FLCV: Canada Looks to Upgrade Its Armor

CCV (IFV) competition updates; $1+ billion LAV upgrade program. (Oct 21/11)

In late November 2008, Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) announced its intention to combine 3 programs into one general set of upgrades to its armored vehicle fleets. The C$ 5 billion (about $4.3 billion) meta-program would include (1) a “close combat vehicle,” in order to perform as a tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle or Armored Personnel Carrier alongside Canada’s new Leopard 2A6 tanks; (2) a new “Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle”; and (3) upgrades the existing LAV-III wheeled APC fleet. In July 2009, A 4th “FME” project was added to field dedicated Armored Engineering Vehicles based on the Leopard 2, along with engineering-related attachments for Canada’s new Leopard 2 tanks.

The “Close Combat Vehicle” appears to be the most urgent purchase, but the stated procurement approach isn’t structured to deliver urgency. As things stand, all contracts are scheduled to take effect after Canada is slated to end its Afghan mission. The LAV-IIIs showed limitations in key terrain within Afghanistan, and keeping them in the field requires a lot of maintenance. Canada’s M113 tracked APCs have been used successfully as a supplement, but the Canadians appear to be leaning toward a heavier vehicle for their future CCV…

• The Close Combat Vehicle [updated]
• The Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle (TAPV)
• LAV-IIIs, and the RESET/RECAP Imperative [updated]
• Force Mobility Enhancement: Heavy Engineering
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources

The Close Combat Vehicle

The CCV is not replacing a vehicle in the current Canadian Forces fleet. Instead, it is meant to bridge the gap between 5t-20t light armoured vehicles and main battle tanks. A 2008 Ottawa Citizen report drove the mobility point home:

“Defence sources say the current LAV-3 does not have the mobility needed for the job in off-road conditions. The likely preferred option is to go for a tracked vehicle.”

Initial plans call for 108 CCVs, with an option for up to 30 more, ad aimed at a “competitive military off-the-shelf approach.” for existing vehicles. The project’s definition phase included a solicitation of interest and qualifications (SOIQ) and a request for proposals (RFP). A contract was expected by summer 2011, with initial operational capability (IOC) declared a year later in July 2012. Full operational capability was expected by July 2015.

All that was derailed by the failure of the initial solicitation. Submissions reportedly included BAE’s CV90-35 and General Dynamics’ tracked ASCOD; as well as wheeled vehicles that included GD MOWAG’s Piranha 5, Nexter’s VBCI, and the German-Dutch Boxer MRAV. Canada was reportedly interested in Germany’s Puma IFV, but KMW and Rheinmetall decided not to bid. The final contenders are the exact same vehicles that competed for Britain’s FRES-Scout and FRES-Utility contracts, but all were reportedly eliminated from the Canadian competition for not meeting the armor requirements – an odd outcome when a defense department is supposedly aiming its RFP at military-off-the-shelf vehicles.

One alternative might involve upgrading existing M113s with cage and/or explosive reactive armor, a higher caliber turret or remote weapon system, and engines and transmissions upgraded to M113A3 or better status. Australia has taken this approach, albeit without the full explosive reactive armor protection required to defeat early model Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) anti-tank rockets. Canada ’s own M113 Life Extension Project has been underway since 2000, but its aim has mostly been to improve maintenance with new engines and transmissions, while converting most of Canada’s M113s to specialty support variants. This makes them less than ideal candidates, and at 12.3 tonnes, the base vehicle is underweight for Canada’s stated requirements.

Canada’s DND says that is still looking at options between 25t – 45t, which could encompass almost every IFV on the market. Subsequent reports appear to indicate just 3 contenders left: BAE’s tracked CV90, and the wheeled Piranha V from General Dynamics and VBCI from Nexter.

