Cougar/Buffalo A2 vehicles

IN THE NEWS

Canadian Forces to Receive Additional Force Protection Vehicles Publisher: Force Protection, Inc.
Date: 11/17/2008

Ladson, SC (November 17, 2008) -- Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT) today announced that it has received a modification under contract M67854-07-C-5039 for the delivery of 14 of its Buffalo A2 route-clearance vehicles and 34 of its Cougar vehicles to the Canadian Government. The undefinitized contract modification carries a dollar value not to exceed $49.4 million and includes vehicles, spare parts and field support. The vehicles are scheduled for delivery in 2009.

This represents the second order for Force Protection vehicles by the Canadian Government. In 2007, Force Protection delivered five Buffalo and five Cougar vehicles for the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command.

Michael Moody, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Force Protection, stated, “Our NATO allies continue to face threats from roadside bombs, landmines and many other types of improvised explosive devices. We are delighted that the Canadian military will be receiving this life saving equipment for use in supporting their operations in the global war on terror. This order further solidifies our belief that the Cougar and Buffalo are proving to be the most survivable, sustainable vehicles on the battlefield. We are very pleased that the Canadian government has chosen to procure additional vehicles from Force Protection.”

About Force Protection, Inc.
Force Protection, Inc. is a leading American designer, developer and manufacturer of life saving survivability solutions, predominantly ballistic- and blast-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones. The Company’s specialty vehicles, the Cougar, the Buffalo and the Cheetah, are designed specifically for reconnaissance, forward command and control, and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). The Company also is the developer and manufacturer of ForceArmor™ an armor package providing superior protection against explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) now available for a wide range of tactical-wheeled vehicles. The Company is one of the original developers and primary providers of vehicles for the U.S. military’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, or MRAP, vehicle program. For more information on Force Protection and its vehicles, visit www.forceprotection.net.

Safe Harbor Language
This press release contains forward looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on beliefs and assumptions by Force Protection’s management, and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. A number of important factors could cause actual result to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Examples of these factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to fulfill the above described order on a timely basis, our ability to effectively manage the risks in our business; the reaction of the marketplace to the foregoing; and other risk factors and cautionary statements listed in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Armed CH-146 Griffon

Canada ponders deploying armed helicopters to Afghan

David Pugliese , Canwest News Service

Published: Monday, February 11, 2008

The Canadian military is looking at sending as many as six Griffon helicopters to Afghanistan to provide additional firepower and surveillance for troops there.

The idea of basing a "Griffon six-pack" in Kandahar is being proposed as one option for the Harper government which has yet to approve the chopper deployment.

In addition, Public Works and Government Services Canada announced it intends on awarding a sole-source contract to a U.S. firm for the purchase of three, electrical-driven Gatling guns that can fire up to 3,000 rounds a minute to be installed on helicopters.

Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said he has been told the Griffons will be used in an attack role and will be equipped with weapons and sensors needed to strike at enemy formations. The deployment of the choppers would be done as soon as possible, he said.

Other military officials, however, said a decision on the choppers has yet to be made but that planning on the option is advanced.

Kenny has been pushing for the deployment of the Griffons to Afghanistan as a way to further protect Canadian troops and to cut down on casualties.

Canada does not have its own helicopters in Afghanistan.

Defence Department officials have not responded to several requests over the last 10 days for information on the option to send Griffons to Kandahar.

Under a new process, most statements issued by the department to the news media must be approved by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office or the Privy Council Office and any media questions about the Afghanistan mission are considered highly sensitive.

But Defence Department spokeswoman Lt. Isabelle Riche said the Gatling guns purchase is "not connected to deploying Griffons to Afghanistan."

It "is an Air Force purchase to support the pre-deployment close combat attack training requirement of ground troops," she added in an e-mail. According to the Public Works notice there is the potential for more of the weapons to be purchased.

The procurement will be used to establish tactics and procedures required so helicopters can support ground troops. The capability is in response to lessons learned by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, the notice added.

The Gatling guns are to be purchased from Dillon Aero Inc., of Arizona and will be sent for testing at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, N.B.

The Harper government announced in the summer of 2006 its intention to buy U.S.-built Chinook helicopters but discussions are still ongoing on that deal.

It is not expected those large transport choppers will be delivered until after 2011.

In the meantime, Defence Department officials are trying to convince the U.S. to provide older model Chinook helicopters for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

Poland also has indicated it will provide two helicopters and while defence officials are appreciative of the offer, they note it won't meet all of Canada's chopper transport needs.

