RCAF eyes Resolute Bay for new Arctic base

dumpthemonarchy

House Member
Jan 18, 2005
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It's about time. Ooooh, those boys in unform are so bold, going up north all alone!! But don't panic, they're still in snooze mode, it won't happen for few years yet. The North is only about the size of BC, Alta, Sask, they ought to quicken things up. This is a key part of national security in the future.

Signs of improvement here, better than spending millions on planning for the "rescue" of convenient Canadians from Arab countries.


RCAF eyes Resolute Bay for new Arctic base


RCAF eyes Resolute Bay for new Arctic base







By DAVID PUGLIESE, The Ottawa Citizen December 26, 2011





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A man on skis travels across frozen sea past the Canadian Arctic settlement of Resolute Bay, Nunavut April 9, 2006. The settlement was founded in 1953 when the Canadian government dumped 14 aboriginal Inuit people on the frozen, stony beach. The Inuit say Ottawa tricked them into moving and some want an apology for the way they were treated. Picture taken April 9, 2006. To match feature CANADA RELOCATION REUTERS/David Ljunggren

Photograph by: STRINGER/CANADA, REUTERS




The Royal Canadian Air Force has looked at a major expansion of Resolute Bay as it considers transforming it into a key base for Arctic operations, according to documents obtained by the Citizen.
The construction of a 3,000-metre paved runway, hangars, fuel installations and other infrastructure has been proposed as part of an effort to support government and military operations in the North.
Resolute Bay in Nunavut would be able to provide a logistics site for search-and-rescue operations as well as a base for strategic refuelling aircraft, according to the briefing from the Arctic Management Office at 1 Canadian Air Division. That was presented in June 2010 and recently released by the Defence Department under the Access to Information law.
The long, paved runway would allow fighter aircraft to operate from the site, with the suggestion in the presentation that those aircraft could include NORAD jets.
Resolute Bay currently has a 1,981-metre gravel runway, according to information provided for pilots by the federal government.
Resolute Bay should be considered for expansion to become a main operating base because it is “the geostrategic center to the Arctic and NW Passage” and is an “existing regional supply hub with a permanent population/sea access,” according to the briefing.
It would be seen as a “key Arctic regional development and sovereignty centerpiece,” the records add.
The presentation followed a February 2010 Arctic planning directive issued by the Chief of the Air Staff Lt.-Gen. André Deschamps who called on the air force to become “a more relevant, responsive, and effective Arctic capable aerospace power.”
In an email to the Citizen, the Royal Canadian Air Force stated it “does not have infrastructure or short-term infrastructure projects at Resolute Bay.”
The email did not touch on the RCAF’s long-term plans for Resolute Bay or discuss the briefing from the Arctic Management Office.
The Conservative government has received kudos from some for paying more attention to the Arctic, but critics have raised concerns that much of that is based on a military presence while the government continues to cut back on science and research in the North.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has emphasized that Canada will increase its military presence in the region, announcing a series of initiatives, ranging from the construction of Arctic and offshore patrol ships for the navy, an Arctic training centre for troops, and the expansion of the Canadian Rangers.
The Conservatives have also highlighted their decision to spend more than $14 billion on the F-35 stealth fighter as an initiative to protect the country’s Arctic airspace.
Many of the initiatives, however, are still years away from becoming reality.
The RCAF briefing also examined establishing a forward operating base on central Ellesmere Island by expanding the current facilities at Eureka. That initiative proposed adding new facilities and turning the location into a regional asset for government departments. Also included in the “FOB Eureka” concept is the proposal that the existing airfield be expanded.

Creating a Forward Operating Base Eureka could allow the military to downsize or rebuild the existing Canadian Forces Station Alert, according to the presentation.
CFS Alert is on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island and is used for the interception of communications.
The presentation noted that Eureka would be easier to sustain, as it could be resupplied by sea while Alert has to be resupplied by air. Making Eureka the main Canadian Forces “very high” Arctic station would also allow the military to separate the missions of sovereignty enforcement and the role of communications intercepts, it added.
The presentation suggested the possibility of a rebuilt CFS Alert, including an artists’ concept of the site.
The email from the RCAF stated that “no major construction projects involving the runway at Eureka are planned.”
The email did not discuss the proposals to build new facilities at Eureka or rebuild CFS Alert.
The RCAF email, however, did note “the Government of Canada has made Canada’s North a cornerstone of its agenda through an integrated strategy that promotes sovereignty, economic and social development, environmental protection, and improved governance in the region.”
The U.S., however, has a different view, dismissing many of the Arctic announcements by the Conservative government as having little to do with enforcing sovereignty in the North and are instead designed to attract votes.
“Conservatives make concern for ‘The North’ part of their political brand and it works,” according to a diplomatic cable produced last year by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. The cable was made public by WikiLeaks.







Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/RCAF+eyes+Resolute+Arctic+base/5912087/story.html#ixzz1hnoD59Mz
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
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We are on the verge of one world government, we haven't been a sovereign nation for decades, what do we need an air force base in the artic? To protect the holdings of our puppet masters? Let them build the damn thing,. They have all the money.
 

dumpthemonarchy

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So negative. And its spelled Arctic.

