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Military plans to create Canadian Space Division

Posted on by VA3DBJ

“We are looking forward to this very important milestone in the further development of the RCAF’s capabilities and skills for space operations.”

From: Ottawa Citizen

The Canadian Forces will create a new group to focus on the growing importance of space to military operations and the country’s security.

The idea of establishing a Canadian Space Division has been circulating at National Defence headquarters in Ottawa since 2019, but it is now expected to be in place by September.

“3 Canadian Space Division is expected to be stood-up in the coming weeks,” Maj. Jill Lawrence, a public affairs officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s director general of space, confirmed Wednesday. “We are looking forward to this very important milestone in the further development of the RCAF’s capabilities and skills for space operations.”

Royal Canadian Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Adamson, director general for space, said earlier this year that Canada was looking at following its allies who had created similar organizations.

Australia earlier this year announced it was creating a defence space command, but no details were available on the size of the organization. As U.S. president, Donald Trump ordered the creation of the United States Space Force in 2019 with more than 8,000 personnel. In April 2021, Britain stood up its Space Command to coordinate space operations and procurement of space systems. It has around 400 staff.

Canada’s division will be much smaller. Adamson told the U.S. publication, Space News, earlier this year there were around 180 personnel working on space-related defence issues. “We’re hoping to grow the enterprise across the entire Canadian Forces up to 270,” he said.

The overall figure will include Department of National Defence civilian personnel and military staff working on space-related tasks in operations centres. “It makes logical sense for us to look at standing up a Canadian Space Division that basically generates those forces that will then be able to be employed in operations for army, air force, navy and SOF (special operations forces),” Adamson said.

The division would be responsible to the Royal Canadian Air Force commander for the generation of space capabilities for various missions. The RCAF is responsible for defending and protecting military space capabilities and developing space-based capabilities for the Canadian Forces. Procurement of space systems will still be handled by various organizations in the RCAF, National Defence and Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Space-based systems have a significant place in the lives of the Canadian public, which relies on such equipment for everything from banking transactions to daily weather reports.

In the military realm, Canadian soldiers regularly use space-based assets to operate effectively on the battlefield. Such systems do everything from allowing long-range communications to guiding weapons to their targets. The Department of National Defence uses space systems to monitor the maritime approaches of the nation and conduct surveillance on locations around the world.

Adamson has pointed out that he has been educating senior Canadian military commanders not only about the importance of space, but also the potential threats to the space-based capabilities they need.

National Defence has plans to spend billions of dollars on space systems in the coming years. It is looking at a future replacement system for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, a satellite system that provides surveillance information from around the globe.

In addition, the military wants to put in place a new satellite system allowing for communications in the Arctic. Initial operating capability for that was set for 2029, but that has since been moved to 2032. Other nations have also expressed interest in that polar communications project, which is expected to cost billions of dollars. Those countries include New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, France, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Space-based systems are also expected to play a key role in the upcoming modernization of the joint Canada-U.S. North American Aerospace Defence Command.

Annual Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Exercise Set for May 14

Posted on by VA3DBJ

03/10/2022

The 2022 running of the Armed Forces Day (AFD) Cross-Band exercise will be held on May 14, 1300 – 2200 UTC. A complete list of participating stations, modes, frequencies, times, and other details will be announced on April 1. The event is open to all radio amateurs. Armed Forces Day is May 21, but the AFD Cross-band military-amateur radio event traditionally takes place 1 week earlier, in order to avoid conflicting with Dayton Hamvention®. During the exercise, radio amateurs listen for stations on military operating frequencies and transmit on frequencies in adjacent amateur bands.

Military and amateur stations have taken part in this event for more than 50 years. It’s an exercise scenario, designed to include ham radio and government radio operators alike.

Per previous announcements: “The AFD Cross-band Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service, as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise scenario that does not impact any public or private communications.”

Military stations in various locations will transmit on selected military frequencies and announce the specific ham band frequencies they are monitoring.

