Taking back the night for tactical advantage

Taking back the night for tactical advantage

by Ken Pole   In its June 2017 defence policy, the federal government used the word “vision” a lot but mostly in a generic contemplative way. However, tucked away on page 36 was a commitment to recapitalizing an outstanding requirement for new “soldier night...
Detecting and defeating IEDs

Detecting and defeating IEDs

by Ken Pole   Of the 159 Canadians who died during this country’s decade-long combat mission in Afghanistan, the majority were victims of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Hundreds more were wounded or otherwise traumatized. Major Pete DesRoches, a combat...
Can your light off-road vehicle handle a .50 cal?

Can your light off-road vehicle handle a .50 cal?

by Chris Thatcher   Inflation is having a deflating effect on defence procurement and the Light Forces Enhancement (LFE) project is no exception. But beyond the growing costs of manufacturing a four-wheeled, lightweight, off-road vehicle, the Army now knows it...
New RHIBs afloat for Army combat divers

New RHIBs afloat for Army combat divers

by Ken Pole   Some years ago, during his 32-year Army career, when he was a Colonel, John Errington, who retired last summer as a Brigadier-General and Commandant of the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, observed about Army divers: “Dive operations are a vital...
Light utility vehicle project shifts into a new gear

Light utility vehicle project shifts into a new gear

by Ian Coutts   It never feels like news when the defence procurement process takes longer than expected. So, take the latest on the Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) project as a “no news, good news” situation. The “no news” is that the initial stage of the project...
Snipers set sights on new rifle

Snipers set sights on new rifle

by Ken Pole   If you’re a Canadian Army sniper, you can expect to have your new rifle no later than next April 1. All 229 of the bolt-action weapons, designated C21, are expected to be in the Army’s hands by year’s end, but it will take time to ensure that...