Tracked Options

For the revised RFP, BAE Hagglunds’ CV90 series remains a strong contender. This popular armored vehicle comes in a number of variants, including IFV troop carriers with turret options ranging from 30mm-40mm, up-gunned 105mm and even 120mm assault guns and tank killers (105 or 120T), reconnaissance and forward observation (FOV), C2 forward command (FCV or COM), armored recovery (ARV), and a 40mm anti-aircraft model (AAV). Canada had expressed interest during the vehicle’s initial development, but backed out; a purchase now would make them its 7th customer, alongside Sweden, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.

BAE appears to have chosen to offer this IFV for the competition, instead of the American Bradley. If Canada does purchase CV90s, there have been rumors that it might adopt that same approach used to buy Leopard 2 tanks: immediate lease from an existing owner to get the vehicles into the field quickly, followed by a longer-term purchase or lease-to-buy arrangement. Sweden would be the most likely lease owner candidate, and CV90s have already seen combat in Afghanistan with Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish forces.

In November 2007, CV90s saw heavy combat during Operation Harekate Yolo in Afghanistan, where they were used alongside outnumbered Norwegian 2nd battalion and Kystjegerkommandoen troops to beat down a Taliban attack on in the Ghowrmach district, near Mazar-e-Sharif. In May 2008, 2nd battalion used them during Operation Karez in Badghis Province. An attempted Taliban ambush used heavy machine gun fire and RPG volleys, which could have been devastating against unarmored or lightly armored vehicles. Instead, 2nd battalion used its CV90s to kill the ambushers. Norwegian casualties? None.

In 2010, Norwegian CV90s arrived in Afghanistan with a new wrinkle, derived from BAEs work on its Canadian CCV bid: tracks from Soucy in Quebec that have rubber pads. They performed very well, matching steel tracks in general performance while cutting weight by around 1,000 kg, noise by 50% and equipment-destroying vibrations by 65%.

Not Offered

The other touted contender in press reports was the German Puma IFV, which is under contract but not yet operational. Canada would become the vehicle’s 2nd customer behind Germany, and this option offers no possibility of immediate bridging leases, or lease-to-buy arrangements from an existing customer. In any event, KMW and Rheinmetall appear to have decided not to bid it.

BAE’s M2A3 Bradley IFV is another vehicle in that category, which would be available as rapid-delivery vehicles from the US Army and its Bradley remanufacturing lines. It has also been absent from press mentions to date, as BAE prefers to offer the CV90 as its tracked contender.

Despite their successful use by British forces in Afghanistan, and the presence of Bv206 vehicles that performed well with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group during Afghanistan’s Operation Anaconda, the much lighter BvS10 all terrain armored vehicle falls below DND’s weight threshold, and has not been mentioned in reports to date. Canada appears to prefer a heavier vehicle with a demonstrated capacity to defeat RPG rounds, over the BvS family’s improved air and ground mobility.

Wheeled Options

The surprise of Canada’s CCV competition has been bids offering wheeled vehicles, despite the inability of Canada’s existing LAV-III 8×8 APCs to handle Afghan terrain. The government had specified desired mobility levels for CCV, but did not specify tracks or wheels.

“Piranha” is the European designation for GD MOWAG’s vehicles, so a Piranha III and a LAV-III are extremely similar. General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada reportedly offered their Piranha V, a follow-on development of that 8×8 wheeled platform. It would come equipped with Rheinmetall’s Lance turret.

France has picked Nexter’s VBCI 8×8 wheeled vehicle to replace its tracked IFV fleet, but they remain its sole customer. The vehicle is in production, and deliveries have begun.

Germany and The Netherlands’ Boxer MRAV reportedly offers a more modular approach than its competitors, thanks to its ability to switch out different carrier modules for different missions. On the other hand, it has encountered acceptance delays in the Netherlands, and had its acceptance criteria changed by Germany so it could induct the vehicles and send them to Afghanistan. The Boxer was solicited as an option, but was not offered to Canada.

The Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle

The second program, for an armored Tactical Patrol Vehicle, is more ambiguous. Canada currently operates 50-75 RG-31 Nyala “Armoured Patrol Vehicles” in Afghanistan, which have had some maintenance issues but performed well as route-clearance vehicles and convoy leads. A handful of heavier Cougar 6×6 and Buffalo vehicles currently round out Canada’s blast-resistant vehicle fleet, with 50 more on the way. They are accompanied by a large number of Mercedes G-Wagen vehicles, whose protection level is very low – far too low for deployment as a patrol vehicle in combat zones.

A DND Backgrounder says that the renamed TAPV program will consist of 500 vehicles, with an option for another 100. An initial 300 TAPV General Utility Vehicle variants will replace the current RG-31 Armoured Patrol Vehicle. They will carry a crew of 3, plus 4 equipped passengers and a remote-controlled weapon (RWS) up top. Canada’s LAV 2 Coyote reconnaissance vehicles will be replaced with another 200 TAPV reconnaissance variants, which will carry a crew of 4, plus a one-man turret or a RWS, in addition to extensible surveillance equipment. According to DND, TAPV will “complement” the existing Mercedes G-Wagen LUV-W.

The procurement process will be a competitive military off-the-shelf acquisition, and the key term will be whether the competition restricts the competition to combat-proven designs. A letter of interest (LOI) and price and availability (P&A) will be issued in summer 2009 to identify potential bidders, followed by a solicitation of interest and qualification (SOIQ) and a request for proposals (RFP). That RFP isn’t expected until fall 2010, moving the contract award back to fall 2011. Initial operational capability is expected by 2013, and all deliveries by 2015.

The platform question is whether TAPV will end up buying MRAP size blast-resistant vehicles, or wind up as something closer to the American/Australian JLTV competition’s lighter 7-10 ton vehicle set, with blast protection that compares with an RG-31, but far better off-road and urban mobility. The reported list of qualified bidders and offerings suggests something much closer to the MRAP model:

• BAE Hagglunds – Alligator (SEP) 6×6
• BAE OMC – RG-31 Mk5 and RG-35
• Force Protection/ CAE/ Lockheed Martin Canada/ Elbit – Cougar family
• Nexter – Aravis
• Oshkosh/ LMI – M-ATV
• Textron – presumably their M1117, which failed American MRAP testing.
• Thales – Bushmaster

The RG-31 and the Cougar already serve with the Canadian Forces.

LAV-IIIs, and the RESET/RECAP Imperative

The 3rd vehicle program would involve Canada’s LAV-III fleet, which is being ground down by Afghan operations. An up-armoring program is underway for the existing fleet, but that fleet will eventually need to be RESET, remanufactured, or replaced. The Canadian Army adds that this problem is not unique to the LAV-III platform, as they grapple with the same vehicle wear issues experienced by the Americans, British, and Dutch. From the Ottawa Citizen:

“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 [2008] report.”

General Dynamics Canada, which manufactures the LAV-III for Canadian and American customers, has reportedly floated the idea of a LAV-H (Heavy) replacement that would incorporate a slightly v-hulled sub-floor for added mine protection, while raising the vehicle’s maximum recommended weight from 17.2t/ 38,000 pounds to 25t/ 55,100 pounds in order to cope with additional equipment and heavier armor.

The other option for the Canadian Forces is some form of full RESET program, similar to the efforts by the US Army to restore its vehicles to “zero mile” configuration. At present, the CASR think tank states that “All Afghan-deployed LAV IIIs must be rotated out for refit and repair every 12 months”; but this is more akin to depot maintenance than full dis-assembly and RESET.

In the end, the 2 may be combined. Canada’s LAV-III Upgrade Program officially aims to extend the fleet’s life span to 2035, which strongly implies a full RESET. At the same time, the program will add heavier armor, upgraded weapons, and mobility upgrades to the vehicles’ powertrain, suspension, running gear and brakes. This combination sounds a lot like General Dynamics’s LAV-H for the US military, and the US Army is already starting to add blast-deflecting v-hulls to its Stryker LAV-III variants. Canada’s project will upgrade 550 vehicles, with an option for an additional 80. Initial operational capability is scheduled for 2012.

