After some quick reading, I think you're right.
niknanos.substack.com
Bill C6 and C7 added a fair bit to the DND budget, but it will take a lot more then money at the problem to fix things. Talking with some very Senior RCEME types, we could hit 2% just buying spare parts to get our VOR rate as close to 0 as possible.
Not all needed spares are readily available on the market.
Not just partners, stock piling, we need warehouses of technical stores again
Not just that, tools. If an MRT gets blown up but the crew survives how do they replace whats in their tool boxes? I'm not just talking about wrenches but specialty diagnostic equipment. For better or worse, everything we buy has computers and electronics sensors embedded. The types of equipment we need to service that stuff isn't something we can just buy at Canadian Tire. If Veh Techs/FCS Techs/Sig Techs/etc need replacements they come from industry, not a stock pile. If we need a lot of tools, fast, to grow the Army in an emergency we will have the same problem we did buying masks during COVID. Other nations, with deeper pockets, will be out bidding us.
100% some of it would be as simple as having a CnC machine in every mat shop. Plus the blueprints, others? We definitely would need extras in stock. Honestly our tech tool boxes havent changed checklists in about 30 years but plenty of amendments and add ons have been done, so they really should redo them for what we deal with in modern equipment.
CnCs aren’t that simple, if your going to do that you need to bring back a full machinist trade. The need is there, that being said it is easier to contract it out and keep the PYs then to lose the PYs.
If we are trying to move towards 2% or more shouldn't we be looking at rebuilding some of the trades we dumped in the process of cutting costs?
It's likely better to fill the trades that exist first, then start branching out into other skills.
I'll buy that but perhaps applying for the py's to be added to the numbers as a first step. Right now you might get them; in six months when the shine is off and the facts about the budget and our deficit have hit home, odds aren't as good
Most of that diagnostic equipment can be sourced locally and immediately. In some cases downloaded if you have the rights to the program software. It would be a good idea to have a few port connections as spares in Stores. Otherwise should not be a problem getting them.
There are enough tools around that can be sourced outside of DND that if something is required it can be found. Just not within current Canadian Military processes.
With the logistics system the way it is, it would be interesting to see if those parts are in the system somewhere, but somewhere else is stock piling them for "notional times"
I am curious what types of parts these are?
I would go one better and say realistic Domestic Partners.
Which is funny we cant and wont build upon this. We have some very skilled Tradesmen and Women in the country who given the work would build dam near anything.And our own manufacturing base.
Isn’t it the case the armed forces rarely buy enough equipment and systems to replace battle losses of equipment or even replace ammunition anymore such as missiles, artillery rounds etc. at a rate of expected wartime use.
You can software and hardware for some of the equipment from Caterpillar, Cummins, Volvo, Detroit Mann,
Sure (you would be surprised what PA has available to them for Hydraulic hoses fittings and pipe along with other supply partners for various equipment). You do understand we have various industry bases in Canada that not only mines, processes and manufactures various parts for Aircraft, they also design, engineer, build, repair and manufacture a variety of parts for National and International Aerospace customers.
I wonder what is actually stockpiled through out Canada in various warehouses around the country both Government and private industry.
