Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm excited to ask a question of Professor Sloan, as a Carleton University grad myself.
You co-authored, Professor, a paper on agile procurement: “Toward Agile Procurement for National Defence: Matching the Pace of Technological Change”. Recently I came across a terrific quote from a former air force chief of staff, General David Goldfein. When he was talking about fighter jet procurement in the United States, he said, “I grew up flying fighters, and I will tell you, when I see the F-35, I don't see a fighter. I see a computer that happens to fly.”
The challenge of technological change applies to warships as it does to fighter jets, so Professor, I want to ask if you can comment on the role of agile procurement in the national shipbuilding strategy. What role does it play?
As to my second question, I know you're currently undertaking a study that is funded by SSHRC. It's a research project on naval shipbuilding that compares the U.K., Australia and Canada. What are the differences in how different shipbuilding programs around the world keep pace with the fast pace of technological change? Are there lessons that can be learned from some other countries? Where is Canada at in terms of being able to keep pace with technological change?