RCN warships set for weapons system upgrade
By Lookout on Jan 29, 2018 with Comments 3
Following a major defence announcement, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan, centre, posed for a photo with Commodore Jeff Zwick (left), Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and Captain (Navy) Ed Hooper (right), Commanding Officer Fleet Maintenance Facility, in front of a Close-In Weapons Systems simulator at Naval Fleet School (Pacific). Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout
Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~
With a Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) simulator towering behind him, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan announced a major defence spending contract at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) last Friday.
The $704 million defence contract is being awarded to Raytheon Canada Limited and will focus on the improvement of radar systems for the CIWS. The rapid-fire, radar-guided gun systems are designed to deter threats from missiles, small ships and aircraft.
“We are making strategic investments in the Royal Canadian Navy that will help protect our sailors as they conduct the full spectrum of operations in a modern security environment,” said Minister Sajjan to fleet school students, senior officials and local media.
The CIWS is already in use by the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Halifax-class frigates and will also be installed on the new Joint Support Ships following their construction.
The new contract is aligned with the goals set out in the Federal Government’s Defence Policy entitled “Strong, Secure, Engaged” announced last year, which called for defence spending to increase from $19 billion in 2017 to $32.7 billion by 2027.
Commodore Jeff Zwick, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, says the CIWS is affectionately known to sailors on RCN frigates as “R2D2”, and has already proven itself reliable as the last line of defence for warships from external threats.
“CIWS is extremely important when we talk about the essential tools that our sailors need to make a Canadian warship effective,” said Cmdre Zwick. “The improvements to CIWS ensures that the navy is prepared for the uncertainty that our sailors may face in the future.”
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Now that we know that the CAAD CAAM system will be incorporated abaft the funnel and CIWS 1B has been removed from port/stb’d midships, what will replace the CIWS? Sea Ram seems to be out, so what’s next for that space? Perhaps a DEW laser system or possibly a Lido Deck for casual walks or for Gang Plank operations? If nothing, then we might as well cut out that section and save some tonnage and perhaps make the ship go faster?
When the first LM CSC Frigate photos were produced, they carried the CIWS Block 1B on either side mid-ships. Now, the latest CSC Frigate photos have nothing. Does this mean the USN Sea-RAM system will be acquired in stead, or has the government not decided yet? Some sort of short range supersonic Ballistic missile defensive system is needed. The 30mm cannons aft, port & starboard, are not designed for this. What’s up doc?
In my 20 years working on the CIWS neither I or any gunner I ever worked with called it “R2-D2”. Don’t ask senior brass what the “fondly revered as” name is on our gear. They only know what they are told by their staff right before they tell you and besides, they are so out of touch with what the men really feel, say or do.