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Canadian Press
Published Monday June 11th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
http://www.canadaeast.com/ce2/docroot/article.php?articleID=9657
National Defence wants to jump the queue once again to get faster delivery of new Hercules tactical-lift aircraft and has formally asked the Pentagon if it can butt into line ahead of the U.S. military.
Canada is hoping to start receiving the new model of the venerable C-130 by 2009, a full year ahead of the previously established schedule, according to a senior Defence official.
The Pentagon is "favourable to the idea," said Dan Ross, the U.S. department's assistant deputy minister of material.
An official decision by the Americans has yet to be made because Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government is still negotiating a final contract with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin for the $4.9 billion purchase 17 C-130J Hercules. "We're hoping we'll be able to get the opportunity to start training new crews and technicians on the 130J before 2010," Ross said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
He said the Americans see it as being in their interest to help Canada get the aircraft as quickly as possible.
"I mean, we work together around the world and (we're) obviously co-operating very, very closely in Afghanistan," said Ross. "So they need Canada to be as militarily self-sufficient as possible."
One of the biggest problems facing NATO countries in Afghanistan is a shortage of air transport, including tactical-lift and helicopters.
Ottawa's intention to buy new tactical-lift aircraft was first announced last summer, but opposition and industry critics stepped up their attacks in November when the Conservatives acknowledged they were negotiating exclusively with Lockheed Martin.
On Friday, the U.S. aerospace firm's main competitor -- Airbus Military -- tried to do an end-run around the Defence Department. It dropped an unsolicited proposal on the desks of members of the House of Commons defence committee and called for the C-130J purchase to be scrapped.
At present, the Canadian air force employs a small group of Hercules transports in Afghanistan. Flying out a base in the Middle East, the aircraft are used for supply drops to NATO troops at far-flung desert bases.
But the bulk of Canada's fleet of 32 C-130E and C-130H cargo planes, purchased between 1960 and 1997, is reaching the end of its life.
Last fall, National Defence made a similar queue-jumping request for early delivery of four C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift cargo aircraft and 16 CH-47 Chinook helicopters from U.S.-based Boeing Aircraft Corp.
Published Monday June 11th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
http://www.canadaeast.com/ce2/docroot/article.php?articleID=9657
National Defence wants to jump the queue once again to get faster delivery of new Hercules tactical-lift aircraft and has formally asked the Pentagon if it can butt into line ahead of the U.S. military.
Canada is hoping to start receiving the new model of the venerable C-130 by 2009, a full year ahead of the previously established schedule, according to a senior Defence official.
The Pentagon is "favourable to the idea," said Dan Ross, the U.S. department's assistant deputy minister of material.
An official decision by the Americans has yet to be made because Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government is still negotiating a final contract with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin for the $4.9 billion purchase 17 C-130J Hercules. "We're hoping we'll be able to get the opportunity to start training new crews and technicians on the 130J before 2010," Ross said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
He said the Americans see it as being in their interest to help Canada get the aircraft as quickly as possible.
"I mean, we work together around the world and (we're) obviously co-operating very, very closely in Afghanistan," said Ross. "So they need Canada to be as militarily self-sufficient as possible."
One of the biggest problems facing NATO countries in Afghanistan is a shortage of air transport, including tactical-lift and helicopters.
Ottawa's intention to buy new tactical-lift aircraft was first announced last summer, but opposition and industry critics stepped up their attacks in November when the Conservatives acknowledged they were negotiating exclusively with Lockheed Martin.
On Friday, the U.S. aerospace firm's main competitor -- Airbus Military -- tried to do an end-run around the Defence Department. It dropped an unsolicited proposal on the desks of members of the House of Commons defence committee and called for the C-130J purchase to be scrapped.
At present, the Canadian air force employs a small group of Hercules transports in Afghanistan. Flying out a base in the Middle East, the aircraft are used for supply drops to NATO troops at far-flung desert bases.
But the bulk of Canada's fleet of 32 C-130E and C-130H cargo planes, purchased between 1960 and 1997, is reaching the end of its life.
Last fall, National Defence made a similar queue-jumping request for early delivery of four C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift cargo aircraft and 16 CH-47 Chinook helicopters from U.S.-based Boeing Aircraft Corp.
