US embassy cable - 04OTTAWA3267

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 OTTAWA 003267 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CONFIDENTIAL NOFORN 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SERIAL:  (U)  IIR 6 815 0015 04. 
 
COUNTRY:  (U) CANADA (CA). 
 
IPSP:  (U) IFC1330; IFC1322; IFC1312; IFC1350; IFC1912; IFC1517; IFC151 
2; IFC1343; IFC1344. 
 
TAGS: PARM, Canadian Military 
SUBJECT: IIR 6 815 0015 05/CANADIAN AIR FORCE TRANFORMATION 
VISION -- CAN IT BE IMPLEMENTED? (U) 
 
WARNING:  (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY 
EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.  REPORT IS CLASSIFIED C O N F I D E N 
T I A L/NOFORN. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
                     DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
DOI:  (U) 20041104. 
 
REQS:  (U) DHCD127055; DHCD127051; DHCD204008; DHCD127041; 
DHCD127046; DHCD204011; A-TRI-1343-020-04. 
 
SOURCE: A. (C/NF) //6 815 0199//SENIOR HOST NATION MILITARY 
OFFICER WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO INFORMATION REPORTED.  PREVIOUS 
REPORTING HAS BEEN RELIABLE. 
 
B. (C/NF) //6 815 0357// SENIOR HOST NATION MILITARY OFFICER 
WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO INFORMATION REPORTED.  PREVIOUS 
REPORTING HAS BEEN RELIABLE. 
 
C. (C/NF) //6 815 0362// SENIOR HOST NATION MILITARY OFFICER 
WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO INFORMATION REPORTED.  PREVIOUS 
REPORTING HAS BEEN RELIABLE. 
 
D. (U) CANADIAN FORCES WEBSITE, 
WWW.AIRFORCE.FORCES.GC.CA/VISION , OTTAWA, CANADA, 20040719, 
(U) IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH.  FACTUAL INFORMATION RELEASED BY 
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT. 
 
E. (C/NF) //6 815 0224//SENIOR HOST NATION MILITARY OFFICER 
WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO INFORMATION REPORTED.  PREVIOUS 
REPORTING HAS BEEN RELIABLE. 
 
F. (C/NF) //OTS-6-815-0004-05// SENIOR HOST NATION MILITARY 
OFFICER WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO INFORMATION REPORTED. FIRST 
TIME REPORTER; PRESUMED RELIABLE. 
 
SUMMARY: (U) THE CANADIAN AIR FORCE'S TRANSFORMATION DOCUMENT 
IS LONG ON VISION BUT SHORT ON RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT IT. 
EXPECT THE CANADIAN AIR FORCE TO BECOME MORE HOMELAND AND 
CONTINENTALLY FOCUSED RATHER THAN A GLOBAL AIR FORCE. 
ENCLOSURE. 
 
TEXT:  1. (C/NF) THE CANADIAN AIR FORCE'S TRANSFORMATION 
VISION HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR SOME FIVE MONTHS BUT PRECIOUS 
LITTLE PROGRESS IS TAKING PLACE AND THE AUTHOR OF THE VISION 
HAS MOVED ON TO NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, LEAVING THE NEW 
DIRECTOR OF AIR FORCE DEVELOPMENT TO FIND A WAY TO IMPLEMENT 
THE STRATEGY WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. 
 
2. (U)  THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS SUMMARIZE THE AIR FORCE'S 
VISION FOR TRANSFORMATION.  FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE 
OBTAINED FROM THE ENCLOSURE OR SOURCE D WEBSITE.  A 
SUBSEQUENT REPORT WILL DESCRIBE THE CONTEXT AND STRATEGIC 
DIRECTIONS (VECTORS) THE AIR FORCE HOPES TO TAKE TO 
ACCOMPLISH THIS TRANSFORMATION. 
 
3. (U) ((BEGIN SUMMARY)) CANADIAN AIR FORCE VISION:  AN AIR 
FORCE THAT IS EQUIPPED, TRAINED AND READY TO PREVAIL IN 
COMBAT REQUIRES FORCES ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE ALLIES TO CARRY 
OUT CHALLENGING MISSIONS AGAINST HIGH-QUALITY ADVERSARIES. 
THIS LEVEL OF CAPABILITY MEANS THE AIR FORCE REQUIRES: 
 
A. (U) AIRCRAFT AND OTHER SYSTEMS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR 
ANTICIPATED OPERATIONAL ROLES. PROPER EQUIPMENT IS VITAL. 
WHILE AIRCRAFT ACQUIRED FOR COMBAT CAN GENERALLY PERFORM 
PEACETIME ROLES, THE REVERSE IS NOT TRUE. 
 
