It was my best summer job ever: deckhand on a cruise ship plying the Detroit River for rich corporate clients..It entailed four-to-five cruises up and down the river at night, a fabulous prime rib meal, music and drinks..Lots and lots of fun. But also lots of work; I did everything from painting the hull, to shampooing the carpets, swabbing the deck and, yes, taking care of the head (bathroom)..Captain Gorham was in charge, a former Second World War vet who served on the HMCS Assiniboine and then as a sea captain on "Salties," which are ocean going ships..While he taught me many things, including how to tie sailor knots, Great Lakes horn signals and many tall tales of the sea, he also told me about the rivalry between the Canadians and the Brits..Holy crap, I had no idea how deep that, well, let's not call it hate — competitiveness went..Wow. It was heavy and it was intense. Shocking, actually. But they all came together when it came to the mission. And they sure got the job done..While I definitely cherished my time with Capt. Gorham, I bet he would have been absolutely bowled over by this week's Canadian naval news..According to a report, in Breaking Defense, Lockheed Martin is planning to complete the preliminary design review for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) by the end of this year..That, ladies and gents, is a significant milestone for a shipbuilding program responsible for recapitalizing a large portion the Canadian surface fleet.. Artistic renderings of the Canadian Surface Combatant.Artistic renderings of the Canadian Surface Combatant. .Canada selected Lockheed’s design in February 2019 and plans to purchase 15 ships for roughly $55 to $60 billion Cdn, according to the government’s website..However, some media reports suggest that amount could now balloon to $84.5 billion..The cost of operating and maintaining the ships over the next 65 years has been estimated at $219.8 billion, which includes mid-life upgrades — resulting in a $300 billion tax hit when the anchor drops..While Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux is freaking out and firing warning flares over delays and the ensuing rise in costs, the fact remains Canada needs these warships and National Defence should not alter course one degree..It just so happens the entire world is re-arming, thanks to a certain Mad Russian, and, China's rapid expansion of its navy, which has now surpassed that of the United States. To be honest, we have no choice..For the first time in eight years, this August Canadian warships were not involved in either of two NATO naval task forces charged with patrolling European waters and defending against Russian threats, according to media reports..It was the first time this occurred since 2014, naval officials said..The embarrassing revelation cast a spotlight on what experts say are the growing trade-offs Canada is having to make with its navy, which is struggling with a shrinking fleet of aging ships and a lack of trained sailors..The vessel, which must be capable of a range of missions from anti-submarine warfare to humanitarian assistance, replaces the dated Iroquois-class destroyers and Halifax-class frigates, Breaking Defense reported..Glenn Copeland, general manager of mission systems for Lockheed’s Canada branch, said the delay between selection and the design review reflects the program’s importance for the Royal Canadian Navy..“Canada doesn’t have the luxury of having three different platforms, but they’ve committed to 15 ships. So they’re taking the time to get this right,” he told a group of reporters at the Euronaval 2022 exhibition in Paris..The preliminary design review is significant because it begins to finalize the “holistic structure” of the ship, Copeland told Breaking Defense..Getting the design correct upfront on the CSC program is important for Canada because the new vessel will represent the majority of the country’s Navy’s surface power..Canada’s Combat Team consists of BAE Systems, CAE, Lockheed Martin Canada, L3 Technologies, MDA and Ultra Electronics..The proposed ship design is based on BAE’s Systems Type 26 Global Combat Ship. Canada’s Irving Shipbuilding, the CSC’s prime contractor, awarded Lockheed a design sub-contract in February 2019..Copeland said while Canada had very specific requirements for its new ship, the focus on anti-submarine warfare guided the initial design choices..“One of the first requirements you have to look at is Canada asked for a very quiet platform,” he said, adding some features that would reduce a ship’s noise signature are not necessarily included on all ship designs..“At the same time it’s going to have to be an anti-air warfare platform.”.Based on the requirements from Canada, the company also included the Aegis Weapons System, the state-of-the-art Lockheed Martin SPY-7 radar and CMS 330, a derivative of the combat system used on Canada’s Halifax-class as part of the offering..Italian weapons developer Leonardo was awarded a contract to supply four OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano naval guns for the CSC combat ships.. Leonardo was awarded the contract to supply four OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano naval guns for the Royal Canadian Navy’s new multi-role combat ships.Leonardo was awarded the contract to supply four OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano naval guns for the Royal Canadian Navy’s new multi-role combat ships. .The first three systems will be installed on-board the new naval units, while the fourth will be used for training activities..The advanced radar equipment will bring an entirely new capability, according to media reports. It can track smaller and faster objects at greater distances, giving war-fighters more time to respond to incoming threats — whatever they may be..According to Lockheed, the SPY-7 will provide the following:.• A scalable radar framework that will provide ballistic missile defense protection through the Aegis Ship and Ashore program;.• Several times the performance of traditional SPY-1 radars — can detect, track, and engage sophisticated ballistic missile threats, including multiple at once;.• Interoperable with the world’s major radars & defence platforms;.• Meets the need now with latest-generation radar technology;.• Has a digital footprint that, as it expands, the unique open architecture will enable each country’s platform to evolve and outpace future threats..The first CSC is scheduled to be delivered, tested and ready for operations in the early 2030s..If only Capt. Gorham was there to see it.. Artistic renderings of the Canadian Surface Combatant.Artistic renderings of the Canadian Surface Combatant.
