Latest news with #AlexTétreault
CBC
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Rifles issued to Canadian Rangers in the Arctic need replacements, don't work in the cold
Rifles issued to the Canadian Rangers in Canada's Arctic don't work properly in the cold — and it's going to cost millions to fix. C-19 rifles were distributed to the Rangers, who serve the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, in 2017. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) told CBC News in an email that extreme cold led to the stocks — a part of a gun attached to the barrel and firing mechanism that provides structural support — expanding and contracting. Something the department said Rangers noticed during testing in 2019. "Following reports from Canadian Rangers after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock," Alex Tétreault, a senior communications adviser with DND, wrote. "This was not observed during initial operational capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries." Those stocks now need to be replaced and the department estimates that will cost between eight to $10 million. The department said the C-19 rifle "remains an effective and accurate weapon" and that some of the rifles are still working properly and don't need replacements. The procurement process for the new stocks is underway and the delivery of the new stocks will be phased over three years.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rifles issued to Canadian Rangers in the Arctic need replacements, don't work in the cold
Rifles issued to the Canadian Rangers in Canada's Arctic don't work properly in the cold — and it's going to cost millions to fix. C-19 rifles were distributed to the Rangers, who serve the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, in 2017. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) told CBC News in an email that extreme cold led to the stocks — a part of a gun attached to the barrel and firing mechanism that provides structural support — expanding and contracting. Something the department said Rangers noticed during testing in 2019. "Following reports from Canadian Rangers after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock," Alex Tétreault, a senior communications adviser with DND, wrote. "This was not observed during initial operational capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries." Those stocks now need to be replaced and the department estimates that will cost between eight to $10 million. The department said the C-19 rifle "remains an effective and accurate weapon" and that some of the rifles are still working properly and don't need replacements. The procurement process for the new stocks is underway and the delivery of the new stocks will be phased over three years.
Toronto Sun
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Malfunctioning missiles purchased by Canadian Army for personnel in Latvia now fixed
DND refused to provide details about what caused the missiles to malfunction An Italian soldier uses the Spike LR missile during training in Germany. Photo by U.S. Army / Joint Multinational Readiness Ce The Canadian military says problems affecting its new anti-tank missiles have been fixed, but it is declining to provide details about the technical issues that caused the weapons to malfunction. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Late last year, the Ottawa Citizen reported that more than half of the new missiles received by the Canadian Forces didn't function properly during testing. The federal government spent U.S. $32 million ($45 million Canadian) to purchase Spike anti-tank missiles for eventual use by Canadian Forces personnel in Latvia. The Canadian Army and Department of National Defence declined to outline what the problems were because they wanted to protect the commercial interests of the Israeli missile manufacturer, Rafael. No specific details were released on when the missiles would be sent to Latvia. 'Full Operational Capability is still expected to be reached for winter 2026,' said DND public affairs official Alex Tétreault in an email response. Rafael did not respond to a request for comment about the missile problems which were first identified in July 2024. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The National Post reported in November 2024 that the Canadian Army was considering cancelling the contract because of the problems. But DND has stated that will not happen and that the contract will proceed. In February 2023, the Ottawa Citizen reported that the Canadian Army was fast-tracking its purchase of the anti-tank weapons as well as air defence systems for troops stationed in Latvia. The equipment was classified as an Urgent Operational Requirement, the same process used during the Afghanistan war to quickly obtain gear without going through the slower traditional procurement procedures. DND spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown previously stated that in the interest of getting the new missiles quickly for the Latvia mission, no live-fire tests or demonstrations were performed during the selection process. 'This technical risk was assessed and deemed acceptable as all of the potential bidders had delivered thousands of units of this product to other customers by that point in time,' he said in an email in December. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The ongoing issues affected both the Spike missiles and launchers. Canadian soldiers are in Latvia as part of the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group to deter Russian aggression in the region. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau announced in July 2023 that, as part of a major commitment to NATO, Canada would spend an additional $2.6 billion to double the number of troops it stationed in Latvia. The government's plan would see up to 2,200 troops deployed for what is being called Operation Reassurance. This is not the first time the Canadian military examined the purchase of modern anti-tank weapons. In 2005, the then-Liberal government had approved $194 million for the purchase of either the Israeli-made Spike missile or the American-build Javelin system. Companies put their bids in to provide 840 missiles and more than 100 firing systems. Test firings of both weapons were conducted. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But a year later the bids were rejected as the Canadian Army determined it didn't have enough information to figure out whether the weapons would be effective on the battlefield. The project then went by the wayside. Both Spike and Javelin missiles are in service with multiple nations. Javelin has been used extensively in Ukraine while Spike variants have been used in conflicts in Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon and during the second Nagorno-Karabakh war. David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: Read More Columnists Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Columnists Toronto & GTA
Ottawa Citizen
07-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Malfunctioning missiles purchased by Canadian Army for personnel in Latvia now fixed
The Canadian military says problems affecting its new anti-tank missiles have been fixed, but it is declining to provide details about the technical issues that caused the weapons to malfunction. Article content Article content Late last year, the Ottawa Citizen reported that more than half of the new missiles received by the Canadian Forces didn't function properly during testing. The federal government spent U.S. $32 million ($45 million Canadian) to purchase Spike anti-tank missiles for eventual use by Canadian Forces personnel in Latvia. Article content Article content The Canadian Army and Department of National Defence declined to outline what the problems were because they wanted to protect the commercial interests of the Israeli missile manufacturer, Rafael. No specific details were released on when the missiles would be sent to Latvia. Article content 'Full Operational Capability is still expected to be reached for winter 2026,' said DND public affairs official Alex Tétreault in an email response. Article content Rafael did not respond to a request for comment about the missile problems which were first identified in July 2024. Article content The National Post reported in November 2024 that the Canadian Army was considering cancelling the contract because of the problems. But DND has stated that will not happen and that the contract will proceed. Article content In February 2023, the Ottawa Citizen reported that the Canadian Army was fast-tracking its purchase of the anti-tank weapons as well as air defence systems for troops stationed in Latvia. The equipment was classified as an Urgent Operational Requirement, the same process used during the Afghanistan war to quickly obtain gear without going through the slower traditional procurement procedures. Article content Article content DND spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown previously stated that in the interest of getting the new missiles quickly for the Latvia mission, no live-fire tests or demonstrations were performed during the selection process. 'This technical risk was assessed and deemed acceptable as all of the potential bidders had delivered thousands of units of this product to other customers by that point in time,' he said in an email in December. Article content Article content The ongoing issues affected both the Spike missiles and launchers. Article content Canadian soldiers are in Latvia as part of the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group to deter Russian aggression in the region. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau announced in July 2023 that, as part of a major commitment to NATO, Canada would spend an additional $2.6 billion to double the number of troops it stationed in Latvia. The government's plan would see up to 2,200 troops deployed for what is being called Operation Reassurance.