B. (U) AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED TO OPERATE DURING THE DAY, AT NIGHT 
AND IN A VARIETY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. SUCH AIRCRAFT MUST 
ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO WARN OF, AND HELP 
PROTECT AGAINST, INTEGRATED AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS (IADS) 
COMPOSED OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY (AAA) AND SURFACE-TO-AIR 
MISSILE (SAM) SYSTEMS. 
 
C. (U) PROPERLY TRAINED FORCES ABLE TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS 
THROUGHOUT THE SPECTRUM OF CONFLICT. 
SINCE AIRCREWS ARE MOST LIKELY TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE THE ENEMY 
AND SINCE COMBAT SKILLS ARE PERISHABLE, AIRCREW MUST BE 
PROVIDED ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO REGULARLY PRACTICE THEIR 
SKILLS. 
 
D. (U) UNITS HELD AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF READINESS. 
READINESS RELATES TO HOW QUICKLY A FORCE CAN RESPOND AND IS A 
DIRECT PRODUCT OF TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY. 
RESPONSIVENESS IS ONE OF THE KEY ADVANTAGES OF AEROSPACE 
POWER. TO BE RESPONSIVE, AIR FORCE UNITS MUST BE KEPT AT 
RELATIVELY HIGH STATES OF READINESS. 
 
E. (U) SUFFICIENT DEPTH TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS ONCE ENGAGED. 
DEPTH DEPENDS ON NUMBERS OF PEOPLE AND 
AIRCRAFT, PLUS STOCKPILES OF AMMUNITION AND OTHER 
CONSUMABLES. WHILE DEPTH DOES NOT OF ITSELF 
DETERMINE QUALITY, IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF THE AIR 
FORCE TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS OVER TIME. 
 
F. (U) AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT. 
WHILE THE RAISON D'ETRE OF THE AIR FORCE IS OPERATIONS, 
ROBUST SUPPORT CAPABILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL IF UNITS ARE TO BE 
CAPABLE OF DEPLOYING, CONDUCTING SUSTAINED OPERATIONS AND 
RE-DEPLOYING EFFECTIVELY. 
 
G. (U) APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND 
ACCOMMODATE PERSONNEL. GIVEN THE REQUIREMENT TO OPERATE FROM 
AUSTERE BASES, AT LEAST SOME CAPABILITY MUST BE AVAILABLE TO 
PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENTS AT BASES IN CANADA AND 
ABROAD. 
 
H. (U) INTEROPERABILITY WITH OTHER SERVICES AND NATIONS. 
INTEROPERABILITY MEANS HAVING THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE 
SECURELY, AND, FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS, TO SHARE INFORMATION BY 
DATALINK.  COMBAT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED TO 
AVOID FRATRICIDE. FOR OFFENSIVE MISSIONS, PRECISION-GUIDED 
MUNITIONS (PGMS) ARE NEEDED TO ACCURATELY AND EFFECTIVELY 
ATTACK TARGETS WHILE MINIMIZING COLLATERAL DAMAGE. 
INTEROPERABILITY WITH THE U.S. IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION 
GIVEN THE LEADING ROLE THE U.S. EXERCISES IN REGIONAL AND 
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY OPERATIONS. AND, 
 
I. (U)  SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL AND 
PLATFORMS TO ENSURE CRITICAL MASS.  CRITICAL MASS 
MEANS HAVING AN ABILITY TO MAINTAIN READINESS AT ASSIGNED 
LEVELS OR CONDUCT OPERATIONS WHILE 
STILL CARRYING OUT APPROPRIATE FORCE GENERATION FUNCTIONS. 
 
4. (U) REACH AND POWER.  REACH AND POWER APPROPRIATE TO 
GLOBAL INTERESTS MEANS THE AIR FORCE MUST HAVE ABILITIES TO: 
 
A. (U) FLY COMBAT AIRCRAFT (USING AIR-TO-AIR REFUELLING IF 
NECESSARY) TO, FROM AND WITHIN AN INTENDED AREA OF OPERATIONS. 
 
B. (U) PRECISELY LOCATE, IDENTIFY AND DESIGNATE TARGETS FROM 
THE AIR DURING THE DAY, AT NIGHT AND IN A VARIETY OF WEATHER 
CONDITIONS. 
 
