Page 84 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

At the heart of this learning process are the solid working relationships among the professional military in
working towards innovative concepts of operations. This is a work in progress that requires infrastructure,
platforms, training and openness in shaping evolving working relationships.

Having visited Norway earlier this year and having discussed among other things, the coming of the P-8 and
the F-35 in Norway, it is clear that what happens on the other side of the North Sea (the UK) is of keen
interest to Norway. In talking with the RAF and Royal Navy, it is evident that changes in Norway are part of
the broader UK consideration when it comes to the reshaping of NATO defense capabilities in a dynamic
region.

To lay down a foundation for a 21st century approach, the U.S. Navy is pairing its P-8s with the Triton – a
new high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman– and is
working an integrated approach between the two.

In a very narrow sense, the P-8 and Triton are “replacing” the P-3. However, the additional ISR and C2
enterprise being put in place to operate the combined P-8 / Triton capability is a much broader capability
than the classic P-3. Much like how the Osprey transformed the U.S. Marine Corps prior to flying the F-35, the
P-8/Triton team is doing the same for the US Navy as the F-35 comes to the carrier air wing.

The team at Naval Air Station Jacksonville is building a common Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime
Combat Culture and treats the platforms as partner applications of the evolving combat theory. The
partnership is both technology and aircrew synergistic.

It should be noted that the P-8 and the Triton (which draws heavily on F-35 systems) as well as the F-35 are a
new generation of software-upgradeable aircraft, whose software will be reworked in interaction with the
sharing of data and the reworking of core platform capabilities.

It is about shaping a combat-learning cycle in which software can be upgraded as the user groups shape, in
real time, the core needs they see, to rapidly deal with a reactive enemy.

As the COS of the Norwegian Air Force put the challenge: “We should plug and play in terms of our new
capabilities; but that will not happen by simply adding new equipment – it will be hard work.”

Canadian Perspective on Maritime Threats

I recently had a chance to talk with the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lieutenant-General
Mike Hood, about the Canadian approach and contribution to the evolving threats and challenges in the
North Atlantic to maritime defense and security. Obviously, Canada is a key partner and occupies key
geography as Russia returns to significant maritime operations from the Kola Peninsula into the High North as
well.

As the Brits, Norwegians and Americans build new capabilities to operate in the North Atlantic, what is the
Canadian approach and contribution? And what new investments and capabilities might be offered by
Canada to the coalition effort?

Canada’s current anti-submarine warfare capabilities are built around an upgraded CP-140 Aurora, a
new CH-148 Cyclone ASW helicopter developed by Sikorsky (although grounded earlier this year due to a
“momentary change in descent rate”), and frigates recently modernized by Lockheed Martin Canada – all
integrated into coalition ASW operations.

Second Line of Defense

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