the first in a series of planned STOVL-mode flights, which will include the aircraft flying progressively slower, hovering, and ultimately landing vertically. Most STOVL-mode testing will be conducted at NAS Patuxent River.
“The joint F-35 industry and government team has already shown during extended ground tests that the STOVL propulsion system performs well, and thousands of hours of component testing has validated its durability. Now we are seeing early proof that the system operates in flight as our team predicted,” said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager.
The aircraft is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 engine driving a Rolls-Royce LiftFan®. The system, which includes a Rolls-Royce 3-bearing swivel duct that vectors engine thrust and under-wing roll ducts that provide lateral stability, produces more than 41,000 pounds of vertical thrust. The F135 is the most powerful engine ever flown in a fighter aircraft.
Inuit Canada, the makers of QuickTax – tax software, is offering its tax software free to those members of Canada’s Armed Forces (and their families) who were on Active Military Duty in 2009
Retired Brigadier General Greg Mitchell, who joined the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre last fall as Deputy Director, will be taking over the reins from Colonel (ret'd) Peter J. Kramers on 1 February 2010. The New Year will also see a transition of the PPC exercise programme from Halifax to Ottawa under Greg’s leadership.
Meggitt Training Systems Canada Inc. and A.F. Theriault & Sons Ltd. announced the successful construction of the 50th Hammerhead USV-T, an unmanned surface vehicle target, used to provide training solutions for military agencies in Canada and around the world, on December 19, 2009.
Retired Brigadier General Greg Mitchell, who joined the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre last fall as Deputy Director, will be taking over the reins from Colonel (ret'd) Peter J. Kramers on 1 February 2010. The New Year will also see a transition of the PPC exercise programme from Halifax to Ottawa under Greg’s leadership. 