In the mean time, the LAV LORIT (LAV Operational Requirements Integration Task) program has made immediate changes to vehicles serving in Afghanistan. The LORIT program will cover 141 vehicles. It standardizes common field modifications, like using Hesco Bastion insta-barrier frames as extra stowage bins that provide side-mounted blast protection. It also adds Armatec energy-absorbing seats that reduce spinal injuries from transmitted blast shock, a protective machine gunner’s cupola with glass vision ports, additional composite armor mounted below the troop compartment, and weight-saving aluminum wheel rims.

Force Mobility Enhancement: Heavy Engineering

In July 2009, DND announced a 4th component to FCLV, the Force Mobility Enhancement (FME) project. FME will involve a fleet of Armored Engineer Vehicles (AEV) and Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV) that will support the Leopard 2 tanks, LAV III, and future fleets, including the Close Combat Vehicle and the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle. The FME project will also install “tactical mobility” (combat engineering) implements on the fleet of Leopard 2 main battle tanks, something that was done very successfully with Canada’s Leopard 1s.

Because this project is closely connected to Canada’s Leopard 2 tank buy, it is covered within that article. See “Tanks for the Lesson: Leopards, too, for Canada.”

Contracts and Key Events

Oct 21/11: General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada is awarded the contract for the LAV-III Upgrade Project’s implementation phase. The C$ 1.064 billion project (similar value in American dollars), will upgrade 550 LAV IIIs, extending their lifespan to 2035. See above for details.

Most of the work, and jobs, will involve GDLS-C’s plant in London, ON, which also makes LAV-III (Stryker) variants for the US military. The project will also sustain about 110 jobs in Edmonton, AB. Government of Canada | CASR.

August 2011: CCV. The 3 finalist CCV suppliers (BAE’s tracked CV90, GDLS-C’s Piranha V, and Nexter’s VBCI) reportedly provide test vehicles for blast and other trials, at the US Army’s Aberdeen Test Center. Supposedly, the end of tests in October 2011 will be followed by a decision, initial delivery of 8 CCVs within 24 months, and the remaining 100 CCVs within 48 months.

Word is that Rheinmetall declined to bid its Puma, or its concept of an upgraded Marder. CASR.

Aug 29/11: CCV. General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada announces [PDF] that its CCV bid will be GD MOWAG’s Piranha V 8×8 wheeled vehicle, fitted with Rheinmetall’s 2-man Lance 30mm Modular Turret System. Lance is expected to have a future unmanned option. Their vehicle bid choice excludes GD’s tracked ASCOD IFV, which serves with Spain and Austria, and recently won Britain’s FRES-SV competition.

GDLS-C will be the prime contractor, and will manufacture and assemble the Piranha 5 chassis at the same London, ON factory that builds LAVs and Strykers for the US military, and has built Canada’s LAV-IIs and LAV-IIIs. Rheinmetall’s Lance 30mm turret technology would be transferred to the Rheinmetall Canada facility in Saint-Jean-sur Richelieu, QC, for full turret production. Armatec Survivability Canada of Dorchester, ON, will offer a survivability suite of advanced composite materials and energy-absorbing troop and crew seating. The remainder of the team will be drawn from GDLS’ widespread Canadian supplier base.

May 24/11: TAPV. Force Protection announces the addition of Elbit Systems and Lockheed Martin Canada to their TAPV bid team.

Lockheed Martin will be the project’s C4ISR integrator. Elbit’s Dual RWS combines a 40mm grenade machine gun with a 7.62mm GPMG in its unmanned turret, which includes a range of advanced surveillance optics. The optics and guns are all operated from a joystick station inside the vehicle. Final assembly would take place in Nova Scotia, Canada.

