Troy Crosby, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Materiel Group at the Department of National Defence, was photographed in Ottawa on April 18, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)
The top procurement official at the Defence Department expressed his desire for defence companies to prioritize delivering what they have committed to instead of focusing on winning the next contract.
Assistant Deputy Minister of Materiel, Troy Crosby, acknowledges that companies need to make money but emphasizes the importance of fulfilling their obligations to the federal government, military, and Canadians.
Recently, defence companies like Airbus and Sikorsky Helicopters have been criticized for failing to fulfill their promises to deliver search-and-rescue aircraft and maritime-patrol helicopters. Such companies have been accused of overpromising to secure multibillion-dollar contracts, a move that has resulted in disappointment for the Canadian military and taxpayers.
Crosby reports that the Defence Department has introduced new measures to evaluate companies’ ability to follow through on their commitments when bidding on contracts. He, however, urges companies to be more transparent about what they can deliver and when.