Announcement Of The Winner Of The Canadian Army’s Close Combat Vehicle Project Expected in Mid-2013

January 23, 2013. By David Pugliese - Defence Watch

One question Defence Watch receives every now and then is “What is happenig with the Canadian Army’s 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 has argued that the Close Combat Vehicles, which would accompany its Leopard tanks into battle, are a priority for future missions.

Nexter Systems is offering the VBCI 25 – a platform currently in service with the French Army.

BAE is offering the CV90.

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

The CCV program has run into a number of problems. It went off the rails earlier this year and companies vying for the $2 billion program were told that their bids had been rejected and they would have to submit new proposals. It was the second time that candidate vehicles, some of which are in service with allied nations in Afghanistan, had been rejected by the Defence Department.

The Close Combat Vehicle program, announced with great fanfare by the government in the summer of 2009, has already fallen two years behind schedule, according to industry officials.

So what is happening with the CCV project?

Army commander Lt.-Gen. Peter Devlin recently noted that the three vehicles entered in the CCV contest had been tested in the U.S.

“Then an evaluation will be conducted of the strengths of the three vehicles and there will be negotiations with the company, so we anticipate that there will be an announcement mid next year,” he said.

Maybe in time for CANSEC 2013?