Canada Signs Contracts to Support its LCSS Battlefield Command System
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The Government of Canada recently announced 2 major contracts to support the Canadian Forces’ Land Command Support System (LCSS), worth C$ 525 million (currently about US$ 409 million).
LCSS is is a full battlefield command system similar to the USA’s FBCB2, which is best known for its “Blue Force Tracker” component that displays the locations of friendly and identified enemy forces. LCSS integrates the Army’s Tactical Command Control and Communications System, Land Force Command System (LFC2IS), and Position Determination and Navigation for Land Forces, which means it can combine communications, friendly and enemy force positioning, satellite data, and other inputs into a cohesive system. A life extension project is planned for the system, and additions like the Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Project are underway.
With respect to the awarded contracts:
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General Dynamics Canada won the engineering and integration contract, with an estimated value of C$ 341 million (GST/VAT included). They have done significant work for LCSS components, including the IRIS digital communications system and the Athene navigation and positioning system. The LCSS in-service support contract involves engineering and integration services, along with life-cycle management and support services, to include integration of new hardware and software.
General Dynamics Canada is the country’s top defense contractor, though most of that value falls to the Land Systems group producing LAV-III/ Stryker vehicles for customers around the world. The firm’s Canadian operations also extend to other areas, and work related to LCSS LTSC will be conducted at the firm’s high-tech facility in Calgary, a global corporate center of excellence for C3(Command, Control, Communications) and sensor systems. More than 250 people there will work exclusively on this program for the duration of the contract.
Thales Canada won the software support contract, with an estimated value of C$ 184 million (GST/VAT included). They will provide long-term software support, replacing 4 short-term support contracts with support for both commercial-off-the-shelf military software and client-developed applications. Thales’ work is based on software it created for the French Army, but broadened to support the Command and Control (C2) decision-action cycle. Relevant data is provided to users based on roles, and is displayed graphically. Users can also interact seamlessly with other LF2CIS components, to share information all the way up and down the battlefield.
Thales Canada has 1,400 employees in Montreal, Quebec city, Ottawa, and Toronto working in Defence, Aerospace and Security. Sales across Thales operations in Canada exceed C$ 500 million for 2008, to a range of domestic and foreign customers.
Both contracts are for 5 years, with government options for 5 additional 1-year terms. Both companies will be performing the work in Canada, where “Canada First” provision require 100% of the contract value in direct and indirect industrial and regional benefits. Defence Minister speech | Government of Canada | General Dynamics | Thales.
