Government Operations Committee on Sept. 29th, 2022

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Ms. Vignola.

We'll go to Mr. Johns for two minutes.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

The presentation slide regarding the ground-based air defence references opportunities to streamline the procurement process. Can you elaborate on what opportunities you see in this regard, Mr. Carroll and Mr. Palmer?

[Simon Carroll]

What opportunities do we see to streamline?

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Yes. I'm asking about the procurement process.

[Simon Carroll]

Based on the fact that this has been issued as an urgent operational requirement, we have looked at all possibilities to provide the capability as soon as possible. Some of that has been looking into what is in stock and what is available, and how we can work with other potential partners to provide capability to Canada within the soonest possible time frame.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Do you want to speak to it? I know you're all a little timid, because you want contracts with the government, but we're trying to get down to the nitty-gritty of how we can improve the procurement process and what's going on.

I'd like to hear a bit more about the ways in which there are some shortfalls, compared to what's going on in other countries around the world.

[Francesco Norante]

On this specific opportunity, I can say that Leonardo is already providing some of these technologies. For example, in the last few years in the U.K., we deployed some of the countersurveillance at Heathrow Airport.

This type of technology is available. Streamlining can be done using a combination of existing technology and customization for Canada.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Is there anything that you want to add around the process itself that you would like to see improved, or that you can highlight as a top....?

[Simon Carroll]

As we raised earlier, the process is well-defined but it is extremely exhaustive. Some of the information that is requested in programs like fighter programs, in which there is a lot of technology involved, is traditionally available as part of further negotiations, rather than at bidding time. I think it requires quite a lot of government-to-government involvement and approvals to release some of that information. The detail that was requested was different from other programs and other procurements that we've looked at internationally.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Mr. Carroll.

Now we'll go to Mr. Lobb for four minutes.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Thanks very much.

I have one point, and it may be a naive question, but you brought it up. Airlines around the world don't go with one airplane. They have a number of different manufacturers with the fleet that they have. I think back to the issues that Boeing had, going back two or three years, with the 737 Max issue that got screwed up.

Are there other air forces out there that have a number of different models, or do you pick one and go for the whole thing?

[Simon Carroll]

There are a number of air forces that have multiple fighter jets in service.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Are there any the size of Canada that would have that?

[Simon Carroll]

I think we need to be careful when we talk about whether it's the size of Canada or the size of the air force—

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Let's say the size of the air force.

[Simon Carroll]

I couldn't tell you off the top of my head. I know that there are some other countries within Asia, for example, that might have some older legacy aircraft that are still flying as fighter jets, but I'm not 100% sure.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Okay.

As far as what else Saab has to offer for air defence goes, what other products do you see that would help Canada get up to date and current with our air defence?

[Simon Carroll]

I would focus on the mobile short-range air defence system that we proposed and we gave some information on. That system provides a unique level of flexibility in that it is not one type of system. You can have multiple firing units and multiple radars that can be moved to the location required for that air defence. It's not something that is necessarily set in a specific location and then has to stay there. The system was designed with the idea that the radar could be relocated on short notice and the firing units, likewise, go with that radar. If all of a sudden you need to remove the firing unit from the platform and leave it as a more permanent fixture, then that can be done very quickly by a small team of people.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Where do they make that one?

[Simon Carroll]

That's made in Karlskoga, Sweden.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Thanks.

[Simon Carroll]

I'm sorry. I should mention that, obviously, should we be selected, we would look at multiple opportunities to engage the Canadian industry to assist with that.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Just to close, I'll go to Mr. Norante on the Cormorant helicopter.

One of the most famous Canadian helicopter pilots grew up down the road from me with the Cormorant—Jeff Powell. He's won a Governor General's award. He flies a Cormorant for the Coast Guard and was the first Canadian to fly with the U.S. Coast Guard around Washington. He grew up just down the road from me and went to high school. He's one of your top guns, I'd say.

[Francesco Norante]

I'm very pleased to hear that.

I don't know if it's possible, but I would like to add a comment.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Sure.