As a Canadian Taxpayer, Retired Military and Retired Civil Servant. I simply have no problem with our Government operating in areas of conflict around this old world. What I am trying to get at are the people who expect a full report daily/ weekly with regards to Targets Bombed and the number of bombs dropped. I feel strongly that these issues should be kept secret within the military. Not for public disclosure.
The accounting of targets and ammunition spent. Is all part of
the operational military, whether Afghanistan or Libya. When the conflict is over then records of spending may be released but certainly not at the expense of military security.
While I was still a serving soldier, the Sea King helicopter. The workhorse of our Navy was to be replaced. Finally after a further 25 years of operation the first Cyclone has been delivered by Sikorsky.
Canada’s Maritime Helicopter Replacement Program has been a textbook military procurement program over its long history. Unfortunately, it has been a textbook example of what not to do. While Canada’s Sea King helicopter fleet aged and deteriorated to potentially dangerous levels, political pettiness and lack of concern turned a straightforward off-the-shelf buy into a 25+ year long odyssey of cancellations, lawsuits, rebids, and more. Eventually, the Canadian military settled on Sikorsky’s H-92 uperhawk as the basis of its new CH-148 Cyclone Maritime Helicopter, which will serve from the decks of Canada’s naval ships and bases.
The civilian S-92 has gone on to some commercial success. To date, however, Canada has been the H-92’s only military customer – with all of the associated systems integration and naval conversion burdens
As the Old Adage goes “Tis Better Late than Never” as they are delivered over the next 18 months. We can now focus on our F-35 Fighter replacement, hopefully to be resolved in a time far shorter than the Sea King episode.
So as we go into yet another Red Friday please wear something Red and Show visible support for our troops and their loved ones.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
