John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The upgraded US version of the LAV has a new turret for the 30 mm gun, a cost that our government didn't want.
Nope. Not an issue of cost. It was an issue of availability. The 30mm gun on the Stryker is still only a concept, and has not been fielded (Army to outfit Double V-Hull Strykers with 30mm firepower).The upgraded US version of the LAV has a new turret for the 30 mm gun, a cost that our government didn't want.
That's interesting then, because the NZ Army are starting a project to investigate whether to upgrade or replace the NZLAV (LAVIII). With the Aussie Army going to the 30 mm gun, & if the NZ Army decides to upgrade the NZLAV to the LAV 6.0 capability, it will have the 30 mm turret option open to it.Nope. Not an issue of cost. It was an issue of availability. The 30 mm gun on the Striker is still only a concept, and has not been fielded (Army to outfit Double V-Hull Strykers with 30 mm firepower).
The LAV UP program (or, LAV 6.0) started 6 years ago.
And maybe even a 35mm, which is reputed to be the preferred Canadian Army option for a LAV Upgun. Bushmaster III has been mentioned as the most obvious candidate.That's interesting then, because the NZ Army are starting a project to investigate whether to upgrade or replace the NZLAV (LAVIII). With the Aussie Army going to the 30 mm gun, & if the NZ Army decides to upgrade the NZLAV to the LAV 6.0 capability, it will have the 30 mm turret option open to it.
It is, but now he has a known grave to be remembered by and for family to visit. My great uncle still lies in an unknown grave somewhere upon Chunuk Bair in Gallipoli.After 100+ years, another WW1 soldier has been found and identified. Sad that it took so long but amazing that technology exists to do this.
Newfoundland soldier of the First World War identified
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces have identified the remains of Private John Lambert, a First World War soldier of The Newfoundland Regiment. Private Lambert died on August 16, 1917, at the age of 17. The Newfoundland Regiment is perpetuated by The Royal...www.canada.ca
@Calculus ....just a follow up on the sniper rifle issue started (incorrectly by me in the RCN thread). The economy of scale point is valid and explains some of the price difference, $15,000 per rifle. However how many sniper rifles (G-28 version) would we ever buy? Even if we needed 1,500, a direct order to HK surely would be a better plan than a dedicated production line. I understand the the value of producing other higher volume weapons in Canada. Perhaps there should a volume range that directs whether local or foreign sourcing should be mandated.
Well there are some signs the government might be improving the process, even if slowly. The latest small order acquisition for 229 C21 rifles will be a competition rather than going directly to Colt Canada. They say they evaluate whether an order with Colt Canada or a competition provides better value for each procurement, but cynically, especially with the state of the economy, I wouldn't be surprised if future acquisitions continue to heavily favour Colt Canada with headlines focusing on the creation and maintenance of Canadian jobs rather than the cost.It was decided that a competition would be held for the new C21 rifle because an analysis under the Munitions Supply Program showed that having Colt create a new production line for just 229 rifles would be too expensive, according to DND. There are many manufacturers of such bolt action rifles throughout the world.
Doesn’t PGW make a decent bolt action sniper rifle with 7.62 mm and .338 caliber versions? For 200-300 units, a reasonable alternative vendor surely?Canadian military to get new sniper rifles
Canadian military sniper teams will be getting new rifles with the first expected to be delivered in the fall.ottawacitizen.com
Well there are some signs the government might be improving the process, even if slowly. The latest small order acquisition for 229 C21 rifles will be a competition rather than going directly to Colt Canada. They say they evaluate whether an order with Colt Canada or a competition provides better value for each procurement, but cynically, especially with the state of the economy, I wouldn't be surprised if future acquisitions continue to heavily favour Colt Canada with headlines focusing on the creation and maintenance of Canadian jobs rather than the cost.
It's a good point, but in the grand scheme of things, these contracts are peanuts compared to fighters and frigates, so the "savings" that can be had by buying directly from the manufacturer are piddling compared to the overall DND Capital budget. It will be interesting to see what they do with the new pistols (to replace the Inglis HPs), the requirement reputed to be somewhere between 15-20,000 (Between 15,000 and 20,000 new handguns are to be ordered for Canadian military). Originally the requirement was for a domestic build, and on the face of it that would make sense, from a strategic standpoint, but apparently the main contenders (Glock, SIG, and CZ) have all balked at handing over their technical data packages to Colt, so the GoC may be forced to drop its requirement for build in Canada. I'm told this all got much more complicated when Colt bought Diemaco. No one wanted the American parent to have access to their IP...@Calculus ....just a follow up on the sniper rifle issue started (incorrectly by me in the RCN thread). The economy of scale point is valid and explains some of the price difference, $15,000 per rifle. However how many sniper rifles (G-28 version) would we ever buy? Even if we needed 1,500, a direct order to HK surely would be a better plan than a dedicated production line. I understand the the value of producing other higher volume weapons in Canada. Perhaps there should a volume range that directs whether local or foreign sourcing should be mandated.
I agree, it would make sense, and hopefully that's what happens, but unless they can justify a sole-source procurement, they still need to run an open competition, so who knows.Doesn’t PGW make a decent bolt action sniper rifle with 7.62 mm and .338 caliber versions? For 200-300 units, a reasonable alternative vendor surely?
I believe the C21 is supposed to replace the current C14 Timberwolf made by PGW so the Army may be looking for something else.Doesn’t PGW make a decent bolt action sniper rifle with 7.62 mm and .338 caliber versions? For 200-300 units, a reasonable alternative vendor surely?
