Current Events in the Americas

From DefenseNews Posted 07/10/07 20:58 Brazil To Invest $500 Million in Nuclear-Powered Sub By REUTERS, BRASILIA Brazil will invest $500 million to revive a long-stalled navy project to build a nuclear-propelled submarine, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said July 10. “We are going to apply the necessary resources to conclude this project,” Lula said at a nuclear research facility in Sao Paulo state. The project requires 1 billion reais ($500 million) invested over eight years, he said. A nuclear-powered submarine could patrol the vast waters off Brazil’s coastline more effectively, Navy Commander Adm. Julio Soares de Moura has said. Brazil has five conve…

From Defense Aerospace Air Force Command Pre-Selects Candidates for F-X2 Project (Source: Brazilian Ministry of Defence; issued Oct. 1, 2008) (Issued in Portuguese; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com) The Air Force Command has announced that, as specified in the plan for the renewal of the combat aircraft fleet of the Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB), it has completed an initial step in the selection process of new multirole fighters. The Management Committee of the Project F-X2 (CGPF-X2), instituted on May 15, 2008, led the evaluation studies of the preselected aircraft (Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Ma…

From Flight International DATE: 03/04/09 SOURCE: Flight International Brazilian fighter programme ready to fly By Rebecca Barrett Financial constraints and an unwillingness to commit investment impeded Brazil's first attempt at a fighter programme. But the age of its fighter fleet now threatens the nation's security to the point that the government's back is against the wall and it has been forced to respond. Fortunately for Brazil, it appears that the pieces necessary to complete the project are in place. Years of strong economic growth will be the backbone of support for Project FX-2. The programme will offer Brazil a capital return on its investment …

Bring Back the Nuclear Tomahawks (USNI Proceedings)

From Navy Times Building a better BMD Admiral seeks an expanded upgrade for anti-missile ships By Ben Iannotta - Special to the Times Posted : Sunday Nov 4, 2007 8:46:19 EST North Korea was hot on everyone’s minds when the Navy decided to rush missile-defense software and interceptors onto 18 of its 84 ships equipped with the Aegis computerized weapon systems. But now, with Iran increasingly on the minds of U.S. strategists, the admiral who runs the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program for the Missile Defense Agency is asking to expand the upgrade effort — even before the large-scale Aegis upgrade planned to start in 2012. “The question right now is: Wit…

Bunker Hill class Cruise Modernization Program almost a complete failure https://news.usni.org/2024/12/17/gao-navy-wasted-1-84-billion-in-repairs-to-cruisers-cut-from-the-fleet

From Jane's Arleigh Burke-class destroyers 'buckling' under stress, admits USN By Tara Copp 11 October 2007 Serious structural defects have been identified throughout the United States Navy's fleet of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, Jane's can reveal. The navy (USN) has admitted that many of the 51 ships currently in service are buckling under the stress of higher-than-anticipated loads at sea. The impact of rough-sea slamming on the bow has led to warping of main transverse bulkhead beams and some of the cribbing, a source said. Repairs and strengthening work is already being carried out on the latest Flight IIA ships as well as vessels from the ear…

From Flight International DATE:14/06/07 SOURCE:Flightglobal.com Team of C-27J Spartan wins JCA contest By Craig Hoyle Alenia Aeronautica's C-27J Spartan tactical transport programme received a massive boost yesterday, with the type's selection to meet a combined US Air Force and US Army requirement for a new fleet of Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA). Led by L-3 Integrated Systems and also comprising Alenia North America and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the C-27J team was announced as the winner of a deal to supply an initial 78 aircraft worth $2 billion under the JCA programme. The JCA programme currently envisages the production of 70 aircraft for …

Canada chooses TKMS as preferred bidder for CPSP submarine fleet (Canadian Defence Review)

Canada considering RAAF classic Hornets? (Australian Aviation) Please, no.

Canada Expands Frigate Upgrade Plans (DefenseNews)

CV32: Being the good neighbours we are, Canada has dived head first into a commitment to buy 65 F-35A JSF ... first, the "touchy feely" news releases ... From Defense Aerospace Government of Canada Strengthens Sovereignty While Generating Significant Economic Benefits (Source: Canadian Department of National Defence; issued July 16, 2010) (All monetary amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated) OTTAWA --– The Government of Canada today announced it is acquiring the fifth generation Joint Strike Fighter F-35 aircraft to contribute to the modernization of the Canadian Forces, while bringing significant economic benefits and opportunities to re…

Canada in wait to use its mine-clearing drones Canadian Press CTV HALIFAX — France and the United States will likely be the first countries to take full advantage of advanced minesweeping technology developed in Canada, even though it was first intended for Canadian navy ships, says a senior researcher. While a number of countries have shown interest in purchasing the high-tech gear, the Canadian navy will only get to test drive the Remote Minehunting System because of budget cuts and a cumbersome procurement process. In an deal signed last week, Ottawa said it will pay for operational tests of the system for only 20 days a year. The Canadian tests are exp…

From Defense Aerospace Government of Canada Awards Tactical Airlift Contract (Source: Public Works and Government Services Canada; issued Jan. 16, 2008) GATINEAU --- The Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, along with the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence, today announced that the government has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation for the acquisition of the Canadian Forces new tactical lift aircraft. "Canada has long been in dire need of renewed tactical airlift capabilities," said Minister Fortier. "The government is now delivering on commitments it has made to ensur…

Canada Revisiting Ballistic Missile Defense (DefenseNews)

From Defense Aerospace Canada Awards Contract for Strategic Airlift (Source: Government of Canada; issued Feb. 2, 2007) OTTAWA — The Honourable Gordon O'Connor, Minister of National Defence, together with the Honourable Michael M. Fortier, Minister of Public Works, and the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry today announced The Boeing Company has been awarded the contract to supply strategic airlift aircraft to the Canadian Forces. The agreement fulfills a commitment by Canada's New Government to pursue defence procurement initiatives that equip and strengthen our military and provide economic benefits across the country. “Canada's New Gov…

Liberals to buy 18 Boeing Super Hornet fighter jets to fill 'capability gap' (CBC)

Australia agrees to sell Canada $6.5b military radar system By Melissa Clarke, ABC News (Australia) It seemed like a pretty standard phone call between Anthony Albanese and new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney overnight. The official record of the call noted congratulations to Carney and discussion of "current pressures on the global trading system" (ie US tariffs), as well as cooperation on the defence of Ukraine. But there was at least one extra topic that wasn't mentioned in the read-out: the small matter of Canada purchasing a $6.5 billion Australian military radar system. Shortly after the call, Carney headed to Iqalui…

From Defense Aerospace Protection the Top Priority with Tank Acquisition (Source: Canadian Department of National Defence; issued April 12, 2007) Canada has reversed an earlier decision to retire its tank force, and will deploy Leopard IIs in Afghanistan this summer. (Dutch MoD photo) QUEBEC CITY, Quebec --- The ongoing commitment of Canada’s New Government to the safety of Canadian Forces members engaged in deployed operations was front and centre today when the Honourable Gordon O’Connor, Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Michael Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff, confi…

From DefenseNews [excerpt] And so it begins, or continues. Expect more of the same if buy the F-35 and have to struggle to support that single component of the force at the expense of other programs and capabilities.