An inflatable life raft fell out of Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 through roof of Miami home

Royal Canadian Air Force Arrives at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Watch Royal Canadian Air Force test an ejection seat from the back of a Dodge Ram

Any day is a good day when you can speed a Dodge Ram pickup truck down a military runway before launching a rocket-powered ejection seat into the sky.

Royal Canadian Air Force Officer Maj. Lonny Handwork did exactly that in an equipment test Thursday afternoon at the CFB Cold Lake.

"I get the honour of being behind the wheel, so I'm pretty excited about that," Handwork said during a Thursday morning interview on CBC Radio's Edmonton AM.

"It's one of the few advantages of being the project officer for this. I'm kind of the boss, so I pulled rank and I get the place of honour today."

At exactly 1:00 p.m., a high powered pickup — with an ejection seat mounted on its flatbed — hurtled down the runway at more than 140 km/h.

In a matter of seconds, the seat's rocket motors ignited, launching the seat into the air.

"The event is over pretty quickly," Handwork said. "There's an acceleration of the vehicle down the runway and there is a very loud bang."

12-second test could help upgrade existing ejection seats

Of course, the seat's occupant won't be alive; a crash test dummy of sorts will be used in the dramatic feat, and spectators will be viewing from a close, but safe distance.

"The whole event takes about 12 seconds. The dummy goes in the air on the rocket-propelled catapult, about 100 to 130 feet up into the air, depending on the day. And then the parachute system is initiated and he comes down under that," Handwork said.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/engineers-test-air-force-ejection-seat-with-dodge-ram-rocket-fuel-1.3557031

Royal Canadian Navy marks first-ever missile test against shore-based targets

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver made history recently as it became the first modernized Canadian frigate to successfully test surface-to-surface missiles against a shore-based target.

Utilizing Harpoon Block II surface-to-surface missiles, this is the first time the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has exercised such a surface-to-surface missile launch capability. The launches were a part of a Joint Littoral Training Exercise (JoLTEX) recently completed by the RCN at a United States Navy missile firing range off the coast of California. The exercise was held in late March and early April.

“This successful launch test serves not only as a testament to the professionalism of the sailors on board HMCS Vancouver, it also serves to usher in a renewed capability for the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Commodore Jeff Zwick, Commander Maritime Fleet Pacific. “Years of work and innovation have led us to this point, and our sailors now have one more reason to hold their heads high. The success of JoLTEX 16 clearly demonstrates the navy’s commitment to providing a modern, flexible and combat capable maritime force not only above, on, and below the seas, but one that is now also capable of striking from sea to shore.”

The success of this exercise symbolizes a significant step toward reinstituting a crucial RCN capability that will support the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) and its allies’ combat operations ashore.

“This was a great navy morning, as the hard work of the past several years culminated in the delivery of a new capability in support of the broader CAF mission,” said Captain (Navy) Darren Garnier, Commander Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre. “The successful execution of JoLTEX 16 resulted from the coming together of RCN, Special Forces, the materiel group and our evaluation teams to achieve several firsts for the CAF, including the delivery of combat effect by the RCN in a joint littoral environment. As the Test Director, I offer my appreciation to all involved, but specifically to the crew of HMCS Vancouver who were ‘all in’ in terms of making this happen.”

The successful firing of these missiles in the CTS mode is the first time Harpoon Block II missiles and the new Combat Management System on board the RCN’s modernized frigates have been coupled for this purpose.

“From Vancouver’s perspective, JoLTEX 16 was a huge success,” said Commander Clive Butler, Commander HMCS Vancouver. “The missiles left the rails when ordered to do so, they followed the ordered path to the target, and they impacted the targets with precision. Vancouver’s team finished the exercise confident in the capability and excited to have contributed to the development of joint tactical doctrine.”

Canadian Air Force intercepts Santa Clause

Men in red and green uniforms were on the move in Canada's North

Canada gets second thoughts about F-35

Canada’s Justin Trudeau says he’ll cancel plans to buy the troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Stephen Harper’s Conservative government may not be the only casualty in Monday’s electoral upset in Canada.