And we need two more bases at the entrances of the Northwest Passage by Greenland and the Yukon to monitor shipping. They don't have to be hardcore, expensive, formal military bases, they can be coast guard bases run by civilians in govt and businesses. The military could only be a supplementary aspect of the new bases. Soveriegnty is more than a military presence.

Sending up a satellite shouldn't be a problem.
 

Kakato

Time Out
Jun 10, 2009
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I had sat service at the arctic circle,also sirius radio but depending on the time of day the signal would come from north half a day and south for the rest.Your right at the tip of the "cone" up there.
 

Kakato

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Royal Canadian igloos?

These are what we stayed in and they are heated by a small 220 heater and are very cozy even when it's minus 80 celsius with windchill.

 

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
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Shouldn't they have pre-built 'tunnels' going from building to building, bug-screens in the summer an strong enough to hold 5 ft of drift snow in the winter.
 

Kakato

Time Out
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Shouldn't they have pre-built 'tunnels' going from building to building, bug-screens in the summer an strong enough to hold 5 ft of drift snow in the winter.

Some camps do and it's called an arctic corridor. Cabins and tents are sealed very good as Arctic snow is very cyrstalline and will blow throw a pinhole.The doors also should open to the inside.
The pic of the cabins I posted are the warmest I have ever been in.
I've seen lots of military in the north for project Nanook,they can handle it and the flyboys dont get any better treatement then anyone else.
Your either a team player in the north or your gone,simple as that,no prima donnas allowed.
 

coldstream

on dbl secret probation
Oct 19, 2005
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I think its a good idea. It should be able to handle specifically the RCAF CF35, and should be flexible enough to be able to provide for an Army contingent of quickly deployed and well equipped light infantry that could be activated in an emergency.

With the Global World Order quickly falling apart, we are on the brink of a chaotic period which will see aggressive forms of 'nationalism' (really 'tribalism' to separate the term from that of a constructive and peaceful nation state) rampant. They will seek weakly protected, richly resourced areas on which to plant their flag. That threat could come from Russia.. from China.. from a post EU European alliance, likely of northern European countries (the EU itself is on the verge of collapse).. or from the U.S..

Even a clear statement of willingness to fight for our sovereignty, could in fact provide a crucial anti-incentive to viewing the Canadian north as open territory.. up for grabs. They will view this as such because they'll know we can form alliances against any aggressive forces.. with others who wish to avoid the same threat.
 
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dumpthemonarchy

House Member
Jan 18, 2005
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I think its a good idea. It should be able to handle specifically the RCAF CF35, and should be flexible enough to be able to provide for an Army contingent of quickly deployed and well equipped light infantry that could be activated in an emergency.

With the Global World Order quickly falling apart, we are on the brink of a chaotic period which will see aggressive forms of 'nationalism' (really 'tribalism' to separate the term from that of a constructive and peaceful nation state) rampant. They will seek weakly protected, richly resourced areas on which to plant their flag. That threat could come from Russia.. from China.. from a post EU European alliance, likely of northern European countries (the EU itself is on the verge of collapse).. or from the U.S..

Even a clear statement of willingness to fight for our sovereignty, could in fact provide a crucial anti-incentive to viewing the Canadian north as open territory.. up for grabs. They will view this as such because they'll know we can form alliances against any aggressive forces.. with others who wish to avoid the same threat.


Denmark wishes to see China join the Arctic Council as an observer. Greenland sees potential with China. And an admiral from China has made a territorial claim to the Arctic. The world sees opportunity here, and we don't have a base there yet.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-11/05/c_131230851.htm

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Arrival+China+Arctic+puts+Canada+alert/5625461/story.html

China
 

Johnnny

Frontiersman
Jun 8, 2007
9,388
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It would be nice to have Another military base to be more assertive on our behalf. There is alot of potential there and alot of stuff to get hard about up there too.... Hugs and kisses arent as a good a deterent as a established Canadian Military base monitoring the area.
 

dumpthemonarchy

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It would be nice if countries weren't aggressively looking for resources too. Unless you occupy an area, with regular patrols and habitation, and someone else wants it, then bullies will try to get it. Superpowers and those on their way to such status tend to do very pushy things, and if there's no pushback then the patsy gets a well deserved beating.
 

dumpthemonarchy

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A roaring mouse is still a mouse

A roaring mouse needs big ships that can fire big rockets. Power is what nations respect, if you don't give displays of hard power, and a williingness to use it, nations step on your face as they trod over you. Soft power is fine for diplomats, but out in the open, soft power equals weakness. Not everything is decided in meeting rooms, not everyone or nation in the world is reasonable all the time.

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An article about China and the Arctic on the al-jazeera website. Interest is growing. You buy gunboats to show you mean business, then commerce becomes easy as everyone knows the rules.

The dragon looks north - Opinion - Al Jazeera English