C. (U) APPLY FORCE FROM THE AIR WITH PRECISION AGAINST 
AIRBORNE, SURFACE-BASED AND SUB-SURFACE TARGETS DURING THE 
DAY, AT NIGHT AND IN A VARIETY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. 
 
D. (U) CONFIRM THE EFFECTS OF APPLIED FORCE AND THE NEED TO 
RE-APPLY FORCE TO ACHIEVE DESIRED EFFECTS. 
 
E. (U) TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND PERSONNEL TO, FROM 
AND WITHIN AN INTENDED AREA OF OPERATIONS. 
 
F. (U) CONDUCT AND SUSTAIN OPERATIONS (INCLUDING COMBAT 
OPERATIONS) IN THOSE REGIONS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT DETERMINES 
IT HAS (OR MAY HAVE) SECURITY INTERESTS. AND 
 
G. (U) WORK EFFECTIVELY WITHIN A COMBINED, INTER-AGENCY OR 
JOINT ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF C4ISR (COMMAND, CONTROL, 
COMMUNICATIONS, COMPUTERS, INFORMATION, SURVEILLANCE AND 
RECONNAISSANCE), COMBAT IDENTIFICATION, DOCTRINE, TRAINING 
AND EQUIPMENT. 
 
5. (U) AEROSPACE CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK.  TRANSFORMING CANADA'S 
AIR FORCE IS ABOUT BUILDING THE RIGHT AIR FORCE FOR THE 
CANADA OF THE FUTURE AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. 
IT IS ABOUT AN AIR FORCE THAT EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTES TO THE 
SECURITY OF CANADA AND ITS PEOPLE, AND ONE OF WHICH CANADIANS 
CAN BE PROUD.  AFTER THE COLD WAR, THE AIR FORCE AGGRESSIVELY 
REACTED TO A SERIES OF SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCE REDUCTIONS AND 
ADAPTED TO A SIGNIFICANTLY 
ALTERED STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT. AS A RESULT OF THESE CUTS, 
CANADA'S AIR FORCE HAS BECOME A FRAGILE ORGANIZATION; ONE 
THAT REQUIRES FURTHER CHANGES - A TRANSFORMATION - TO MEET 
THE DEMANDS OF THE FUTURE. THROUGH PRUDENT PLANNING AND 
FORWARD THINKING, THE AIR FORCE HAS DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE 
AND REASONED 
STRATEGIC VISION FROM WHICH TO BASE THIS TRANSFORMATION. 
IN ADDITION TO STRENGTHENING HOMELAND SECURITY, THIS VISION 
DESCRIBES A FORCE THAT WILL HAVE CAPABILITIES TO STRENGTHEN 
NORTH AMERICAN SECURITY AND INCREASE CANADA'S INFLUENCE ON 
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. THIS VISION WAS BUILT ON A 
COMPREHENSIVE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT CAN 
ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, 
THE CANADIAN FORCES, AND THE AIR FORCE IN MAKING INFORMED 
DECISIONS FOR THE FUTURE. 
 
6. (U) THE STRATEGIC PATH TO TRANSFORMATION - FROM AIR TO 
AEROSPACE.  AEROSPACE, MEANING AIR AND SPACE, DEFINES THE 
ENVIRONMENT THAT SURROUNDS THE EARTH AND EXTENDS VERTICALLY 
INTO SPACE FROM THE EARTH'S SURFACE.WE USE THE TERM 
DELIBERATELY TO UNDERSCORE THE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE 
THAT SPACE WILL PLAY IN FUTURE MILITARY OPERATIONS.  OUR 
EXPLOITATION OF SPACE IS LIMITED TO COMMUNICATIONS, 
NAVIGATION, SURVEILLANCE AND WARNING, ENVIRONMENTAL 
MONITORING AND INTELLIGENCE AND RECONNAISSANCE ACTIVITIES. BY 
USING THE TERM AEROSPACE, WE DO NOT ENVISAGE OR SUGGEST THE 
'WEAPONIZATION' OF SPACE, SOMETHING THAT CANADA OPPOSES. 
 
7. (U) CHARACTERIZING THE FUTURE FORCE. THE VISION STRATEGIC 
VECTORS ANNOUNCES OUR INTENT TO TRANSFORM THE AIR FORCE FROM 
A PRIMARILY STATIC, PLATFORM-FOCUSED 
ORGANIZATION INTO AN EXPEDITIONARY, NETWORK-ENABLED, 
CAPABILITY-BASED AND RESULTS-FOCUSED AEROSPACE FORCE TO 
EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO SECURITY AT HOME AND ABROAD WELL 
INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A QUALITY FORCE 
BASED ON TEAMWORK, EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM. 
 