May 10/11: TAPV. BAE Systems confirms that its RG35 RPU 4×4 wheeled APC is being adapted to suit the Canadian TAPV program, as part of BAE OMC’s offering.

The RG35 RPU is 5.2m long x 2.6m wide x 2.5m high (17’ x 8’6” x 8’2”), with a ground clearance of 41.4 cm (16.3”) and gross vehicle mass of 21t (46,300 pounds). It seats a driver plus 9 crew members.

May 9/11: TAPV. Force Protection announces that it’s partnering with leading simulation and engineering firm CAE, Inc., as a partner in its TAPV bid. The team is bidding the Cougar vehicle, which already serves with Canadian forces in Afghanistan.

“As the main Canadian partner, CAE would have overall responsibility for the comprehensive in-service support (ISS) solution, including: vehicle operator and mission training systems; engineering information environment; fleet management services; systems engineering support; and, lifecycle and integrated logistics support services. CAE would also be responsible for assembling a pan-Canadian team of companies to develop and support any country-specific requirements for Canada’s replacement fleet of tactical armoured patrol vehicles.”

March 31/11: CCV. David Pugliese:

“Sources tell Defence Watch that Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH will be deciding in the next little while on how to proceed with its bid on the Close Combat Vehicle. Does it go wheeled with the Boxer (through the Artec GmbH firm) or does it go tracked with the Marder, which it would put forward itself? Or does it enter both into the competition?”

In the end, the answer appears to have been: neither. Though Rheinmetall’s Lance turret did end up as part of a partnership with GDLS – Canada.

Feb 15/11: TAPV. Oshkosh Defense unveils its M-ATV derivative prototype for Canada’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) program, as well as the company’s plans to work with its subsidiary, London Machinery, Inc. (LMI) in London, Ontario.

Feb 10/11: CCV. Work on the CCV has spinoff effects in Norway, and Afghanistan. Soucy International in Quebec makes armored vehicle tracks whose pads are rubber, instead of standard all-steel tracks. BAE Systems has already worked with Soucy to outfit M113 and BvS10 APCs, and both types have been deployed to Afghanistan. Now Norway has built on work BAE had done to prepare its Canadian CCV bid, and extended those track replacement efforts from its deployed M113s to the much heavier (28t) CV90.

BAE Systems qualified the system in full-scale trials, and determined that track life should be comparable to steel tracks. Trials by the Norwegian Army in late 2010 were so positive that the 2 vehicles were sent to Afghanistan before the planned schedule was completed, and the tracks have received positive reviews in theater. No wonder – they reduce vehicle weight by more than one tonne, cut noise by 10dB (50%), and reduce vibration levels by 65%, which helps prolong the life of interior electronics and optics. Once they’re back in Norway, they’ll also do better on ice and snow.

Heavier up-armored CV90 trials at 35 tonnes will take place through 2011, along with mine blast trials to assess the effect of blast and fragments on the tracks. BAE Systems.

Feb 2/11: CCV. At IDEX 2011, Rheinmetall presents its IFV Close Combat Vehicle upgrade solution for the first time, complete with a medium-caliber Lance RC turret system:

“Besides an SEOSS primary stabilized optronic sensor system, including a thermal imaging device and laser rangefinder, the integrated Lance RC is equipped with a digital fire control unit. The version on display at IDEX is armed with Rheinmetall’s new Wotan 30mm automatic cannon… [with] 400 rounds per minute… [and] airburst capability…. In the Lance RC, the high-performance Wotan is also able to operate in superelevation mode (60°), and can be reloaded at anytime with no need to leave the safety of the armoured fighting compartment…. In response to Canada’s Close Combat Vehicle (CCV) programme, Rheinmetall has developed an upgrade solution for manned turrets as well.”

Sept 7/10: CCV Reboot. The revised MERX bulletin board solicitation W6508-10CC01/E cancels the previous Close Combat Vehicle procurement (W6508-10CC01/D), vid. April 26/10 entry), and starts over. It’s still 108 CCVs in various configurations, plus up to 30 more within 4 years, plus interim support and a longer-term in-service support package for up to 25 years.

