Defence Capability Plan?

[AIC_2K5]

During the question period with General Hillier and Minister O'Connor today in Halifax, a question was asked regarding the possibility of another White Paper. This was denied by Hillier but he said that DND was working on a Defence Capability Plan to lay out the requirements of the Army, Air Force, and Navy. This is supposedly to be completed in a few months and it will be used as a reference to the MND for any future procurements.

Any thoughts?

 

[AIC_2K5]

Okay, well I geuss I'll reply to my own thread  ;D

I read somewhere awhile back during the election that O'Connor wanted to initiate a probe into the decision to replace tanks with the MGS. Possibly this is in the DCP? Maybe this is why the leadership abruptly requested the cancellation of MGS...?

 

[Gunner]

I believe the DCP remains a close hold document, so I think all you will get is speculation as to what it will contain.  One of Gen Hillier's tenets was to ensure the three services (army, navy, airforce) are capable of mutual support within the contemporary operating environment (COE), hence the DCP was initiated (well before O'Connor arrived on scene).  The CDS continues to move us in the right direction if he is able to tame the environmental special interest groups.   

 

[pbi]

AFAIK, another idea behind the DCP (and something that may make it unpopular with some people in some services and with some contractors and lobbyists...) is that all major capital equipment programs will be part of one, focused program for a joint CF operational capability, as opposed to whatever a particular service has on its own priority list. This means, inevitably, that some beloved projects will be tubed, since even under the Tories we can't afford everybody's wish list, nor IMHO should we. So, if a piece of equipment doesn't contribute to the overall plan, it's gone. At least, that's the idea. Personally, I'm all for it, instead of procurement based on infighting.  It's about time that we focused our budget a bit better. Who knows what we could have achieved if we'd had such a concept in place a decade ago.

Cheers

 

[Gunner]

pbi, quite right.

The CDS Action Teams used the example of the air force procuring (now cancelled) an air to air missle that was capable of engaging targets directly behind a CF 18.  The cost of procuring the missles was in the neighbourhood of $200 M.  A nice capability to have but the $200 M is much better spent elsewhere. 

 

[Kirkhill]

I found it interesting the "vigour" with which the CDS squelched a reporter's question on whether or not we needed a new White Paper.  An emphatic NO from the CDS.  Sounds compatible with having a plan and working the plan.  No need to confuse issues at this stage.

 

[Gunner]

Considering the Defence Policy Statement was just released last year, why would the CDS want another multi-million dollar, cross country boondoogle, dominated by special interest group input, producing a white paper of questionable value.  The Conservatives have picked up where the Liberals left off in terms of charting a path for the CF.  I credit the CDS for some of this but it also takes politicians (of all stripes) who realize the value of a properly (vice well) equipped military.

 

[Kirkhill]

... why would the CDS want another multi-million dollar, cross country boondoogle, dominated by special interest group input, producing a white paper of questionable value.

Agreed.

 

[AIC_2K5]

If it is made public, I think it would be interesting to see what the CF leadership feels is at the top of the shopping list...

 

[Gunner]

If it is made public, I think it would be interesting to see what the CF leadership feels is at the top of the shopping list...

If you are reading the news this week, there is an announcement each day on a critical capital equipment purchase.

 

[AIC_2K5]

If you are reading the news this week, there is an announcement each day on a critical capital equipment purchase.

Oui, but Hillier has this to say:

The purchases form "line one of our defence capability plan, which we are prepared to bring forward to our minister in the fall"