Future CF Structure: From A Partisan Political Model to a Canada First Model (Concept Idea)

 

Crowsnest Mountain, Alberta (by V.A. McMillan)

Today, let's talk about restructuring the Canadian Forces (CF) in a manner that respects the men and women in uniform who serve to protect our nation from all threats foreign and domestic. 

Currently, and since the creation of Canada in 1867, we have had a national defence system that is explicitly connected to the government of the day. This partisan political system has been exploited and corrupted at every opportune moment by every political party that has ever been in power. Yes, some forward thinking political representatives have worked very hard to help the CF, but that has been the minority.

To move forward, I am suggesting a national defence system based on the strategic and operational NEEDS of defending Canada and Canadians as the first priority. A system which hopes to separate political maneuvering and vote buying from the actual job of defending the country. To achieve this, there needs to be a re-structuring of roles and responsibilities. Starting with the Ministry of National Defence, will now have only one function secure the funding necessary for the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to fulfill their budget obligations to the CF. This means, the CDS will use all of their resources to determine what is needed to adequately defend Canada, meet obligations to our NATO and NORAD partners and equip our CF personnel to do the job we ask them to do on our behalf. 

Now a quick slide show:

This re-structuring of the CF High Command would ensure there is a focused team working together to achieve the defence needs of Canada. We would have the correct number of persons in uniform, in the correct branch, equipped with the proper equipment to do their job in all weather conditions, all seasons, all areas of Canada or foreign theatres we ask our CF personnel to serve. It is insane to continue to ask the CF to do the impossible without giving them the basic tools of their trade. Worse is the practice of promising to acquire the equipment or tools needed and then an election occurs and some new jackasses waddle into Parliament and cancel the purchase agreements and thereby endangering the lives of the CF front line personnel. Who agrees to this system??

Long-range CF planning requires consistency. A consistent strength. A consistent volume and quality of gear, weapons, and ammunition. And consistent high quality leadership. 

The Canadian economy could benefit from consistency, too.  How about a long-term schedule of naval vessels for the Navy and Coast Guard?? Canadian shipbuilders would benefit and so would their employees. How about armoured vehicles and tanks for the Army?? This would benefit the steel manufactures, the vehicle sector, their employees and supporting communities. How about aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Army??? Do we have Canadian manufacturers who can build fighter jets?? Helicopters?? Transport planes?? 

A Canada First strategy would use a systems approach to national defence. It would ensure Canadian industry supported the CF by designing and building equipment, gear, and weapons that enabled the CF to do their job. Again, this would be evidence-based on strategic planning to meet the operational needs today and tomorrow. Military planning cycles need to be 25 to 50-years ahead of where we are, so we can get to where we are going. Four years is inadequate for national defence planning, if you want to defend your country from all threats - foreign AND domestic!

Until next time...think about the greater GOOD!

Mountainman.

Design Idea - A Tethered Drone Antenna for Submarines

 

Peggy's Cove, NS (Photo by V.A. McMillan, 2012)

The idea I want to share today is one that has been bouncing around inside my head for quite some time. Between multiple readings of Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising (1986) or watching the movie The Hunt for Red October (1990), based on Tom Clancy's novel; I keep noticing one vulnerability for submarines and their crews...which is, having to surface to retrieve messages from HQ. I am not a submariner and that must be taken into consideration with my suggestion.

With the advance in drone technology, why is a tethered drone to carry an antenna to the surface not being used for improving communications connections between submarines and their HQ?? 

I understand there is an extreme low frequency (ELF) radio technology that in theory can communicate with a submerged vessel, however, if I understand things correctly due to the length of the radio waves, it takes a long time for information to be transferred between sender and receiver and back again. 

So, to reduce exposure and to increase information sharing between submarines and their respective HQ's, I would like to suggest a simple concept - the tethered drone submarine antenna. See image below:

The Tethered Drone Submarine Antenna Concept by V.A. McMillan

The idea would allow for an underwater, remote controlled drone to carry from the submarine to the surface (not more than 250 metres above), a tether which would include an antenna for multiple means of communications - UHF, VHF, SATCOM, etc.. In hostile territory, it would be best to use a burst transmission from one location to send information to HQ and then relocate and receive information to the submarine an hour or so later, from a new location. Sending & receiving at the same location seems tactically unwise.

Drones would be smaller than a Mk 18 torpedo, so it would not be a space issue to keep a half-dozen onboard the submarine. I recognize if the submarine had to cut the cable and dive to avoid detection or make evasive maneuvers to avoid contact, the antenna tether and the drone would need to be expendable in design. A simple remote cable cutter to snip the tether would likely be adequate.

The drone would launch from the top side of the vessel, behind the conning tower. The launch area could be similar to a torpedo launcher that can be dry loaded from the inside, flooded before opening the outer hatch/gate. The tether cable would be attached to the inside of the launch tube and limited to 250 metres. The  cable would be spooled on a winch for retrieval and re-use. Further, the spools would be of a quick change design, to replace the tether cable if the previous one had to be cut for an emergency dive.

The drone could also be fitted with sensors and/or video cameras to capture intel from the surface and locate any enemy vessels or aircraft within the area, or field of view.

Well, that is about it. If I have further thoughts on this idea, I will post an update in the future.

Until next time, think about new ideas...and share them!!

Mountainman.