Military leaders such as defence chief Gen. Rick Hillier have talked about the need for Chinook transport helicopters to reduce casualties in Afghanistan. Canadian convoys have become frequent targets for both suicide bombers and Taliban ambushes.

Last year in response to Kenny's suggestion to send the Griffons to Afghanistan, Defence Minister Peter MacKay issued a statement that such an option would not be considered. Army officials, however, have been pushing for the choppers to be sent. While the Griffons won't be used to carry soldiers, they can use the Gatling guns to attack insurgents on the ground.

Details aren't being released on how much taxpayers are spending on the Gatling guns.

But it's not the first time the air force has considered arming the Griffon. In 2002, a military report concluded outfitting the helicopter with sensors and weapons could be done and would be an effective way to enhance firepower.

Weapons that could be fielded on the Griffon include missiles or a high-speed gun near the front of the chopper. The gun concept was considered as most suitable for upgrading the Griffon as an armed reconnaissance aircraft.

© Ottawa Citizen 2008

Labrador terrain used to test infantry transports

Last Updated: Friday, January 12, 2007 | 3:40 PM NT

CBC News

The Canadian Forces is using the icy terrain of Labrador to simulate conditions in Afghanistan in the testing of a new light armoured vehicle it uses in combat.

The LAV-3, an eight-wheeler used to transport infantry, has had problems with brakes freezing up in extreme cold.

Braking systems aboard two LAV-3s are being tested in the Labrador climate for the next month.
(CBC)

The army has brought two LAVs — each with a different type of brake system — for testing at Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay, in central Labrador.

Steve McNutt, a member of the LAV-3's project office, said Labrador is one of the few places that offers conditions that are appropriate for the tests.

"We've been trying to test both in New Brunswick and Quebec over the last two winters, and we kept running into warmer temperatures than we need, to ensure we have a successful solution," McNutt said.

The testing brings welcome activity at CFB Goose Bay, where the base has been quiet since NATO partners phased out regular training over the last few years.

"We are open for business and everything we can get in terms of activities," said Capt. Josee Bilodeau, who speaks for 5 Wing Goose Bay.

The testing will last for at least a month.

DND to look at single bid for search plane

DND to look at single bid for search planes: report

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 3, 2007 | 8:08 AM ET

CBC News

Canada's Department of National Defence is poised to buy new search and rescue aircraft, but will look at only one bid for a $3-billion contract because of the military's strict requirements, says a newspaper report.

The Canadian Forces is considering the Italian-built Spartan C27J as the only "viable bidder" when it moves to replace Buffalo and Hercules planes currently deployed in rescue missions in Canada, according to a DND document obtained by the Globe and Mail.

The Italian-built Spartan C27J is being considered to replace Buffalo and Hercules planes in rescue missions in Canada, a report says.
(Courtesy Finmeccanica)

The contract includes aircraft maintenance for 20 years.

Lobbying, however, is underway by the makers of a competing aircraft, the Spanish C295, as company officials attempt to persuade DND officials to alter requirements to allow them to take part in the bid.

Martin Sefzig, spokesperson for EADS-CASA, which makes the C295, told the newspaper that the plane is used in eight countries, while the Italian-built plane has not proven itself a search-and-rescue aircraft.

He said the company has not been allowed to show the Spanish plane to DND officials. Both planes, the Italian-built and the Spanish, cost about $30 million to $40 million each, the report says.

Retired Lt.-Gen. George Macdonald, who prefers the Spartan, told the Globe and Mail that it is the only plane that meets DND requirements, and is the largest and fastest of its kind.

"To compromise on the requirements in any way would be a difficult thing to address," Macdonald is quoted as saying. "If you get something that ultimately cannot perform the job as identified by the Canadian Forces, who have the best experience in doing this, (it) would be a fundamental error in the process."

Opposition parties have criticized Ottawa for awarding defence contracts without considering other bids.

Liberal MP and defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh told the newspaper that the procurement process lacks "civilian oversight" because purchases are driven mostly by military requirements, and the Harper government may not be getting the best value for its money without considering other bids.

With files from the Canadian Press

DND seeks more than $2B for vehicles

DND seeks more than $2B for vehicles for Afghanistan

Insiders question strategy given tough economic times

David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen

Published: Monday, November 17, 2008

The Department of National Defence plans to ask the government to approve a multibillion-dollar package to purchase new armoured vehicles and rebuild others that have been worn down by continued use in Afghanistan.

Defence Department equipment and policy bureaucrats, along with army officers, are working on the proposal they hope will be presented sometime next month.

They will ask Defence Minister Peter MacKay to approve three vehicle projects at once and the value of the combined equipment package is estimated to be more than $2 billion.