A. (U) THE MISSION. THE MISSION OF THIS AEROSPACE FORCE WILL 
BE TO CONTROL AND EXPLOIT THE AEROSPACE ENVIRONMENT FOR 
MILITARY PURPOSES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CANADIAN SECURITY AND 
NATIONAL OBJECTIVES. 
 
B. (U) THE ATTRIBUTES.  THE ATTRIBUTES OF THIS FORCE WILL 
INCLUDE COMBAT CAPABILITY AS THE BASIS FOR OTHER CAPABILITY, 
INTEROPERABLE AND NETWORKED FORCES, MEANINGFUL AND 
SUSTAINABLE FORCES, EXPEDITIONARY REACH AND POWER, AND 
RESPONSIVENESS IN OPERATIONS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR MILITARY 
ETHOS OF SERVICE BEFORE SELF, THE MISSION COMES FIRST; 
HOWEVER, WE RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE OUR FOUNDATION AND 
FUTURE. IT IS THEY WHO WILL PROUDLY BUILD THIS AEROSPACE 
FORCE THROUGH LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, AND EXCELLENCE. 
 
C. (U) BECOMING THE FUTURE FORCE.  AN AEROSPACE FORCE 
TRANSFORMING THE AIR FORCE OVER THE LONG-TERM INTO AN 
AEROSPACE FORCE MEANS BECOMING RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING 
PERSONNEL WITH THE SPACE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING REQUIRED 
FOR EFFECTIVE CANADIAN FORCES OPERATIONS. AN EXPEDITIONARY 
FORCE BECOMING AN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE MEANS HAVING THE 
CAPABILITIES TO BE RESPONSIVE, DEPLOYABLE, SUPPORTABLE AND 
SUSTAINABLE WHEREVER THE GOVERNMENT SENDS US, DOMESTICALLY 
AND ABROAD. NETWORK-ENABLED BECOMING A NETWORK-ENABLED FORCE 
MEANS CONNECTING SENSORS, OPERATORS, AND DECISION-MAKERS IN 
ORDER TO SHARE HIGHER QUALITY AND MORE TIMELY INFORMATION, 
WHICH WILL FACILITATE IMPROVED JOINT SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, 
DECISION-MAKING, COLLABORATION, SYNCHRONIZATION, AND 
OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. 
 
D. (U) CAPABILITY-BASED AND RESULTS-FOCUSED. BECOMING 
CAPABILITY-BASED MEANS FOCUSING ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES AND 
HAVING THE CAPABILITIES TO MEET OUR NATIONAL SECURITY 
RESPONSIBILITIES. BECOMING RESULTS-FOCUSED MEANS FOCUSING ON 
STRATEGIC LEVEL OUTCOMES, OR RESULTS, THAT CONTRIBUTE TO 
CANADIAN SECURITY, OUR BOTTOM LINE. 
E. (U)  VECTORS TOWARDS THE FUTURE. RESULTS-FOCUSED 
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY MEANS ACQUIRING THE CAPABILITIES 
NEEDED TO KEEP CANADIANS SECURE AND TO PROTECT NATIONAL 
INTERESTS ABROAD: 
 
(1) (U) DOMESTICALLY - A DEFENDED AND SOVEREIGN CANADA WHOSE 
CITIZENS AND NATIONAL RESOURCES ARE PROTECTED; 
 
(2) (U) ABROAD - NATIONAL INTERESTS PROTECTED, AND WHEN 
NECESSARY, DEFENDED. 
 
F. (U) RESPONSIVE EXPEDITIONARY CAPABILITY MEANS ACQUIRING 
THE CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO SWIFTLY AND EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO 
CHALLENGES AT HOME AND 
ABROAD BY BEING GLOBALLY DEPLOYABLE, SUPPORTABLE AND 
SUSTAINABLE.  TRANSPARENT INTEROPERABILITY MEANS ACQUIRING 
CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY OPERATE WITH THE UNITED 
STATES, COALITION PARTNERS, OUR ARMY AND NAVY, AND OTHER 
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES. 
 
