Government Operations committee  I was going to comment on time frame. In the year 2000, I did a study that showed that it was taking nearly 16 years to do a procurement. Myself and the vice-chief at the time, George Macdonald, agreed that this was unacceptable. We sent a directive to the men and women in DND who worked on procurements to say that from now on the military has two years from the beginning of the time when it needs something to the time it finalizes the statement of requirements.

Government Operations committee  Okay. That might be better now, Chair. I think I can hear better, so I apologize. Perhaps the question could be replayed, if it was directed to me.

Government Operations committee  I can hear the English, but I'm still hearing the French at the same time.

Government Operations committee  In fact, I was going to comment that I have two big concerns about the announcement. The first is that simply making statements that it's $19 billion is inadequate. It's important for the committee to know: Is this the acquisition cost? Is this the long-term support cost, the long-term maintenance cost?

Government Operations committee  I don't know if the question is directed to me. I'm having a very difficult time as I'm getting the English translation over the French simultaneously. It's very difficult to disassociate the two to understand the question. I don't know how to turn off the French and hear only the English.

Government Operations committee  First of all, I have to tell you, the odds of it not working out are infinitely small. You don't go to this stage, so I wouldn't put a high likelihood of that happening. There is too much money at stake, and the terms and conditions are so specified that I'd be shocked if it wasn't given to Lockheed Martin.

Government Operations committee  Okay.

Government Operations committee  Okay. If the question is going to be in French, I'll try to hear it in French.

Government Operations committee  Yes. Thank you.

Government Operations committee  Thanks, Mr. Chair. It's a pleasure to be here to talk to you about these matters. I'd like to begin by making a comment about the tragedy currently unfolding in Ukraine. We have a moral obligation to step forward and do our part in addressing the violence taking place now. In all likelihood, going forward we'll find ourselves in a similar position elsewhere in the world.