But privately, some defence industry and military representatives are questioning the strategy of asking the government for blanket approval of such a large amount of money at a time of increasing concern over the economy.

They worry that the price of the vehicle programs will make it easy for some members of cabinet to raise objections and withhold approval for all three.

The Defence Department plan proposes the purchase of what is being called a "close combat vehicle," which would accompany the army's Leopard 2 tanks into action. The proposal also calls for the purchase of a new armoured tactical patrol vehicle and an upgrade of the existing LAV-3 armoured vehicle fleet, which has been worn down in Afghanistan.

Mr. MacKay's press secretary, Jay Paxton, said the minister is open to looking at all equipment proposals from the department.

"The government has been clear in that they will provide our troops with the equipment and protection needed to do the jobs asked of them," Mr. Paxton said. "Having said that, no proposal has come forward to Minister MacKay's office on this particular vehicle acquisition."

Defence officials hope by tying the three projects together they can better explain the need for the vehicles and how they fit into the overall military structure.

The push for new vehicles for the army comes at a time when the air force and navy are also proposing large-scale equipment purchases.

The navy wants a new joint support ship, Arctic patrol vessels and eventually a replacement for its destroyers and frigates. At the same time, about $3 billion will be spent modernizing the existing Halifax-class frigates.

The air force want to acquire 16 Chinook helicopters, new maritime patrol aircraft, search-and-rescue planes and an eventual replacement for the F-18 fighter aircraft.

Alan Williams, the Defence Department's former assistant deputy minister for materiel, said combining programs for blanket approval from cabinet is a risky proposition. He said the Harper government needs to be informed about where the vehicle programs fit into the overall defence policy, what the procurement strategy will be and why these three programs, above others, should proceed.

"You're talking about a couple of hours' worth of discussion for each project," said Mr. Williams, author of the book Reinventing Canadian Defence Procurement. "If you bundle three together, it could be a non-starter.

"It's a lot for ministers to get their head around at one time," he added.

Some cabinet ministers might also object to giving the department blanket approval and may want more control over the process, he said.

The purchase of new vehicles for the army is outlined, but without specifics, in the Conservative government's Canada First defence strategy, released earlier this year.

An army report leaked to the Citizen in the spring outlined the degree to which the Afghanistan war has taken a toll on the LAV-3s, as well as the army's other vehicle fleets.

"All of our equipment is either deployed, being reset, used in training or broken and waiting either labour or spare parts," wrote army commander Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie in the January report.

There is concern among some in the Canadian Forces about whether there will be enough money in future budgets to finance all of the equipment purchases, but Mr. MacKay has continued to point out that the Canada First strategy lays out enough funding for any new acquisitions.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2008

Surveillance balloons

Military to spend $100 million to detect roadside bombs

Surveillance balloons, towers to be installed near Kandahar bases

David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen

Published: Monday, October 20, 2008

The Canadian military will spend $100 million on surveillance balloons and towers equipped with high-tech sensors, as well as other related equipment, as it tries to deal with the ongoing threat of roadside bombs in Afghanistan.

Up to five balloons and as many as 20 towers could be purchased for installation around Canadian bases in Kandahar province. They would be equipped with various sensors and long-range cameras, capable of providing surveillance of the surrounding countryside potentially as far out as 20 kilometres.

The U.S. military uses similar equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Defence Department project, which has already received approval from Treasury Board, also includes the purchase of new flail-equipped vehicles. The specialized vehicles churn up the ground, destroying landmines and improvised explosive devices, known as IEDs, in the process.

In addition, the project would see the purchase of equipment to outfit a forensic laboratory that could be used to uncover clues that might lead to the identity of insurgent bombmakers.

IEDs are the weapon of choice of insurgents in Afghanistan.

Roadside bombs and landmines have contributed to a large number of the Canadian deaths and injuries in the war.

Defence Department officials did not respond to several requests for information about the new project.

It is expected that a contract for the equipment would be signed by next summer, with deliveries to follow quickly after that. The flails would be the first to be purchased, but it is expected that the surveillance towers and balloons could be installed in Kandahar by late next year.

The balloons, or aerostats, as they are called, would likely be used around the main Canadian installation at Kandahar Air Field, while the towers could be installed at forward operating bases.

There are a number of firms that can provide such equipment. At least one, Raytheon Canada of Ottawa, has indicated it is interested in providing towers and balloons once the Defence Department releases further details to industry.