G. (U) TRANSFORMED AEROSPACE CAPABILITIES MEANS EXPLOITING 
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, NEW CONCEPTS OF OPERATIONS AND 
SYNTHETIC, DISTANCE, AND E-LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS TO 
SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE EFFECTIVENESS IN OPERATIONS. 
TRANSFORMATION-ENABLING LEADERSHIP MEANS NURTURING COMPETENT, 
EFFECTIVE, AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP TO EFFECTIVELY CONDUCT 
OPERATIONS AND PREPARE US 
FOR THE FUTURE. 
 
H. (U)  MULTI-SKILLED AND WELL-EDUCATED PEOPLE MEANS 
DEVELOPING MULTI-SKILLED PEOPLE TO ENHANCE PERSONNEL 
FLEXIBILITY AND VERSATILITY, AND PROVIDING THESE 
PROFESSIONALS WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND AEROSPACE POWER 
EDUCATION NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY CONDUCT OPERATIONS AND PLAN 
FOR THE FUTURE. 
 
I. (U) ACTIVELY ENGAGING CANADIANS MEANS ACTIVELY REACHING 
AND INFORMING CITIZENS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND OUR POLITICAL 
LEADERSHIP ON HOW THE AIR FORCE 
CONTRIBUTES TO THE SECURITY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE NATION. 
 
J. (U) IMPROVED RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP MEANS CONTINUING TO BE 
INCREASINGLY EFFICIENT WITH THE NATIONAL RESOURCES WITH WHICH 
WE ARE ENTRUSTED. 
 
8. (U) COMPETENCIES AND CAPABILITIES.  WHILE TRANSFORMING, WE 
NEED TO CAPITALIZE ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES, WHICH ARE THOSE 
AREAS OF INSTITUTIONAL EXPERTISE THAT DESCRIBE WHY WE EXIST. 
THEY ARE: 
 
A. (U)  DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL AIRMEN (A DND/CF APPROVED 
TERM THAT WE USE TO DESCRIBE THE COLLECTIVE OF OUR PERSONNEL); 
 
B. (U) GENERATING RELEVANT AEROSPACE POWER CAPABILITIES FOR 
THE CANADIAN FORCES; AND 
 
C. (U) EFFECTIVELY APPLYING JOINT AEROSPACE POWER TO MEET 
MILITARY OR NATIONAL OBJECTIVES. 
 
D. (U) CAPABILITIES ARE THOSE ABILITIES THAT ALLOW THE AIR 
FORCE TO GET THE JOB DONE. THESE CAPABILITIES ARE MORE FULLY 
DESCRIBED IN THE AEROSPACE CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK. FUNDAMENTAL 
CAPABILITIES, SUCH AS AEROSPACE CONTROL, ARE ESSENTIAL FOR 
CONTROLLING AEROSPACE AND ENABLING JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
CONTRIBUTING CAPABILITIES, SUCH AS COUNTER-LAND OPERATIONS 
AND MARITIME SURFACE AND SUB-SURFACE SURVEILLANCE AND 
CONTROL, ALLOW FOR ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OPERATIONS 
OF THE ARMY AND NAVY, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. 
ENABLING CAPABILITIES, SUCH AS AIR MOBILITY, AND 
INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE, ARE ESSENTIAL 
TO MANY CANADIAN FORCES OPERATIONS. SUPPORT CAPABILITIES, 
SUCH AS AIR MAINTENANCE AND LOGISTICS, ARE ESSENTIAL TO 
SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN AIR FORCE OPERATIONS. 
 
9. (U)  COMBAT-CAPABLE AND MULTI-PURPOSE FORCES. 
COMBAT-CAPABLE, MULTI-PURPOSE FORCES PROVIDE THE FLEXIBILITY 
AND FREEDOM OF ACTION TO RESPOND TO A RANGE 
OF CHALLENGES ACROSS A SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITY AND CONFLICT. 
THESE CHALLENGES CAN, AND HAVE INCLUDED HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE, DISASTER RELIEF, SEARCH AND RESCUE, PEACEKEEPING, 
PEACE ENFORCEMENT, AND COMBAT. THESE TYPES OF FORCES WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT IN A VOLATILE AND UNCERTAIN SECURITY 
ENVIRONMENT. 
10. (U) IDENTIFYING THE CAPABILITIES REQUIRED BY OUR VISION. 
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE CAPABILITIES REQUIRED BY OUR VISION 
WHICH: 
 
A. (U) EMPHASIZE HOMELAND SECURITY, 
 
B. (U) ANTICIPATE THE CONTINUATION, AND POTENTIAL 
STRENGTHENING, OF CANADA-UNITED STATES COOPERATION ON NORTH 
AMERICAN SECURITY, AND 
 
