- Reaction score
- 2,558
- Points
- 1,260
Noting spotted on MERX - anyone know of any other open source for the proposal call?
Shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.
Military seeks super ride
Documents listing requirements for new vehicles give a rare glimpse into the work of special forces
Allan Woods, Toronto Star, 7 Aug 08
Article link
They'll drop from flying helicopters, run in the desert heat and the Arctic cold and shield soldiers from the ravages of a dirty bomb or nuclear weapon.
The unusually detailed list of requirements for a new super vehicle for Canada's special forces is contained in government documents released as the military tests the market to determine which suppliers can best meet its needs.
The solicitation, which seeks 80 "special reconnaissance" and 20 "quick reaction" vehicles, also provides a rare glimpse into the types of missions the country's special forces soldiers are carrying out and what hazards they could face in the future.
The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command is the most secretive branch of the military, made up of Joint Task Force 2, the anti-terror unit, as well as a chemical, nuclear and biological response team, air support and the 750-strong regiment that backs up JTF2 and conducts its own high-risk operations around the globe.
"The (Special Operations Vehicle) will be deployed throughout the world on a moment's notice and in many cases little or no logistics support will follow," read the documents, which are available to military contractors.
They'll be packed into Canada's military transport planes, slung from Griffon helicopters and delivered to the frontlines of Afghanistan, the streets of Baghdad, or the tundra of the Far North. They'll run across the main roads, trails and mountains of the numerous regions of the globe where the country's best-trained soldiers operate.
Longer reconnaissance missions, where special forces troops are operating alone in "denied territory," demand a sturdy off-road vehicle that can run on fuel contaminated by dirt and water, that can operate in virtual silence to prevent detection and that can fire on targets with a machine gun or grenade launcher at a close range.
The more heavily armoured quick reaction vehicle will be involved in urban combat with high exposure to an armed enemy or insurgent threat. The military instructions state that both vehicles should be similar to or interchangeable with those used by British, U.S. and Australian special forces so that Canadians can turn to their primary allies for spare parts and mechanical assistance in a pinch.
Stephen Priestley, a military researcher who runs the Canadian American Strategic Review website, said it's likely that the Special Operations Regiment, formed in 2006 and based in Petawawa, is currently using either Humvees or a variation of the Mercedes G-Wagon, a vehicle that's already in the Forces' fleet.
The most likely candidates to fill the new demand are the Supacat Jackal 4x4, which the British recently purchased for use in Afghanistan, or the Wolf AGF Light Infantry Vehicle, which is ride-of-choice for German special forces.
Shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.
Military seeks super ride
Documents listing requirements for new vehicles give a rare glimpse into the work of special forces
Allan Woods, Toronto Star, 7 Aug 08
Article link
They'll drop from flying helicopters, run in the desert heat and the Arctic cold and shield soldiers from the ravages of a dirty bomb or nuclear weapon.
The unusually detailed list of requirements for a new super vehicle for Canada's special forces is contained in government documents released as the military tests the market to determine which suppliers can best meet its needs.
The solicitation, which seeks 80 "special reconnaissance" and 20 "quick reaction" vehicles, also provides a rare glimpse into the types of missions the country's special forces soldiers are carrying out and what hazards they could face in the future.
The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command is the most secretive branch of the military, made up of Joint Task Force 2, the anti-terror unit, as well as a chemical, nuclear and biological response team, air support and the 750-strong regiment that backs up JTF2 and conducts its own high-risk operations around the globe.
"The (Special Operations Vehicle) will be deployed throughout the world on a moment's notice and in many cases little or no logistics support will follow," read the documents, which are available to military contractors.
They'll be packed into Canada's military transport planes, slung from Griffon helicopters and delivered to the frontlines of Afghanistan, the streets of Baghdad, or the tundra of the Far North. They'll run across the main roads, trails and mountains of the numerous regions of the globe where the country's best-trained soldiers operate.
Longer reconnaissance missions, where special forces troops are operating alone in "denied territory," demand a sturdy off-road vehicle that can run on fuel contaminated by dirt and water, that can operate in virtual silence to prevent detection and that can fire on targets with a machine gun or grenade launcher at a close range.
The more heavily armoured quick reaction vehicle will be involved in urban combat with high exposure to an armed enemy or insurgent threat. The military instructions state that both vehicles should be similar to or interchangeable with those used by British, U.S. and Australian special forces so that Canadians can turn to their primary allies for spare parts and mechanical assistance in a pinch.
Stephen Priestley, a military researcher who runs the Canadian American Strategic Review website, said it's likely that the Special Operations Regiment, formed in 2006 and based in Petawawa, is currently using either Humvees or a variation of the Mercedes G-Wagon, a vehicle that's already in the Forces' fleet.
The most likely candidates to fill the new demand are the Supacat Jackal 4x4, which the British recently purchased for use in Afghanistan, or the Wolf AGF Light Infantry Vehicle, which is ride-of-choice for German special forces.
