OTTAWA -- The Canadian Forces will call on a cabinet committee Monday to approve a $12.2-billion purchase of new airplanes and choppers, according to the documents obtained by Sun Media.
A senior military officer confirmed the details of the cabinet submission, which includes long-awaited replacements for their aging Hercules transport planes and the Buffalo search-and-rescue aircraft.
TO WOO MINISTERS
It also allows for the purchase of new troop transport helicopters and provides a retainer for guaranteed use of giant transport planes.
On Monday top military officials will woo a select group of ministers who sit on the operations committee and later other ministers from the domestic affairs committee, and hope to see Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier personally pitch the purchase to full cabinet on Nov. 24 for final approval.
The defence department is scrambling to push the purchase through before a federal election call.
The defence industry is in an uproar over the package, which they say ensures all competition is eliminated and favourites are guaranteed the lucrative contracts.
Representatives of potential bidders privately agree that the Canadian Forces has set requirements for their new fleets to favour the new C130J Hercules, the C27J Spartan and the Boeing Chinook helicopter.
$3B FOR 16 CRAFT
A military official said the $3-billion budget for the replacement of Canada's Hercules with 16 aircraft means only updated versions of the same planes will fit the bill.
"What we want is the cheapest one to replace the Herc," the senior officer said, adding that only leaves the C130J to become the air force's workhorse.
The official said the military would prefer to purchase large transport planes to save on rental costs in the long run, but understands that the Liberal government isn't prepared to pay for them.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/11/11/1302614-sun.html
A senior military officer confirmed the details of the cabinet submission, which includes long-awaited replacements for their aging Hercules transport planes and the Buffalo search-and-rescue aircraft.
TO WOO MINISTERS
It also allows for the purchase of new troop transport helicopters and provides a retainer for guaranteed use of giant transport planes.
On Monday top military officials will woo a select group of ministers who sit on the operations committee and later other ministers from the domestic affairs committee, and hope to see Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier personally pitch the purchase to full cabinet on Nov. 24 for final approval.
The defence department is scrambling to push the purchase through before a federal election call.
The defence industry is in an uproar over the package, which they say ensures all competition is eliminated and favourites are guaranteed the lucrative contracts.
Representatives of potential bidders privately agree that the Canadian Forces has set requirements for their new fleets to favour the new C130J Hercules, the C27J Spartan and the Boeing Chinook helicopter.
$3B FOR 16 CRAFT
A military official said the $3-billion budget for the replacement of Canada's Hercules with 16 aircraft means only updated versions of the same planes will fit the bill.
"What we want is the cheapest one to replace the Herc," the senior officer said, adding that only leaves the C130J to become the air force's workhorse.
The official said the military would prefer to purchase large transport planes to save on rental costs in the long run, but understands that the Liberal government isn't prepared to pay for them.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/11/11/1302614-sun.html