An AFD message will be transmitted utilizing the Military Standard (MIL-STD) serial PSK waveform (M110), followed by MIL-STD Wide Shift FSK (850 Hz RTTY), as described in MIL-STD 188-110A/B. The AFD message will also be sent in CW and RTTY.

Full details will be released on April 1.

Amateur Radio Ban – Ukraine

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in all of Ukraine except for eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts starting on Feb. 24.

The parliament approved the decree introduced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 23, as the threat of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine continues to grow.

Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts already have a special legal status because of Russia’s ongoing occupation since 2014.

Restrictions introduced by the state of emergency are due to last 30 days and will vary depending on the region.

The state of emergency allows the authorities to temporarily limit the public’s constitutional rights.

The decree green-lights the following measures:

  • increased public order protection and security;
  • checks of identification documents of civilians and frisking if necessary;
  • ban on protests;
  • temporary or permanent evacuation of people from dangerous areas and providing them with accomodation;
  • ban on relocation of conscripts and reservists without notice;
  • ban on producing and spreading information that may “destabilize the situation”;
  • ban on amateur radio transmitting devices.

Other measures that may be implemented “if necessary” include:

  • a curfew;
  • a special regime of entry and exit;
  • ban on mass events;
  • “special rules” for spreading information online.

SOURCE

Finland Picks Lockheed Martin F-35A

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Finland Picks Lockheed Martin F-35A in $11 Billion Defense Deal

HELSINKI — Finland has agreed to buy 64 Lockheed Martin fighter jets to replace its aging fleet of combat planes in a 10 billion-euro ($11.3 billion) deal that represents the Finnish military’s largest ever purchase, the government said Friday.

The Nordic country picked the U.S. company’s F-35A fighters from among five contenders, which also included the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet, France’s Dassault Rafale, Britain’s Eurofighter Typhoon and Sweden’s Saab Gripen.

The Finnish air force has a fleet of more than 60 F-18 Hornets, acquired in the early 1990s. It started looking for a successor aircraft in 2014.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said her government’s decision, based on a recommendation by the Finnish Defense Forces, to purchase F-35A was unanimous.

“New fighters are a key part of Finland’s defense,” Marin told a press conference. “Fighters protect the integrity of Finnish airspace, protect society from airstrikes and support (Finnish) army and navy operations.”

The Defense Ministry said Friday that the price tag for the deal with Lockheed Martin includes training and other equipment.

The U.S. aerospace, arms and defense company said in a statement it was “honored” the Finnish government picked the F-35 “through its thorough, open competition.”

Lockheed Martin said the deal would include “a robust weapons package, a sustainment solution tailored to Finland’s unique security of supply requirements, as well as a comprehensive training program.”

European Union member Finland is a militarily non-aligned nation but closely cooperates with NATO in a way similar to neighboring Sweden.

Switzerland, another militarily non-aligned European country, and NATO members Denmark and Norway previously decided to buy the F-35.

Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border with Russia, has increased its bilateral defense and military cooperation with Sweden, Norway and the United States in the past few years.

Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin said Friday that there are currently more than 730 F-35s in service worldwide.

Fire breaks out on Canadian warship off the coast of Norway

Posted on by VA3DBJ

The Canadian military says a fire broke out on one of its warships this early morning as the vessel was serving as the flagship of a NATO fleet.

No injuries are being reported on board HMCS Fredericton, which is now on its way to a Norwegian port for repairs after the blaze was extinguished.

The military has not identified the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage or whether the ship is now sailing under its own power.

However, a Norwegian newspaper is reporting the Halifax-class frigate was participating in a NATO training exercise in extreme weather conditions when the fire broke out and the ship lost power.

Fredericton left its home port of Halifax in July for a six-month deployment during which it has been serving as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, which Canada is currently commanding.

The Royal Canadian Navy launched an investigation in November 2018 after a spate of fires and power failures on board several frigates over a period of several weeks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2021.

