DND working with British Army on their plans for Suffield

By COLLIN GALLANT on September 5, 2020.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

In response to reports stating British Army tank training may be scrapped at CFB Suffield, the Canadian Department of National Defence says the base has many functions training domestic and allied forces.

“We are working closely with our British counterparts as they continue to plan a variety of training exercises for their soldiers and units,” read a statement in response to questions from the News.

Officials also made public that “Advanced Tactical Aviation” exercises will be held at CFB Suffield over the last two weeks in September involving the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, based in Edmonton.

The issue stems from reports that the British Ministry of Defence is contemplating options to avoid major upgrade costs on its fleet of heavy tanks by mothballing them to concentrate resources on emerging battlefield trends, like drone aircraft and cyber security.

That would end tank training at the Canadian base near Medicine Hat that operated for nearly 50 years in partnership between the two countries.

That report is due to be presented to civilian government officials in London in early Novembers.

DND officials told the news it is still “too early to speculate” about British army training needs in the future, but regular and reserve units of the Canadian Forces, as well as NATO contingents, also use the base in conjunction with BATUS and Defence Research and Development Canada station.

According to media reports from the U.K., the country’s 200-plus Challenger 2 heavy tanks, including about two dozen training units at CFB Suffield, are in need of substantial upgrades.

Along with Warrior armoured fighting vehicles, one option suggests mothballing the 1990s-era tanks rather than allotting new money to keep them battle-ready for another 15 years.

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