An Announcement Of The Winning Bid On the Close Combat Vehicle Sometime In July?

photo Nexter Canada

June 13, 2013. By David Pugliese - Defence Watch

Defence Watch has picked up on some chatter in defence circles about the expected upcoming government announcement of the winning bid for the Close Combat Vehicle project.

As Defence Watch readers likely know, the Canadian Forces wants to buy 108 of the Close Combat Vehicles (CCVs). There would be an option for the purchase of up to 30 additional vehicles. The army had originally argued that the Close Combat Vehicles, which would accompany its Leopard tanks into battle, are a priority for future missions. But recently, the military leadership approached the government with a request to scuttle the project and transfer money to other priority programs. The government decided not to do that.

So now there has been talk about a possible CCV announcement in July. That would coincide with earlier statements by Army commander Lt.-Gen. Peter Devlin who noted last year that he anticipated an announcement sometime “mid next year.”

Still, others have told Defence Watch not to expect anything until later in 2013, perhaps September or October.

The vehicles that were evaluated included:

-Nexter Systems’ VBCI 25 – a platform currently in service with the French Army.

-BAE’s CV90.

- General Dynamics Land Systems Canada offered the Piranha 5 fitted with the Rheinmetall Lance 30 mm Modular Turret System.

The Close Combat Vehicle program was announced by the government in the summer of 2009.