The Canadian Press

Russia’s Destruction of an Orbiting Satellite Raises Space Debris Concerns

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Russia tested an anti-satellite weapon on November 15, destroying one of its own old and defunct satellites, Kosmos 1408. Launched in 1982, Kosmos 1408 was some 300 miles above Earth. Its destruction generated a debris field in Earth orbit that prompted the seven International Space Station crew members, including one Russian cosmonaut, to take cover in their crew capsules for several hours, in case they had to abandon the station. Occupants of the Chinese space station are reported to have taken similar action. The incident also has generated criticism from many corners and a grave discussion on the possible impact of any future such tests, by Russia or anyone else.

The danger of damage to the ISS or an orbiting satellite aside, tracking a debris field that could include thousands of pieces, in order to head off collisions, is a concern all its own. Very small debris in space is essentially impossible to track reliably, if at all. The incident also comes at a time when the number of spacecraft in Earth orbit continues to grow. AMSAT President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, said that Russia’s action will pose a threat to all activities in low Earth orbit for years to come, placing satellites and human spaceflight missions at risk.

“Space is already crowded, but now there are at least 1,500 trackable fragments and, possibly, hundreds of thousands of smaller yet still-threatening pieces of debris in low Earth orbit,” Bankston said. “While space stations have the capability to move out of the way, with sufficient notice, most satellites in low Earth orbit, including those designed, built, launched, and operated by AMSAT, do not. As such, they face greater risk of catastrophic destruction or degraded mission functionality, if struck by fragments from Russia’s destruction of Kosmos-1408.”

Bankston said AMSAT is closely monitoring the situation and hoping for the best.

NASA Chief Bill Nelson echoed Secretary of State Antony Blinken in expressing his own outrage at Russia’s action. “Their actions are reckless and dangerous threatening as well the Chinese space station at the taikonauts on board,” he said. “The [ISS] is passing through or near the cloud every 90 minutes, but the need to shelter for only the second and third passes of the event was based on a risk assessment made by the debris office and ballistics specialists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston,” Nelson explained.

FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington condemned the incident as “irresponsible” and noting that orbital debris fields pose a threat to hopes for the peaceful use of space and “make the work of using space complicated and difficult,” he said in a statement. “For decades to come, they stifle scientific research, inhibit communications, and pose threats to the lives of explorers. And in the here and now, they pose a great threat to [existing] satellites of all nations” deployed for peaceful purposes.

“No one owns space,” Simington said. “And no one should intentionally make it more difficult to use.”

The FCC’s orbital debris rules date back to 2004, when the FCC adopted requirements affecting not only Part 97 Amateur Service rules but Parts 5 (experimental) and 25 (communications satellites) The FCC has made it clear that orbital debris rules apply to amateur satellites, in general requiring submission of an orbital debris mitigation plan with each license application.  

U.S. Veterans Day 2021 Special Events Announced

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Amateur radio special events have been announced to commemorate Veterans Day.

In Cleburne, Texas, N5VET has been on the air since November 1 for a 15-day event. Announced frequencies include 7.235, 7,240, 14.045, and 14.255 MHz, although the sponsoring Club KC5NX says it will operate on most bands and modes. QSL to KC5NX.

The K1USN Radio Club will be on the air on November 11 to mark Veterans Day. K1USN will be on the air on the HF bands, SSB, CW, and FT8, 1300 – 2100 UTC. Anyone working K1USN on Veterans Day 2021 can request a certificate. K1USN QSL cards will be available for all contacts. Send a #10 SASE to K1RV or QSL via the bureau.

In New Jersey, Special Event WS2E will operate from High Point State Park on November 11, 1230 – 2330 UTC. This operation will be valid for Parks on the Air (POTA) K-1619). A Summits on the Air (SOTA) activation is also possible. Multiple stations will be on the air. The High Point monument is a tribute to the “glory and honor and eternal memory of New Jersey’s heroes by land, sea, and air in all wars of our country.” It is the highest elevation in New Jersey. Operation will be mostly on SSB and CW, 40 – 10 meters. A certificate and QSL are available. Contact Michael Sorton, WS2E.