The company's RAID (Rapid Aerostat Initial Detection) system, which includes surveillance balloons and towers, is already in wide use in Iraq. Company officials said the U.S. military in Afghanistan is also using the tower version of RAID.

If selected for the project, Raytheon would be the prime contractor, integrating surveillance systems from other firms onto the towers and balloons.

"We're talking about having the capability of 24/7 coverage where you can monitor an area or a road over that period," said Raytheon official Mike Pulchny. "It will also give you an indication of what has changed within that 24-hour period. Are there new mounds of dirt or areas that have been disturbed? Or you could see the people actually planting (IEDs)."

Depending on the type of surveillance equipment installed, the systems could have a range of five to 20 kilometres.

Luc Petit, business development manager for Raytheon Canada, said RAID's ability to provide early warning about IEDs has made a big difference to the U.S. army, particularly in Iraq. He said such equipment is a logical next step for Canada in its attempts to reduce casualties from roadside bombs.

"They've put as much armour on people and on vehicles as practical," said Mr. Petit. "The next step is to conduct police-type work, where you do protection and early detection."

Last year, the Canadian Forces launched a new strategy aimed at dealing with IEDs. It is focusing its efforts on defeating the IED networks, going after not only those who build the bombs, but those who finance them. Military officers are working closely with RCMP forensic specialists to try to identify telltale signs that might indicate the source of the weapons.

In an earlier interview, Col. Omer Lavoie, head of a special IED task force, said the effort also involves working closely with Afghan civilians. "This really speaks to targeting networks and winning the support of the people so that they're reporting the builders and the transporters before they do put (IEDs) in place," said Col. Lavoie. "It's also trying to change the mindset," he said. "This is not an undefeatable bogeyman out there."

Members of the Ottawa-based Joint Task Force 2 and the Petawawa-based Canadian Special Operations Regiment have also been tracking down bombmakers. A team from the government's Communications Security Establishment, also from Ottawa, has been using its skills to intercept insurgent radio and cellphone transmissions in an effort to locate those who are involved in the IED networks. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has also been contributing with its agents in Afghanistan.

For all things military, read David Pugliese's blog, Defence Watch, at ottawacitizen.com

Joint Support Ship

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Quote:

Missions Joint Support Ship

• EEZ management
• Out of area operations
• Joint/international exercises
• Law enforcement and Naval presence at sea
• International peace enforcement/peace keeping tasks
• Evacuation and Humanitarian aid operations
• Support of a task group

Tasks Joint Support Ship

• Replenishment at sea
• Containment of international crime and terrorism
• First line hospital treatment
• Logistic support for the troops ashore (water, food, supplies)
• Helicopter platform
• Support of mine countermeasure operations
• Sea basing operations
• Transport of troops, rolling equipment and other equipment.
• Transport of humanitarian goods and equipment
• Limited joint forces command and control

The concept


The Joint Support Ship (JSS) concept refl ects the combination of a fl eet tanker and an amphibious transport ship with all the advantages of each combined into one ship. The ship can refuel a task group or provide escorts with necessary spare parts, logistic supplies and fresh water.
In addition, the ship has the ability to support land operations by transporting troops, supplies of goods and rolling material. For joint operations, a very functional sealift capacity is available which includes the transportation and assistance of troops and transport of their material. A staff command and control functionality is incorporated on the top deck. The helicopter deck is designed for dual spot fl ight operations with two heavy land transport helicopters simultaneously.
Maintenance can be executed in the hangar which has a stowage capacity for 4 medium-
sized helicopters. The JSS is completely self-supporting in harbour or at anchor and can
disembark all cargo with its own means to shore, to landing craft or by VERTREP operations.


Specific Solutions


Because the JSS is a combination of a fl eet tanker and an amphibious transport ship, it is possible to incorporate all specific solutions of the separate types in this ship. Furthermore there are a few specific solutions for this type of ship: one vehicle deck, or one cargo deck or a combination of both. Troop accommodation in different capacities in
combination with cargo and vehicle deck.

Amphibious Transport Ships

The Canadian Amphibious Assault Ship Project is a project designed to give Canada a sealift, mobile command and control platform, amphibious assault capability. The program as envisioned would be a $1,000,000,000 program to purchase an amphibious assault ship that could deploy 1,000 troops. The envisaged ship is projected to be able to provide a helicopter platform. The force, which will include 800 soldiers, sailors and air force personnel, will be mainly focused on maritime operations, but will also focus on areas such as counter-terrorism.
Canada has studied the possibility of having a special force for a year, and sources told Gordon the military is now ready to move ahead with plans. No details were available about when the force will be operational. The program is to complement the Joint Support Ship Project.