C. (U) ANTICIPATE THE CONTINUATION OF CANADA'S 
ENGAGED-INTERNATIONALISM. 
 
11. (U)  TO ENHANCE HOMELAND SECURITY CANADA NEEDS IMPROVED 
AIRSPACE SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL CAPABILITIES TO EFFECTIVELY 
DETECT AND ACTIVELY RESPOND TO UNWANTED AND UNAUTHORIZED 
ACTIVITY, EITHER APPROACHING OR OPERATING, WITHIN OUR 
NATIONAL AIRSPACE. THESE CAPABILITIES ARE NEEDED TO BETTER 
PROTECT 
CANADIAN CITIES, CANADIAN CITIZENS AND CANADA'S CRITICAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE. 
 
12. (U) ALSO NEEDED ARE CAPABILITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE 
SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL OF CANADA'S MARITIME APPROACHES. TO 
ADD FLEXIBILITY, THESE CAPABILITIES SHOULD ALSO BE CAPABLE OF 
OVERLAND SURVEILLANCE. TO EFFECTIVELY AID PEOPLE IN DISTRESS 
FROM SUCH THINGS AS MARINE INCIDENTS AND AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS, 
WE NEED TO IMPROVE ELEMENTS OF OUR DOMESTIC SEARCH AND RESCUE 
CAPABILITY. FINALLY, THE CANADIAN FORCES NEEDS CAPABILITIES 
WITH THE SPEED, RANGE, AND CAPACITY 
NECESSARY TO EFFECTIVELY AND RESPONSIVELY CARRY PEOPLE, CARGO 
AND EQUIPMENT, WHEN AND WHERE NEEDED ACROSS CANADA. 
 
13. (U)  TO CONTINUE, AND POTENTIALLY STRENGTHEN, 
CANADA-UNITED STATES COOPERATION ON NORTH AMERICAN SECURITY 
CANADA NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT OUR AEROSPACE AND MARITIME 
SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL CAPABILITIES ARE INTEROPERABLE WITH 
UNITED STATES CAPABILITIES, ESPECIALLY IN COMMAND AND 
CONTROL, COMMUNICATION, DATA SHARING, SURVEILLANCE, WARNING, 
AND ACTIVE CONTROL OF AEROSPACE AND MARITIME AREAS. 
 
14. (U) TO CONTINUE CANADA'S ENGAGED-INTERNATIONALISM CANADA 
WILL REQUIRE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THREATS AGAINST 
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY. TO DO THIS AND TO EXERCISE 
AN INDEPENDENT AND DISTINCTIVE CANADIAN VOICE IN CONTRIBUTING 
INTERNATIONALLY, EXPEDITIONARY CAPABILITIES ARE NEEDED THAT 
PERMIT THE AIR FORCE TO OPERATE FAR ABROAD WITH JOINT, 
ALLIED, OR COALITION 
PARTNERS. TO CONFRONT THREATS AT THEIR SOURCE, WE NEED TO BE 
ABLE TO SWIFTLY PROJECT AND APPLY FORCE WITH PRECISION FROM 
THE AIR. TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY, WE NEED AN ABILITY TO 
PROJECT DOMESTIC AEROSPACE CONTROL CAPABILITIES ABROAD TO 
PROTECT FRIENDLY MILITARY FORCES AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE 
FREEDOM OF ACTION NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY ACCOMPLISH THEIR 
MISSIONS.  EFFECTIVE MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE FUTURE 
WILL DEPEND ON HAVING INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND 
RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITIES THAT CAN DETECT AND TRACK TARGETS 
IN THE AIR, ON THE SURFACE, AND UNDERWATER. WE ALSO NEED 
AEROSPACE CAPABILITIES THAT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE 
OPERATIONS OF CANADA'S ARMY AND NAVY AND AIRLIFT CAPABILITIES 
TO MOVE CANADIAN FORCES PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES 
TO, FROM, AND WITHIN AREAS OF OPERATION WHEN AND WHERE NEEDED. 
 
