HMCS Regina conducts sensors and weapons testing

Photo courtesy Hayley Young, CFMETR

Stephen McCormick, CFMETR Range Engineer ~

As part of ongoing ship readiness preparations, HMCS Regina was at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges Oct. 24 to 25 to conduct FORACS testing – FORACS is an acronym that stands for NATO Naval Forces Sensor and Weapons Accuracy Check.  

Over the past 22 years Canada has been a regular member of NATO FORACS and relies upon this organization to provide accuracy measurements of key sensors and combat systems equipment for submarines, destroyers and frigates.  

The ranges measure the bearing, range, position, and heading accuracy of sensors in surface ships and submarines to satisfy national requirements and to meet NATO material readiness standards, through dynamic combat system performance evaluation.

FORACS services are provided at three fixed ranges: the AUTEC Range in the Bahamas, Stavanger Norway, and Souda Bay Greece.  

Canada has use FORACS services on an opportunity basis in order to ensure submarines and warships are technically ready for weapons firings and mission obligations. In addition to the three NATO FORACS check sites, a number of ranges have NATO FORACS
test equipment available, including CFMETR.

To assist in Regina’s testing, staff from AUTEC (Bahamas) and Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton sailed in Regina. 

“This is the first time I have conducted FORACS that I can recall, and I have been impressed by the FORACS team in their approach to integrating into the ship,” said Commander Landon Creasy, Regina’s commanding officer. “It’s been very interesting for my operators and technicians to work with some world-class engineers from a variety of backgrounds. It’s given us the opportunity to chase down faults with on-hand experts, optimize sensors, and get a deeper understanding of the equipment we work with on a daily basis.”

By using deployable FORACS capabilities and the CFMETR test site, the Royal Canadian Navy is refocusing their priorities to meet both the near term operational and the future capital program requirements.