Yes, interesting situation wrt the handgun replacement. There is zero chance for export of Canadian licensed hand guns IMO that would be competitive against the major vendors, even in the unlikely event they would license their designs to Colt Canada. GoC should never have allowed the acquisition of Diemaco if they wanted a company that could obtain license manufacturing in Canada, again IMO.It's a good point, but in the grand scheme of things, these contracts are peanuts compared to fighters and frigates, so the "savings" that can be had by buying directly from the manufacturer are piddling compared to the overall DND Capital budget. It will be interesting to see what they do with the new pistols (to replace the Inglis HPs), the requirement reputed to be somewhere between 15-20,000 (Between 15,000 and 20,000 new handguns are to be ordered for Canadian military). Originally the requirement was for a domestic build, and on the face of it that would make sense, from a strategic standpoint, but apparently the main contenders (Glock, SIG, and CZ) have all balked at handing over their technical data packages to Colt, so the GoC may be forced to drop its requirement for build in Canada. I'm told this all got much more complicated when Colt bought Diemaco. No one wanted the American parent to have access to their IP...
Contract some Toronto gangbangers and you can get quick delivery and good prices or just get confiscated handguns from the Toronto police for free.It should be said that we are not just talking about the weapons themselves. These contracts almost always include scopes both day and night, scope rings and mounts, bipod, suppressor, spare magazines, ballistics calculators, spotter scope, slings, rifle case, concealment kit for the rifle.
the C20 appears to be a composite rifle a Colt M.A.R.C. 901 lower mated to a licensed LMT MRR-L upper receiver group, LMT stock and Geissele SSA Dual-Stage Trigger, American defense bipod and OSS QD suppressor. I haven’t read anything about scope yet.
Sniper rifles come in two kinds, build to order deals customized off sports rifles bespoke or factory built. IE the Timberwolf, M40 series, M24 series, Mk13.
or alternatively and especially in the last few years factory built scratch designed tactical sniper rifles IE Accuracy International, Barret MRAD, DSR-1, Desert tech.
The former tends to cost more as it often involves hand fitted and one off parts designed just to meet the needs of the service or end user. The latter often is cheaper to a degree but offers less true custom and more modules, more of a made to made based of existing options deal.
Sidearms are a different deal. They fall into a category where 90% of their users can’t milk every bit of accuracy out of them like a sniper can. As such it’s less expensive entry point with good enough being well good enough. Colt Canada and colt haven’t made a sidearm other than the 1911that has been suited for mass service issue in a long time. The few issue they have were meant for special service issue. MARSOC and even then have pretty much been replaced by Glock. Personally I think if Canada wants a new sidearm drop the made in Canada bit. More than enough production capacity just south of the boarder. Heck a couple hours truck ride will get Sig pistols into Canada from New Hampshire. Existing lines, existing production.
True, but then the government would have to go against its very own Munitions Supply Program (Munitions Supply Program – Electronics, munitions and tactical systems - Defence Procurement - Buying and Selling - PSPC Services - Home), which stipulates domestic manufacturing capability for ammunition and small arms. However, as @Albedo pointed out in post 28 above, they may be looking at doing this anyway, so perhaps that program is on its way out...Sidearms are a different deal. They fall into a category where 90% of their users can’t milk every bit of accuracy out of them like a sniper can. As such it’s less expensive entry point with good enough being well good enough. Colt Canada and colt haven’t made a sidearm other than the 1911that has been suited for mass service issue in a long time. The few issue they have were meant for special service issue. MARSOC and even then have pretty much been replaced by Glock. Personally I think if Canada wants a new sidearm drop the made in Canada bit. More than enough production capacity just south of the boarder. Heck a couple hours truck ride will get Sig pistols into Canada from New Hampshire. Existing lines, existing production.
Totally agree.GoC should never have allowed the acquisition of Diemaco if they wanted a company that could obtain license manufacturing in Canada, again IMO.
Interesting. Wonder why? They only entered service in 2005, and I think they just ran a program to modernize the C14? It's supposedly an excellent rifle. I believe it was even used by the British SAS in Afghanistan. CANADIAN C14 TIMBERWOLF - Sniper CentralI believe the C21 is supposed to replace the current C14 Timberwolf made by PGW so the Army may be looking for something else.
Interesting. Wonder why? They only entered service in 2005, and I think they just ran a program to modernize the C14? It's supposedly an excellent rifle. I believe it was even used by the British SAS in Afghanistan. CANADIAN C14 TIMBERWOLF - Sniper Central
Maybe I'm reading too much into things. The Army is looking for a rifle that can switch between .338 LM and 7.62 mm. That they're running a competition for new rifles rather than just modifying/upgrading their existing C14 suggests that they are looking for something other than a new PGW Timberwolf variant. I have no idea what concerns the Army have with the C14 though.“Upon final departmental approval, there will be 229 Multi-Caliber Sniper Weapons (MCSW) delivered. The purpose of the weapon is to replace the current .338 LM C14 fleet with a weapon that can be switched from .338 LM to 7.62 mm when needed. The .338 LM will remain the caliber of choice for operations while the 7.62 mm will be used for specific scenarios and for training and on ranges that cannot accommodate the more powerful .338 LM. Canadian Army infantry units and combat schools will be the main users. The MCSW should go to the bidding phase in late 2017, but the exact dates for delivery or contract talks are not known at this time.”