Bump:
The sole-sourcing of the F-35s is not the only dubious procurement decision made in recent years by the Conservatives. Contracts will soon be awarded for between six and eight Arctic patrol ships(some sources think because the ships must be made in Canada -- a more expensive option -- the Canadian Forces Maritime Command will only be able to afford five vessels).
Hardly anyone inside DND believes this is a good use of $4-to $6-billion, particularly in the Navy, which wants nothing to do with constabulary duties in the North. They worry that the cost of the offshore patrol vessels will eat into their budget for new destroyers and frigates and would prefer that the Canadian Coast Guard took over the job of patrolling the Arctic.
That would seem to be what the Jacks in the Canadian Navy would call "common dog" -- good sense. While the Coast Guard is civilian, and so cannot be armed, we are about to buy 65 $138-million fighter jets that can fly at 2,000 kilometres per hour and are bristling with more weaponry than a Klingon Bird of Prey.
That's more than enough muscle to exercise our sovereignty in the North. Surely an F-35 is much more useful than a Arctic slush-breaker when you're staring down the gun-sights of a Russian long-range bomber--an unlikely scenario but one that apparently keeps people awake in the Prime Minister's Office.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/Sole+sourcing+stupid+buzz+jets/3520110/story.html#ixzz0zofQKrSF
This came from John Ivison's National Post column on the F35 procurement.
IF his observarions are correct and IF there is a body of thought in the Navy that does not want these things then that may contribute to escalating prices, decreasing numbers and decreasing capabilities.
It doesn't seem to be a totally insupportable conclusion. The Navy is the inheritor of the Rainbow and Niobe, a couple of superannuated vessels too large in size and too small in number to be useful domestically but absolutely wonderful at showng the flag in time of peace, and demonstrating willingness in time of war....and welcomely received by our allies. They also convinced a francophone PM's (Laurier) fellow citizens, Brit settlers, that he was on the right side of things - critical after the Boer War. A useful contribution they make but they are not about guarding the frontiers.
Likewise the Army is not geared to domestic ops. They originate in manning choke points along the globe spanning Imperial Red Route (Halifax, Quebec, Kingston and Esquimalt)... but that is to digress too far.
The Coast Guard, really isn't a Guard at all but rather more of a Garde. They passively Watch rather than actively Guard.
On top of all that our government, the bureaucrats and our fellow citizens are not thrilled about bumping shoulders with members of the military on a professsional basis. They much prefer to deal with civilians even if those civilians are armed.... like the Canadian Borders Services, Fisheries and Wildlife and the RCMP.
Which brings me to my solution.
I believe that 6-8 AOPS are a good thing. I believe that the original Svalbard (with a large helo deck) is also a good thing at the original price and manning levels.
I propose to buy the 6-8 AOPS and turn them over to the RCMP Marine Service.
The RCMP has always been our domestic frontier force: Prairies, Chilcoots, Yukon, Arctic.
They are used to working in a civilian environment with civilian gear and lightly armed.
They don't expect to face down subs or missile carrying cruisers.
They would probably consider a 25mm ROWS on the foredeck and a large helo-pad back aft as adequate support for dealing with wayward trawlers, hunters and passenger ships.
Besides, they have form in the arctic. They supplied and supply isolated detachments in the north. 50 shipmates might even be too crowded for some of them.
And beside, the first vessel to transit the Northwest Passage from West to East was not a Navy ship, nor even a Coast Guard ship. It was the RCMP vessel St Roch.
Assign the entire St Roch class of AOPS to the RCMP and let them be responsible for carry CBSA and DFO and enforcing the law... and if they do turn up a marauding LPD well there is always the radio, that helodeck for the Army and an F35 out of Resolute.