15. (U) ADVANCING TRANSFORMATION.  TRANSFORMATION WILL 
REQUIRE APPROPRIATE INVESTMENT IN NEW CAPABILITIES AND, 
POTENTIALLY, THE ELIMINATION OR REFOCUSING OF OTHERS. IT WILL 
REQUIRE CHANGES TO AIR FORCE STRUCTURE, CULTURE, AND 
OPERATIONS. WHILE THIS STRATEGIC REORIENTATION WILL NOT BE 
EASY, IT IS ESSENTIAL. EACH NEW CAPABILITY HAS RESOURCE 
IMPLICATIONS, BOTH HUMAN AND FINANCIAL, THAT WILL NEED TO BE 
ADDRESSED AS TRANSFORMATION IS EFFECTED.  AIR FORCE 
TRANSFORMATION WILL REQUIRE A COMBINATION OF REPRIORITIZATION, 
REALLOCATION, AND THE INFUSION OF NEW RESOURCES. THE AIR 
FORCE IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS TO MAKE THE MOST 
EFFICIENT USE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ENTRUSTED TO IT. TO 
BEGIN TRANSFORMATION, THE AIR FORCE IS COMMITTED TO FINDING 
RESOURCES THROUGH REPRIORITIZATION AND REALLOCATION. WHILE 
SUCH MEASURES WILL BE TOUGH, THEY ARE OF FUNDAMENTAL 
IMPORTANCE. WHERE THESE MEASURES MAY BE INSUFFICIENT, THE AIR 
FORCE WILL SEEK ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. 
16. (U)  SUCCESSFUL TRANSFORMATION.  THE SUCCESSFUL 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS VISION WILL RESULT IN AN AEROSPACE 
FORCE THAT IS TRANSFORMED IN ITS ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY 
CONTRIBUTE TO HOMELAND SECURITY, NORTH AMERICAN DEFENCE AND 
GLOBAL STABILITY. AS A MAJOR ELEMENT OF THE CANADIAN FORCES, 
THIS AEROSPACE 
FORCE WILL BE A VITAL NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTION, A USEFUL 
INSTRUMENT OF NATIONAL POLICY AND AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF 
NATIONAL POWER.  THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS FORCE 
WILL EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SECURITY OF CANADIANS AND 
THE PROTECTION OF CANADIAN NATIONAL INTERESTS WELL INTO THE 
21ST CENTURY. ((END SUMMARY)). 
 
COMMENTS: 1. (C/NF) FIELD COMMENTS.  INCREDIBLY THIS AIR 
FORCE VISION WAS RELEASED BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION, OVER SIX 
MONTHS AHEAD OF THE DEFENCE REVIEW, AND WAS LITTLE INFORMED 
BY THAT DOCUMENT WHICH IS STILL BEING REVISED.  WHILE THE AIR 
FORCE VISION IS STRONGLY ADAPTED FROM U.S. AND ROYAL AIR 
FORCE TRANSFORMATION VISIONS AND DOCTRINE, IT IS LIKELY TO 
RECEIVE PRECIOUS FEW OF THE RESOURCES IT ENVISIONS TO BECOME 
A TOTAL AIR FORCE. 
 
2.  (C/NF)  THE VISION WAS WORKED ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND 
RESULTED IN A SERIES OF GLOSSY BROCHURES WHICH WERE DESIGNED 
TO BUILD PUBLIC AND DEFENSE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE AIR 
FORCE AND ITS REQUIREMENTS.  THE AIR FORCE IS PAYING A HEAVY 
PRICE FOR BEING PROACTIVE AT THE END OF THE COLD WAR, CUTTING 
ITS FORCE STRUCTURE DRAMATICALLY ON ITS OWN WHILE THE OTHER 
SERVICES MADE FEWER CHANGES.  AS THE MOST EXPENSIVE SERVICE 
(ENVIRONMENT) THE AIR FORCE IS ALWAYS UP AGAINST RESOURCE 
LIMITS AND HAS FURTHER ERODED ITS RESOURCES BY THE 
REQUIREMENT TO POUR VAST AMOUNTS OF MONEY INTO LEGACY SYSTEMS 
WHICH ARE ALMOST TEN TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE THAN 
MODERN ONES. 
 
