I wonder if MST came up in conversation???Aust, Canada step up...

I wonder if MST came up in conversation???

Aust, Canada step up defence ties
September 12, 2011 - 1:34PM

AAP

Australia and Canada will strengthen their defence relationship by holding annual top level talks, after signing off on a deal for Australian troops in Afghanistan to borrow three armoured vehicles to clear roads of insurgent bombs.

The vehicles are specially designed to detect and counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and feature radar to detect IEDs and a robotic arm to defuse concealed devices.

Defence minister Stephen Smith, speaking at a joint media conference with visiting Canadian defence minister Peter MacKay in Canberra, said the vehicles would be available early next year and significantly boost the capability of Australian forces to counter the IED peril.
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"Australia will obtain from Canada some anti-IED capability, protected vehicles with sensor arrangements," Mr Smith told reporters on Monday.

"We will take use of these facilities from early next year as Canada winds down its effort in Kandahar."

Mr MacKay said the counter-IED equipment Canada was loaning Australia was a lifesaver.

"It's that simple. You can't put it any other way," he said.

"In our experience in Afghanistan ... IEDs are the scourge of this war.

"This type of warfare is not going away."

Under the new relationship arrangements, Australia and Canada will now conduct annual, formal ministerial bilateral talks, and hold yearly meetings of defence chiefs and officials.

Australia and Canada would also conduct regular strategic talks on shared procurement issues, such as the Joint Strike Fighter program.

As well, Australia and Canada are considering a plan for exchange postings of defence cadets.

Mr Smith said Canada and Australia had a longstanding and close relationship, with Australian and Canadian troops serving together in World War One, Korea, and most recently in east Timor and Afghanistan, where Canada had lost 157 personnel.

"We have a significant and deeply shared military and defence experience. Most importantly what we share is a great friendship and shared values and virtues," he said.

Mr MacKay said Australia and Canada enjoyed a close and unique relationship and the new arrangements would take the relationship and the ability to operate together to new heights.

"Australia is go-to nation, Australia is a top tier nation when it comes to contributions that you have made - not only in Afghanistan but throughout your history," he said.

"It's instructive that we are able to not only build on that history but look to one another for lessons learned."

? 2011 AAP