It must be assumed that at least some of these new weapons are going to be Tomahawk cruise missiles made by Raytheon Missiles & Defense in the United States as these are the same weapons previously identified as projected for use on the new Canadian Surface Combatants frigates being built for the R.C.N.
For targeting and navigation Tomahawk missiles use a combination of TERCOM or Terrain Contour Matching in which a digital representation of an area of terrain is mapped based on digital terrain elevation data or stereo imagery. It is not clear if any branch of the Canadian government, military or civilian can supply such data or imagery.
The missile also uses DSMAC or Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation. To do this a digitized image of an area is mapped. During the flight the missile will verify that the images that it has stored correlate with the image it sees below itself. Based on comparison results the missile's inertial navigation system is updated and the missile corrects its course. Again, it is not clear if any branch of the Canadian government, military or civilian can supply such data or imagery.
Is it possible that the Government of Canada is going to acquire long range cruise missiles, a weapon never before found in our arsenal, that can only be used with the assistance, and hence permission, of a third party?
A new day, a new defence policy, a lot of questions. More to come.
