DND 2008-09 Report on Plans and Priorities

Just in case you missed it in a post below-- see especially "Section II: Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcomes". Some interesting excerpts:

Defence plans for fiscal year 2008-2009 include ensuring the efficient conduct of current and future operations and recruiting and training personnel in order to expand the Regular Force to 68,000 personnel by fiscal year 2011-2012 [emphasis added]. Some initiatives announced by the Government, such as the establishment of a deep water docking and refueling facility in Nanisivik, Nunavut and the Air Expeditionary Wing in Bagotville, Québec will continue to be implemented throughout the reporting period.

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[Navy]

# Build future Maritime capability. Building the future navy depends on how well Canadians understand the importance of maritime capability to their security and prosperity [emphasis added] The CF has a fundamental obligation to ensure that public discourse is informed by our professional advice and judgment. To this end, the CF must develop an overarching strategy that includes plans for strategic communications, recapitalization of the fleet, naval infrastructure renewal, and personnel.

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In the current resource constrained environment [emphasis added], it is understood that there are insufficient resources to fully support all of the operational readiness requirements. However, Defence will focus considerable resources more specifically on operationally committed assets in order to generate deployable, combat capable maritime forces.

[...]

In terms of resource allocations, Defence intends to maintain the current force structure and focus resources on the prioritized force generation of the following activities:

* sustain one operational submarine for force generation and force employment taskings...

[Army]

Experience in Afghanistan clearly illustrates that a decisive military force operating in a contemporary land-centric environment needs a wide range of CF capabilities beyond those inherent to LFC. Critical force enablers, generated by other CF organizations, are essential to LFC in supporting all priority lines of operations. While remaining focused on the CF Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-AFG) mission, authorized to February 2009, LFC continually develops contingency plans that would support any government mandate beyond the current commitment.

LFC continues to plan and build for future operational requirements; however, the existing level of commitment in Afghanistan has consumed the resources of both our first and second lines of operation [emphasis added]. A progressive reduction of the current level of CF overseas commitment would allow LFC to reallocate resources to a second line of operations. To sustain current and future force generation needs, the army will expand its Regular Force establishment to 21,903, which reflects real growth and component transfers related to transformation activities, while sustaining current Reserve Force numbers.

[...]

The Regular Force will transition into cohesive Affiliated Battle Groups operationally focused on full spectrum operations.[7] The Reserve Force will augment the Regular Force and backfill personnel shortfalls within the army, balanced against the institutional and training requirements of the Army Reserve.

The Army Reserve is capped at Total Average Paid Strength of 17,300 and employs approximately 23 percent of its paid strength in full-time sustainment support to deployed operations, to the institutional army and to other CF organizations...

The sustainability of personnel and equipment are key issues [emphasis added]. As army Regular and Reserve Forces experience greater operational demands and escalating attrition rates that are outstripping growth, there is an increasing need to expand the civilian component to effectively support the military component in its force generation activities. LFC will focus on a number of stressed trades, critical to the army, some of which can be offset by civilian expertise...

[Air Force]

The air force will continue to provide the capability to respond to aeronautical and maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) incidents in all parts of Canada and its internationally agreed SAR regions. Domestic SAR continues to be provided by the CH-149 Cormorant, the CC-115 Buffalo, the CC-130 Hercules and the CH-146 Griffon aircraft in Trenton (OP STARFISH).[10] The air force will generate forces to meet the CF SAR mandate while phasing in a new Fixed Wing SAR aircraft [really?]...

Tactical airlift capability is provided by the CC-130 Hercules aircraft. The CC-130 fleet currently generates an Air Expeditionary Unit (AEU) committed to a Joint Task Force in Afghanistan. The tactical CC-130s, which are nearing the end of their operational life, will be replaced with the CC-130J aircraft. First aircraft delivery should be not later than 2010, with Initial Operating Capability (IOC) expected by fall 2011. Delivery of all aircraft should be achieved no later than 2012 with Full Operational Capability (FOC) projected for winter 2013 [emphasis added].

Building on the experience gained through the operational employment of CU-161 Sperwer Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Afghanistan, the CF will increase the use and expand the roles of that capability. The deployed CU-161 Sperwer capability will be maintained until February 2009. As part of the plan to advance CF airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Control (ISR&C) capabilities, the CF plans the acquisition of proven, capable surveillance and strike capabilities. This will include the acquisition of UAVs under a DND UAV acquisition program [emphasis added--a strike capability for the new UAVs?], and the continued modernization and structural upgrades to the majority of the CP-140 Aurora aircraft fleet until such time as a future replacement capability is acquired.

The CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft and ship-borne CH-124 Sea King helicopters will continue to support maritime operations. The CH-124 Sea King will be replaced with the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, with delivery dates to be determined. The Government has recently been informed by the prime contractor of a delay in the planned delivery date for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter. Government representatives are currently conducting a detailed review of all aspects of the contractor's schedule [emphasis added--more here] to determine how to minimize the impact of these delays and to ensure that they will not affect the key performance and airworthiness requirements of the CF.

The CP-140 Aurora provides limited long-range northern sovereignty patrol capability as well as maritime air support to the navy and other government departments. The CP-140's traditional Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) focus will be reduced [emphasis added] in order to develop the overall ISR&C capability within current resources.

[...]

As per the MND announcement on 20 July 2007, an Air Expeditionary Wing (2 Wing) will be established in Bagotville, Québec. 2 Wing will enable the rapid and decisive expeditionary capability in Canada, North America or abroad. An initial cadre will be in place in Bagotville in the summer of 2008 and an IOC will be in place by 2011.

[...]

Realizing that CF realty assets are deteriorating [emphasis added], Air Command will also direct activities to enhance and rebuild its infrastructure and facilities. The equivalent of 1.3 percent of the realty replacement cost on maintenance and repair activities undertaken in fiscal year 2006-2007 will be gradually increasing to 1.7 percent in fiscal year 2008-2009 and to 2 percent in fiscal year 2009-2010...

Apologies for a perhaps Air Force-centric selection. I think there are some messages about funding/resources there concerning all services. Comments on the whole document greatly welcomed.