“The CCV must be an integrated, supportable, existing or upgraded version of a Military Off-the-Shelf (MOTS) BASE VEHICLE and MOTS TURRET, each of which is in production for and/or in service with another military recognized by DND as of the closing date of this Solicitation of Interest and Qualification (SOIQ).... The first phase, referred to as the Solicitation of Interest and Qualification (SOIQ), will be the pre-qualification of potential bidders. Those Respondents who qualify will be registered on a CCV Pre-Qualified Bidders List. The second phase, referred to as the Request for Proposal (RFP), will invite those firms who are registered on the CCV Pre-Qualified Bidders List to submit a proposal.”

Reports indicate that some of the armoring specifications, which had disqualified all bidders for the previous solicitation, have been relaxed for this round, with land mine protection in particular scaled back. CASR’s analysis?

”...CCV struggles on as a project but has already boxed itself into a corner. The most desired vehicle (Puma, the only type even close to satisfying armour protection requirements) was not even offered for CCV. Many other manufacturers would happily take an order for 108 armoured vehicles. But which will trouble themselves to tailor any offering to the specifications of a demanding, increasingly fussy, but still minor client?”

July 27/10: TAPV. Force Protection partners with Canadian engineering & support firm SNC-Lavalin Defense Contractors, Inc. for the Canadian Government’s 500-600 vehicle Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (“TAPV”) program.

Their TAPV Cougar bid will be arrayed against announced contenders Oshkosh & General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (M-ATV), and Thales and DEW Engineering (Bushmaster). Force Protection.

July 20/10: TAPV. Force Protection, Inc. announces that the Government of Canada has advanced their 2 Cougar variants beyond the 500-600 vehicle TAPV programs Solicitation of Interest and Qualification (SOIQ) phase. In addition to their Cougar 4×4 and 6×6 variants, 7 vehicle types from other equipment manufacturers were selected to move into TAPV’s RFP phase, with a winner and contract expected in 2011. Force Protection.

July 9/10: LAV-III. The Government of Canada awards a C$ 34.4 million (about $33.2 million) contract to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada. GDLS-Canada will perform trade-off studies, design work, prototype builds, and tests to define Canada’s LAV-III upgrades. The prototypes are called Risk Reduction Units (RRUs), which are LAV IIIs fitted with the various planned upgrades, so that they can be tested and evaluated later in 2010. Canada’s DND | Public Works Canada | General Dynamics.

June 3/10: CCV. At the CANSEC 2010 conference, BAE Systems announces a CV90 partnership arrangement with DEW Engineering and Development, ULC of Ottawa, ON. The 2 firms will offer the CV90 for Canada’s CCV, and DEW would carry out final assembly of the turret, as well as integration and testing if the vehicle is chosen. BAE has also teamed with DEW for to offer BAE’s fully stabilized LEMUR remotely controlled weapon system, which is being offered as an option for Canada’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles, M113 upgrades, LAV III program, and CCV.

DEW has carved out a strong position in Canada for vehicle refit and refurbishment, and add-on armour protection systems. They’ve done extensive repair, refit, and upgrade work on Canada’s LAV fleet, M113 APCs, and Leopard 1 tanks. BAE Systems.

June 3/10: TAPV. It’s a good day for DEW Engineering and Development, as Thales announces a partnership to offer its blast-resistant Bushmaster in Canada’s TAPV Program, which will include both patrol vehicles and a reconnaissance variant.

Bushmasters have been used by Australia in Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Timor; and by the Netherlands in Afghanistan. The vehicle family currently includes patrol, command, ambulance, surveillance & target acquisition, mortar carrier, and utility cargo variants. Thales.