3. (C/NF) WHILE THE FUNDAMENTAL THRUST OF THE TRANSFORMATION 
VISION IS EXCELLENT AND ALIGNS NICELY WITH WHAT THE ROYAL AIR 
FORCE AND U.S. AIR FORCE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF CAPABILITY AND 
DOCTRINE, IT REALLY PRESENTS A FANTASY WITH ALMOST NO CHANCE 
OF BEING FULFILLED GIVEN CURRENT BUDGETS.  A DECLINING NUMBER 
OF AGEING FIGHTERS COUPLED WITH INCREASED NORAD COMMITMENTS 
POST-9/11 HAVE STRETCHED THE FIGHTER FORCE.  WHILE THEY ARE 
BEING MODERNIZED, CANADIAN CF-18S STILL FALL SHORT IN 
USABILITY WITH NO ALL-WEATHER PRECISION-GUIDED MUNITION (PGM) 
CAPABILITY AND NO MULTI-SENSOR RECONNAISSANCE OR BDA 
CAPABILITY; AND IN DEPLOYABILITY WITH A DECLINING NUMBER, 
HOMELAND COMMITMENTS, AND LIMITED SUPPORT AIRCRAFT.  TACTICAL 
UAV'S ACQUIRED FOR AFGHANISTAN NEED TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE 
CANADIAN FORCES, AND A PREDATOR B SOLUTION IS YEARS AWAY. 
MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT (MPA) AVAILABILITY IS LOW BECAUSE OF 
MODERNIZATION EFFORTS AND THE TRANSPORT CAPABILITY OF THE 
CANADIAN AIR FORCE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO ALL. WITH ANCIENT 
C-130S  MISSION CAPABLE ONLY 20 PERCENT OF THE TIME, ALL 
AIRLIFT CAPABILITY IS USED TO SUPPORT INTERNAL MUST-SUPPORT 
MISSIONS IN CANADA AND THEATER AIRLIFT ABROAD.  THERE IS ZERO 
EXCESS CAPACITY AND MANY AIRLIFT SUPPORT MISSIONS ARE NOW 
BEING FLOWN BY LEASED OR CONTRACT AIRCRAFT (AT VERY HIGH COST 
PER FLIGHT HOUR). 
 
4. (C/NF) WHILE THE DEFENCE REVIEW UNDERWAY MAY CALL FOR A 
STRATEGIC AIRLIFT SOLUTION IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET THE 
RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CHIEF OF THE LAND STAFF IS NOT 
ACTIVELY SUPPORTING A CANADIAN ORGANIC STRATEGIC AIRLIFT 
CAPABILITY IN LIEU OF RENTED TRANSPORT WHICH THE ARMY SAYS 
HAS ALWAYS GOTTEN THE JOB DONE.  THE AIR FORCE WILL ALSO ONLY 
GET A HANDFUL (LESS THAN 50) OF THE 5,000 NEW TROOPS THE 
PRIME MINISTER HAS PROMISED. 
 
5. (C/NF) WHILE CHIEF OF THE AIR FORCE LGEN KEN ((PENNIE)) 
HAS BEEN CALLING HIS AIR FORCE 'FRAGILE' FOR THE PAST YEAR, 
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IT IS DANGEROUSLY NEAR THE BREAKING 
POINT.  THERE ARE TOO MANY AIRBASES WHICH ARE OPEN ONLY FOR 
POLITICAL REASONS; PILOTS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH HOURS; 
MAINTENANCE TROOPS ARE BEING DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND 
MAINTAINING OLD SYSTEMS; LONG AND FREQUENT DEPLOYMENTS HAVE 
SAPPED MORALE; AND A MAJOR PORTION OF SENIOR MAINTENANCE 
SUPERVISORS ARE SLATED TO RETIRE IN THE COMING TWO YEARS. 
THE NAVY JUST HAD A SUB ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN A FLURRY 
OF INQUIRIES; AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR 
RESULT - A HUNT FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME, BUT NO MENTION OF 
FURTHER FUNDING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.  THE VISION SOUNDS GOOD 
BUT UNLESS A LOT OF RESOURCES (2-3 BILLION CANADIAN DOLLARS) 
FOLLOW IT, THE AIR FORCE IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE ON ITS PATH OF 
ATROPHY. 
 
6. (U) SOURCES REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER EXPLOITATION. 
 
7. (C/NF) THIS REPORTING SUPPORTS PRIORITY 2, PARAGRAPH 2A, 
AND PRIORITY 3, PARAGRAPHS 1A, 1B AND 1D OF THE DAO OTTAWA 
OPERATING DIRECTIVE. 
 
8. (U) DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS IIR TO DHO-1 AT 
STU III (703) 907-0541, OR GRAY 981-8236. 
 
COLL:  (U) AB; AC; AD; AH; AI. 
INSTR: (U) US NO. 
PREP:  (U) 6-03048. 
ACQ:  (U) CANADA, OTTAWA (20041115). 
DISSEM:  (U) FIELD:  AMEMB OTTAWA. 
WARNING:  (U) REPORT CLASSIFIED 
C O N F I D E N T I A L/NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS. 
 
SIPDIS 
DRV FM:  DO HUMINT SCG SEPTEMBER 2003 
DECL ON:  X1