An operation from the submarine USS Cobia in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, is set for November 12 –13, 1400 – 2100 UTC, sponsored by the USS Cobia Amateur Radio Club (NB9QV). Operation will be on 40 and 20 meters, SSB, ±7.240 and ±14.240 MHz. QSL to W6BSF with a #10 SASE.

The USS Midway Museum Ship special event to mark Veterans Day and the anniversary of the US Marine Corps will take place on November 13, 1700 – 2359 UTC. Listen for NI6IW in San Diego, California. Operation will be on CW and PSK on various HF bands as well as D-Star. QSL with an SASE to NI6IW.

Gen. Jonathan Vance obstruction of justice case headed for trial in May 2023

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Retired Gen. Jonathan Vance‘s obstruction of justice case will go to trial in May 2023.

Ten days of trial dates were set during a brief, virtual courtroom hearing this morning, three months after military police charged the former chief of the defence staff following a sexual misconduct investigation.

The case is proceeding through the civilian court system after investigators referred it there, citing what they described as “the limitations of the military justice system” in trying Canada’s top military officer.

The former defence chief, who retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in April, has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service alleged in court documents that Vance repeatedly contacted a woman identified as “K.B.” in early February and “tried to persuade her to make false statements about their past relationship” to military investigators.

Global News first reported on Feb. 2, 2021, that Vance was facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour from two female subordinates. Military police opened an investigation shortly afterwards and on July 15, laid the charge of obstruction of justice against Vance.

One of the women at the heart of the allegations, Maj. Kellie Brennan, told a parliamentary committee in April that she and Vance had an inappropriate relationship that started in 2001 and continued after he became chief of the defence staff in 2015.

Brennan also told the committee she had recorded Vance telling her on the phone what to tell military police, and had turned those recordings over to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

Global News reported on Aug. 13 that Vance had contacted Brennan multiple times before and after Global News reported on the allegations against him, and advised her of the need to be “clear on our story, and that you stick to it.”

Global News obtained recordings of three phone conversations between Vance and Maj. Kellie Brennan that took place on Feb. 1. According to these records, Vance told her he had been contacted by Global News about allegations that he said “could be life-changing for both of us in a bad way.”

He told her: “Change your number. Get a new phone.”

“If there is an allegation that we engaged in sexual relations while I was the CDS and you were in the military, that would be devastating. And so it’s a good thing we didn’t,” Vance said to Brennan.

“I just wanted to make certain that you’re clear on our story and that you stick to it.”

Vance said repeatedly through the calls that what he was describing was the truth.

“I will, you know, tell them the story that we’ve gone over today, which is, you know, the truth and — as I described it to you — and then, you know, see where they want to take it,” he told Brennan. “They may investigate, they may not.”

In September, Global News also reported that military police had decided not to pursue any charges against Vance within the military justice system in relation to the allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

When pressed for an explanation as to why the probe into any possible military service violations ended on Aug. 6 with no charges, a military police spokesperson pointed to a recent report from former Supreme Court justice Morris Fish, which warned it was “legally impossible” under the current rules to try someone of Vance’s rank in the military system.

A senior defence source confirmed to Global News the decision to end the investigation without any military code of service charges was specifically tied to Vance’s rank as a four-star general.

With files from Global News’ Mercedes Stephenson, Marc-Andre Cossette and Amanda Connolly

Gen. Jonathan Vance, announces retirement

Posted on by VA3DBJ

After five years, Vance is one of the longest serving defence chiefs in the country’s history

Gen. Jonathan Vance, the country’s top military commander, has announced his retirement.