April 26/10: CCV Solicitation. Canada’s government issues MERX solicitation W6508-10CC01/D for the CCV:

“The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for the provision of up to 138 Close Combat Vehicles (CCV) in various configurations, which includes an optional quantity of up to thirty (30) vehicles…. The CCV will incorporate a protected main weapon station to engage and defeat the enemy…. The initial series of deliveries will include a minimum quantity of eight (8) CCV with the initial Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) package, required within twenty-four (24) months after contract award. The delivery of the remaining 100 vehicles must be completed within forty-eight (48) months after contract award. Along with the initial eight (8) vehicles, the contractor will be required to provide interim support including repair and overhaul and deployed technical support. The option to procure an additional quantity of up to thirty (30) CCV may be exercised at the sole discretion of Canada within four (4) years after contract award. Further, the contractor will be required to provide long-term In-Service Support (ISS) services for approximately twenty-five (25) years to commence after the interim support period.

The CCV must be an integrated, supportable, existing or upgraded version of a Military Off-the-Shelf (MOTS) BASE VEHICLE and MOTS TURRET, each of which is in production for and/or in service with another military recognized by DND as of the closing date of this Solicitation of Interest and Qualification (currently June 25/10)..... The first phase, referred to as the Solicitation of Interest and Qualification (SOIQ), will be the pre-qualification of potential bidders. Those Respondents who qualify will be registered on a CCV Pre-Qualified Bidders List. The second phase, referred to as the Request for Proposal (RFP), will invite those firms who are registered on the CCV Pre-Qualified Bidders List to submit a proposal.”

March 30/10: All. DND’s Maple Leaf magazine says that after a pause in December 2009 while officials examined the question of when to implement all 4 family of land combat vehicles (FLCV) projects, the defense staff re-committed to the CCV in particular as a project that should not be delayed.

Of course, “delay” is relative. The plan is still to begin receiving CCV vehicles no earlier than 2011, by which time Canada will be ending its Afghan deployment. What’s surprising is that it’s no later, despite the government’s own delays.

March 22/10: TAPV. Oshkosh Defense and General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announce that they’ll offer Oshkosh’s blast-resistant M-ATV for the TAPV competition, and Oshkosh’s Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) trucks in Canada’s Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS-SMP) truck program. Both vehicle types use Oshkosh’s proprietary TAK-4 independent suspension system, for off-road mobility.

Oshkosh will serve as the prime contractor for both programs. General Dynamics Land Systems Canada will provide systems integration and testing support for the vehicles, as well as the complete spectrum of in-country sustainment support. Oshkosh uses Valley Associates to provide marketing and business development in Canada, which is why the vehicles display in the Valley Associates booth during CANSEC 2010 in June.

This consortium is considered to be a leading contender, in part because of GDLS’ existing armored vehicle plant in London, ON. David Pugliese’s Defence Watch adds that BAE is studying the TAPV SOIQ, and that France’s Nexter plans to bid its Aravis. Oshkosh | CANSEC announcement | Defence Watch.

July 8/09: All. Canada’s DND makes a slew of announcements regarding its FLCV programs, including the CCV, LAV Upgrade, TAPV, and Leopard 2 engineering upgrades and AEVs.

Most of these programs are in the pre-RFP stage, except the C$ 1 billion LAV Upgrade project. General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada (GDLS-C), the original equipment manufacturer, will be awarded a contract to conduct that definition work, and has also been selected in advance to implement the LAV-III upgrades. DND overview announcement.

A political note is required. While 2011 lies within the term limit of the present Conservative Party government, it is a minority government in uncertain economic times, and Canada is currently set to wind down its Afghan mission in 2011. Until contracts is signed, therefore, each component of the FLCV program must be considered to carry varying degrees of political risk.