Justin Trudeau, the leader of Canada’s victorious Liberals and soon-to-be Prime Minister, has vowed to cancel the country’s purchase of 60 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets from Lockheed Martin  and instead focus on bolstering its Navy.Trudeau’s victory marks another setback—albeit a small one—for the military program as Lockheed Martin continues its efforts to drive down the per-aircraft price of the F-35 by boosting production rates. However, Lockheed’s loss will likely translate into someone else’s gain as Canada shops for a less expensive alternative to replace its aging CF-18s fighter jets.

Canada has been part of the F-35 program essentially from its origins in 2001, when Lockheed Martin beat out Boeing for the privilege of building a new fighter jet. Canada pledged $150 million to aid the aircraft’s development, alongside several foreign partners including Japan, Norway, Denmark, Australia, and the U.K. That initial investment bought Canada—and the Pentagon’s other foreign partners—the right to acquire F-35s later at a lower price.

Canada’s Conservative government had previously announced it would acquire at least 60 jets, likely purchasing between four and eight F-35s each year at $80 to $100 million per aircraft starting in 2017. Monday’s Liberal victory puts that order in serious doubt since Trudeau intends to scrap the Conservative’s F-35 buy.

If Trudeau follows through on the promise, Canada will lose the $150 million already invested in the F-35’s development, and Lockheed would lose what would have been billions of dollars in sales to the Royal Canadian Air Force (and likely millions more on follow-on contracts for ongoing maintenance).

Ten Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-130Js from 436 Transport Squadron perform Elephant Walk

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has officially accepted six CH-148 Cyclone helicopters at 12 Wing Shearwater

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is a major step closer to operating a new world-class maritime helicopter fleet with the official acceptance of six CH-148 Cyclones on June 19, 2015.

Defence Minister Jason Kenney joined Public Works and Government Services Minister Diane Finley, as well as Regional Minister for Nova Scotia and Justice Minister Peter MacKay, at 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, today to mark this important milestone. The six helicopters were accepted in accordance with the schedule set out in January 2014 and have the operational capability to allow the RCAF to begin retiring the Ch-124 Sea Kings.

“Today is an exciting day as we take another significant step forward in the Cyclone project,” said Defence Minister Kenney. “I am confident this modern aircraft will improve our aviators’ and sailors’ ability to work together in defence of Canada from current and future threats.”

The aircraft accepted today will be based at 12 Wing and are being used for training and testing with RCAF personnel. In its final configuration, the Cyclones will be capable of a full range of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, and utility missions in various environments and will be one of the most capable maritime helicopters in the world.

After more than 50 years of distinguished service, the first two Sea Kings will be retired later this year. The Sea King fleet has served Canada proudly at home and abroad, including missions such as the first Gulf War in 1990-1991, and providing security support at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Sea King fleet will continue operations until 2018 to allow for the transition to the Cyclone fleet.

“The Sea King has faithfully served Canada for more than 50 years and has proven to be incredibly effective in undertaking a high number of simultaneous operations at home and abroad,” said Brigadier-General Paul Ormsby, the director of the maritime helicopter project and a member of the RCAF. “I am honoured to be a part of this significant step toward providing Canada with the next generation of maritime helicopter capability, which will be one of the most capable maritime helicopters in the world.”

Sikorsky, the RCAF and the Royal Canadian Navy conducted sea trials with the CH-148 Cyclone on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Halifax between December 2014 and May 2015. In support of the trials, the Cyclone conducted 67 sorties, including 322 landings and takeoffs from the frigate. The aircraft’s capabilities will continue to be enhanced through future deliveries, with the Cyclone maritime helicopter fleet fully taking over for the Sea King beginning in 2018.

With a maximum cruise speed of 250 kilometres per hour, CH-148 Cyclone helicopters will be approximately 10 per cent faster than the CH-124 Sea King. Further, the Cyclone has a 36 per cent larger usable cabin space, and it can exceed the range and endurance of a Sea King by 40 per cent at maximum weight and sensor performance.

In June 2014, the Government of Canada amended both the acquisition contract and in-service support to include an additional 10 years of support at rates based on those competed in 2004, thus generating significant value for taxpayers.

Boeing