Article / April 8, 2016 / Project number: 15-0183

Ottawa, Ontario — The Canadian Army (CA) is preparing to take delivery of the new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) later this year. The fleet of 500 vehicles will be distributed across seven bases and 24 units. 2nd Canadian Division will be the first formation to operate the TAPV , which will be part of a High Readiness Training Cycle culminating in Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 2018.

The CA expects to declare full operational capability by mid-2020, following training of all operators, and completion of user trials and exercises confirming operational readiness.

Brigadier-General S.M. Cadden, Chief of Staff Army Strategy, expresses the Army’s building excitement for fielding this new fleet.

“ The Army has closely followed the testing of this vehicle. We currently have over a dozen Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel participating in testing activities, and they are relaying very positive feedback, ” he said. “ We are looking forward to fielding the TAPV to units. ”

The TAPV , built by Textron Systems Canada Inc., was chosen after a rigorous evaluation process that included testing for mobility, firepower, survivability and human factors, as well as a paper-based evaluation of other technical and financial criteria.

The TAPV will be delivered in two variants: General Utility and Reconnaissance. The only differences between variants are their internal design and certain pieces of equipment. The Reconnaissance variant will be fielded to armoured reconnaissance squadrons, infantry reconnaissance platoons and the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School.

A notable feature of the TAPV is its very high level of protection and survivability against enemy threats, which includes improvised explosive devices, explosively-formed projectiles, and anti-armour weapons. The Textron Systems vehicle far exceeds the Army’s essential requirements for protection levels, thereby offering an additional degree of confidence for operators when entering enemy theatre.

In addition to offering a higher degree of protection, the vehicle will be highly mobile. It is designed to effectively travel long distances on both roads and cross-country terrain. At just under 18,597 kilograms in weight, this light armoured vehicle can perform a wide variety of roles and tasks, including reconnaissance and surveillance, security (patrolling and escort), command and control, and armoured transport of personnel and equipment. Four TAPV s can be transported simultaneously by a CC-177 Globemaster III, providing good strategic mobility.

The TAPV also comes with several innovative new features. Of particular note is the TAPV ’s remote weapons station, which allows gunners to aim and fire from the vehicle’s interior. The remote weapons station comes equipped with both a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher and a C6 flex machine gun. It offers impressive observational capabilities, allowing crews to see at distances of up to 10,000 metres. In addition, it has been specifically designed to accommodate soldiers with all personal protective equipment.

The TAPV is based on Textron Systems’ COMMANDO™ series of vehicles, specifically the COMMANDO Elite. Textron Systems describes the Elite models as “ our most highly-protected and capable vehicles, ” and explains that it is “ a more technologically advanced variation of the COMMANDO™ and is engineered to meet the Canadian Army’s demanding standards, including operability in both extreme cold and heat. ”

Leading up to fielding, there is an increased focus on establishing in-service support.

The in-service support will be provided under a somewhat different approach from other fleets. The CAF will continue to perform first- and second-line maintenance as typical, but otherwise the TAPV fleet will be largely supported by the contractor, Textron Systems, along with their subcontractor Rheinmetall Canada. Textron Systems will run an equipment management team, and be the main point of contact for technical problems. The contractor owns the spare parts, though a stock of 60 days will be held by the CAF . The contract with Textron Systems is performance-based, and is designed to motivate Textron Systems to maintain good reliability and fleet availability. Additional information on the in-service support approach will be provided to the CA in the coming months.

“ Textron Systems is fully committed to providing Canada with the most mobile, survivable, and reliable vehicle in the world today, ” said Textron Systems Vice President of Land Vehicles Mike Gelpi. “ We look forward to getting the vehicles in the soldiers’ hands in the very near term. ”

Construction of new TAPV barns is underway at 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa, 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier, and 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, and will begin shortly at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton.

Operators and technicians will receive initial cadre training shortly after vehicles are delivered to their location. This initial training is being developed by the contractor, Textron Systems, while follow-on training will be provided by the CA training system.

TAPV maintenance publications will be modernized with an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM). Accessible via an easy-to-use interface resembling Microsoft Internet Explorer, the IETM will simplify the work of technicians by making manuals and procedures readily accessible via laptop. The IETM will also make updates instantly available.

The TAPV fleet will be the first CA vehicle fleet to have a Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS). This HUMS includes sensors throughout the vehicle that record key data, and provide information to assist with maintenance and fleet management.

The program has experienced some schedule delays, and fielding of the TAPV is anticipated approximately two years later than originally planned. This delay has allowed the contractor sufficient time to improve certain aspects of the design, thereby providing a better and more reliable vehicle to the Army. The project office in the Department of National Defence`s Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) is overseeing the contractor’s testing and qualification activities which are currently more than 50 percent complete and planned to be finished by May 2016. Deliveries of vehicles are expected to begin shortly thereafter in August 2016, and all deliveries should be completed within 17 months of that date.

The table here provides the most recent fielding locations and dates. Updates to this table will be provided periodically, as dates and numbers of vehicles may be adjusted.

TAPV Delivery Schedule

Location Units Number of TAPV Planned Delivery Dates Gagetown Combat Training Centre/2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Regiment/4th Artillery Regiment (General Support) 89 August - October 2016 Valcartier 2nd Canadian Division 133 October 16 - February 17 Borden RCEME School 2 March 2017 Montreal Army Equipment Fielding Centre 25 March 2017 Edmonton (includes vehicles for Shilo and Wainwright) 3rd Canadian Division 108 April - July 2017 Gagetown 5th Canadian Division Training Centre 27 August 2017 Petawawa (includes vehicles for Meaford) 4th Canadian Division 126 September - December 2017

The TAPV will replace the RG-31 fleet (already retired) and a portion of the COYOTE fleet. The operation of the COYOTE fleet has been extended through a life-extension process in order to compensate for delays to the fielding of the TAPV fleet.

Additional communications to prepare for fielding the TAPV fleet will be provided over the coming months. This will include detailed fielding briefs that will be delivered to key staff at each delivery location.

By the Office of the Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel)