Modernization
Today’s security environment is complex and driven by factors such as increasing political extremism, climate change, and demographic shifts. Land forces, however, are still a decisive component of the modern battlefield.
To ensure its continued relevance in this rapidly shifting environment, the Canadian Army (CA) must evolve and adapt to it. This includes injecting lessons learned from the war in Ukraine into our exercises, replicating austere conditions as well as employing speed and agility.
The Government of Canada may at any time call on the Canadian Armed Forces to support multiple missions in support of peace and stability. The CA’s path toward modernization is laid out in Advancing with Purpose: The Canadian Army Modernization Strategy (CAMS).
CAMS goes beyond strategy. It is also a concrete, five-year action plan to adjust our structure, training, and personnel policies to ensure we are well-positioned to meet future demands.
With CAMS, the CA is advancing major capital equipment projects that will replace existing equipment or deliver new capabilities required to conduct land-based operations. Each is essential to the modernization of both the CA and the CAF. They include:
- High Risk Search Capability – 9 Advanced Combat Engineer Search suites and 70 Intermediate Search suites which will help CA personnel detect, mitigate, and reduce the impact of environmental hazards and improvised explosive/hazardous devices;
- The Light Armoured Vehicle Reconnaissance Surveillance System (LRSS) project – replacing the aging Coyote vehicles with 66 state-of-the-art surveillance systems, with final operational capability expected in March 2024;
- Enhanced Recovery Capability (ERC) – truck-based recovery systems able to support all CAF logistics vehicles fleets;
- Land Vehicle Crew Training System (LVCTS) – virtual individual and collective training capability.
While it falls outside the scope of CAMS, the CA is also advancing:
- Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) – Replacing the LAV II Bison and M113 Tracked Light Armoured Vehicle (TLAV) fleet capabilities with a platform that has similar mobility and protection to the current CA combat fleet.
There are six principles behind CAMS:
- Digitization and enhanced networking – enhance understanding of digital culture and embrace it;
- One Army – all CA components, the Regular and Reserve Forces, Canadian Rangers, and civilians will be integrated into a single, effective unit;
- Interoperability – the ability to work seamlessly with allies and their systems;
- Simplicity –embrace new technologies while also keeping ease of use in mind;
- Readiness for Adaptive Dispersed Operations (ADO) – being ready for ADO will be the baseline to measure if resources are being used appropriately;
- Versatility –develop capabilities with the widest applications to maximize efficiency in spending.
CAMS is being implemented along three lines of effort:
- Posture for Concurrency – adapt the Managed Readiness Plan to stay at high levels of readiness longer and maximize field training opportunities with virtual technology;
- The Human Dimension – ensure members stay motivated by making their health and wellbeing a priority through investment in resources and policy development. This includes addressing sexual misconduct and hateful conduct;
- Priority Initiatives to ensure the Canadian Army remains relevant:
- FORCE 2025 will guide the restructuring of the CA and identify areas for both investment and divestment.
- Digital Transformation is the roadmap to building a digital culture within the CA through new resources and partnerships with allies and industry.
- International Engagement: A plan to ensure effective interoperability with allies.
- Analytics, Performance Management, and Governance: enhancements to facilitate better decision-making and keep sensitive data secure.
- Research and Development. CA will stay current on and integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and alternative energy into our work.
- Capital Investment. CA will do the business of procurement in a manner that ensures we can field necessary equipment in a timely fashion.
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