A letter informing the troops of his planned departure was posted on social media Thursday. It says that he’s informed the Governor General, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan of his decision “to relinquish command of the Canadian Armed Forces in the months to come.”

He said it will be up to the government to select a new chief of the defence staff and decide when the change of command will take place.

“I’m a bit excited,” Vance said in an interview with CBC News, when asked about the future. “I’m not just blowing sunshine here. I’m excited to see what the next person will do to keep the institution moving forward.”

Vance has held the post for just over five years — often tumultuous ones — making him one of the longest serving defence chiefs in the country’s history.

He was appointed in 2015 by then-prime minister Stephen Harper.

Vance said he has no post-military career plans, other than “getting a really good sleep” and spending time with family.

He also was reluctant to describe what he sees as his legacy, adding that he doesn’t plan to write a memoir or “get into punditry” about military or defence issues.

“I’m not all that concerned about my legacy,” he said. “My legacy is, I took command, I did the best I could and I left. And hopefully, I left the place better than I found it.”

His tenure was marked by a high-profile campaign to stamp out sexual misconduct in the military and the politically-charged case involving former vice-admiral Mark Norman, who was accused of leaking cabinet secrets to a Quebec shipyard and the media.

Within some political and defence circles, Vance was accused of not doing enough to stand up for Norman, his former vice-chief of the defence staff, in the face of the allegations. The criminal case against Norman was stayed after the defence dug up evidence that the RCMP and the Crown had not considered.

The decision to suspend Norman in 2017 as the federal police force opened its investigation was, he said, the hardest call he had to make during five years in the job. 

“I regret that it happened, but my actions, and what I did, I did it the right way, the way I had to do it. Didn’t like it, but there are lots of things I don’t like,” Vance said.

Throughout the controversies, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said repeatedly that he had full confidence in Vance, who was also assigned the thorny task of implementing the Liberal government’s defence policy.

‘I am so very proud’

Vance has been touted as a possible candidate to head NATO’s Military Committee, a position that has not been held by a Canadian for more than 15 years.

The chairman’s post is expected to become vacant next year and the NATO alliance has been actively canvassing nations with an interest in leading the advisory body.

But the Liberal government last week formally refused to put Vance’s name forward, defence sources told CBC News.

Vance confirmed the government has elected not to pursue the competition, but said he wasn’t told the reason. 

He made no secret of his interest in the job, but has said in public previously that if the NATO position was not available, after five years as defence chief, it would be time for him to retire.

In his letter to the troops, Vance praised them and described them as “the inspiration for my life,” saying he had given them his all.

He told Canadian Forces members that they are “more important to the success of this nation than ‎most will ever know, and I am so very proud to be counted among your ranks.”

A member of the army for 39 years, Vance did two tours commanding the Canadian task force in Kandahar before going on to a series of high-profile posts, including head of the military’s overseas command and deputy commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Naples in 2014.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement today saying that Vance will continue to serve until he turns the command over to the new chief of the defence staff, “who will be named in the coming months.”

“In his five years as chief of the defence staff, General Vance has served with distinction during a challenging period, leading the Canadian Armed Forces as they served at home and around the world, from Mali to Ukraine to Iraq,” Trudeau said in the statement. “He has also worked with the Forces to make them more inclusive and representative of the country they defend and the Canadians they protect.

“With almost 40 years of service, General Vance has devoted his life to this country and we thank him for his dedication and leadership.”

From: Murray Brewster · CBC News

Troops, vehicles to move through to CFB Borden for anti-coronavirus fight

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The military is advising people in the Toronto area to expect a large number of its personnel and vehicles on the roads starting on Monday.

The Department of National Defence says members of the Joint Task Force Central will be heading from units across Ontario to Canadian Forces Base Borden.

The movement is part of the government’s fight against COVID-19.

Hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces members will be involved.

The department says the aim is to form a task force at Borden.

The troops will then be ready to respond to any requests from the government to help deal with COVID-19 or potential spring flooding.