Nov 16/09: CCV. Ottawa Citizen reporter David Pugliese covers slow progress with the CCV program:

“The Close Combat Vehicle project has fallen behind its schedule with the delay being attributed to issues around industrial region benefits, Defence Watch has learned…. The Canadian Forces will acquire 108 vehicles with an option for up to 30 more. The contract is scheduled to be awarded by summer 2011 with initial operational capability (IOC) declared one year later in July 2012, according to DND officials. The CCV is expected to reach full operational capability by July 2015.” Nexter Systems, the French armored vehicle firm, is offering… its wheeled VBCI armoured vehicles…. The Hagglund’s tracked CV90 from BAE Systems is also being offered…. armoured vehicle manufacturer Rheinmetall has not indicated whether it will take part in the project.”

November 2008: All. These proposals are in the draft stage. The Ottawa Citizen quotes defense minister MacKay’s press secretary, Jay Paxton:

“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…. Having said that, no proposal has come forward to Minister MacKay’s office on this particular vehicle acquisition.”

Despite the Conservative Party’s consistent support of defense requests, this bundled proposal may also face political hurdles. Not least of which is the fallout from the Conservative Government’s proposal to withdraw public funding for Canada’s political parties. That proposal has endangered its minority government, and a successful no-confidence vote could result in either a new coalition, or a new election to follow the one in October 2008. A new coalition would be almost certain to include the socialist NDP party, which has traditionally been hostile to both Canadian defense spending and the Afghan mission.

Additional Readings & Sources

• Canada DND (July 8/09) – Backgrounder: Close Combat Vehicle

• Canada DND (July 8/09) – Backgrounder: Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle

• Canada DND (July 8/09) – Backgrounder: Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III Upgrade Project

• Canada DND (July 8/09) – Force Mobility Enhancement. Refers to the addition of engineering add-ons to the new Leopard 2 fleet, and dedicated AEVs. Covered under Canada’s Leopard 2 tank buy.

• CASR (October 2010) – Background – Tracks or Wheels? – the Close Combat Vehicle Project

• DID Spotlight – Tanks for the Lesson: Leopards, too, for Canada

• DID – VBCI: France’s Wheeled APC. Said to be a CCV candidate.

• CASR – Danish Forces prepare their new CV9035 Infantry Fighting Vehicles for deployment to Afghanistan – Meanwhile, DND plans for the CCV. Denmark and Canada started at about the same time, but Denmark is about to deploy CV90-35 MkIIIs to Afghanistan, and Canada is still trying to figure out requirements.

• CASR – Background – FLCS Project – Future Combat Systems for the Army.

• CASR – Background – Future Combat Systems – Close Combat Vehicle Project. CCV is a component of FLCS.

• Army Technology – Aravis Multipurpose Heavily Protected Armoured Vehicle, France

• Army Technology – Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle, Australia

• DID – M-ATV: A Win, at Last, for Oshkosh

• Army Technology – CV90 Tracked Armoured Combat Vehicles, Sweden

• CASR (July 2009) – New Armoured Vehicles: Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, even the UN chose Sweden’s CV90 family – for good reasons

• CASR (July 2009) – CCV Dismounts: Does Size Matter or is it What’s Inside that Counts? The CV90 can only carry 7 troops, instead of 9. Is that a problem?

• DID – VBCI: France’s Wheeled APC

• Army Technology – Piranha V

• CASR – LAV LORIT – Standardizing Afghan LAV Upgrades

• DID – US Army Moves Ahead with Stryker Hull Modification. Adds a V-hull to the Stryker LAV-III variant for American forces.

• Defense Technology International (May 2011) – Monster Trucks. Covers TAPV and CCV.

• David Pugliese’s Defence Watch (Sept 7/10) – Answers On The Alligator And The Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) Project.

• Canadian Army News (Nov 19/09) – Episode 380 Transcript. Discusses the LAV LORIT, a set of immediate modifications for Afghanistan that will serve as a bridge to the full LAV upgrade.

• Ottawa Citizen, David Pugliese’s Defence Watch (Nov 17/08) – Canadian Forces Looks at CV90 for Close Combat Vehicle.

• Ottawa Citizen (Nov 17/08) – DND seeks more than $2B for vehicles for Afghanistan