National Defence committee  I'll start, with your permission, Jon. I would characterize it this way. It's a very sobering understanding not just to watch as a military planner where the investments are being made, what advancements in technology are being implemented, but it's also the will that threat actors have to actually act and do such things as what we've seen in the past related to cyber and misinformation, and now specifically with Ukraine.

National Defence committee  There are no known plans or discussions related to ballistic missile defence that I'm aware of.

National Defence committee  Mr. Chair, with the funding received from “Strong, Secure, Engaged”, as you're aware, we are in the process of modernizing the Victoria class. That will carry on for the next number of years. As part of routine, prudent planning by all of our services, they look to the future at what the technology will enable and what our requirements will be.

National Defence committee  I hesitate to speak for the commander of the navy, but I do know they're paying very close attention to the advancements of technology in the air independent propulsion that could allow, if that is the path chosen, to create different capacities for the next generation if pursued, but there's not training under way today to be able to facilitate what that next generation would be.

National Defence committee  The project is in the final stage, where it has been given authority to negotiate for the price. Part of that negotiation, as was alluded to earlier, is understanding the implications of COVID, etc., and therefore what the value for dollar would be. Equally true at the same time, the Royal Canadian Air Force is looking at how to sequence the training of pilots in the same way.

National Defence committee  Mr. Chair, I would answer by acknowledging that it's an operational question beyond both Mr. Quinn's and my expertise. I would say that those incursions have been constant over the last decade, but I believe the question is specifically in relation to events in Ukraine. What I would comment is that, from a defence planner perspective, it's a very sobering reality where the Russians are making investments in the north and, importantly, the will they have to act.

National Defence committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's an excellent question. It will certainly inform our approach in the future. It's the speed, the manoeuvrability and the flight profile that will change how we look at our systems or surveillance. It is absolutely factored into how we're looking at the domain awareness of the future.

National Defence committee  I can't speak specifically, Mr. Chair, to that fleet, but in general terms, we're seeing, as the wider program is impacted by the effects of COVID-19 and supply chains, it will take time. Part of the negotiation that's under way now, the final step of the acquisition of the new fighter, all of that will be laid out and we'll get a sense of what the implications are for that specific cost that the member alluded to.

National Defence committee  The answer is yes, of course we can provide the committee with the answer. It is not my area of expertise. What I do know is it's going to take time to complete the analysis, but we have obligations to both internally report what those expenditures would look like, and of course, our obligations for Treasury Board and Parliament.

National Defence committee  I don't know the answer to the first question. Perhaps I'll start and Mr. Quinn can help. Every procurement that is undertaken does take into the account the need and obligation to satisfy those obligations. To talk about the wider analysis that Mr. Quinn and I collaborated on in relation to continental defence, there, again, is another good example of where the approach to how any potential decision on investments would be made absolutely has to integrate the indigenous consultation.

National Defence committee  Chair, I'll answer the question in perhaps two different ways. First of all, the spectrum of platforms and capacities that we have is sufficient to satisfy the threat and vulnerabilities that Canada has today. What is the central element of our study related to continental defence and NORAD modernization is about the need for modernization and the need for people to be able to be ready for those threats and vulnerabilities of the future.

National Defence committee  As my colleague Mr. Quinn alluded to, there is a distinction between the responsibilities that defence has versus nationally, which the security establishment has. I'm aware you received testimony from those experts earlier in the week, if not last week. One of the things that is clear about how we will operate in the future is that there is going to be an expanded use of cyber and cyberspace, as well as information and misinformation.

National Defence committee  If we're talking about ballistic missile defence, I have a few points to raise about the 2005 policy decision, which had to do with a specific aspect of Canada's defence. Ballistic missiles do indeed constitute a potential threat to Canada. There are a number of threats to Canada.

National Defence committee  Chair, I must begin by just qualifying my response by confirming that the area of expertise I have is in force design, understanding the threats and vulnerabilities against Canada. Although this is a specific question to one of our platforms, we do look at, holistically, the capabilities that we need and seamless transition between fleets.

National Defence committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is absolutely essential that the F‑35s be able to function in the Arctic. One of the clear requirements of that aircraft is to meet and conduct all of the tasks and missions that Canada wishes, as well as those that we've signed on to as partners. It's absolutely true that this aircraft can function in the Arctic.