The first retrofit LAV III from the new Edmonton operation of GDLS Canada was presented recently to Colonel John Vance, commander, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) in a ceremony attended by Dr. Sridhar Sridharam, Senior VP GDLS Canada and Allan Scott, president of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.
Field Aviation of Toronto has been awarded a contract to convert three Bombardier DASH 8-300 turboprop aircraft into Maritime Patrol/Search and Rescue aircraft for the Japan Coast Guard.
Tim Page, the President of the Canadian Defence Industries Association (CADSI) since May 2005, is the head of an industry that has been favoured by neither Canadian governments nor media since the end of World War II. Once a cornerstone of Canada foreign policy in a world at war, a strong and vibrant arms industry somehow does not fit the image of what Canada has supposedly become – a peacekeeping nation with few enemies and little need for a strong military.
CAE has offered to purchase all of the outstanding common shares of Engenuity Technologies Inc., based in Montreal, in a bid to expand its simulation offerings in the military. The deal is worth $23 million.
CMC Electronics of Montreal has been acquired by avionics firm, Esterline Corporation of Bellevue, Washington in a friendly take-over. Jean Pierre Mortreux, president of CMC, said, "We are delighted that Esterline has chosen to acquire CMC Electronics and welcome this very positive development for our company".
As expected, it has been announced that the Boeing Company has been awarded the contract to supply strategic airlift aircraft to the Canadian Forces with its C-17 transport aircraft in a $3.4 billion deal.
The Canadian military's special forces unit, Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2), will move to Trenton from its current Ottawa area location at Dwyer Hill, the Ottawa Citizen has reported. The government wants to change the name of JTF 2 to First Battalion, Special Service Regiment.
Sources have told CDR that, as part of the Canada First Defence policy, the 4 Twin Otter utility aircraft currently operating out of Yellowknife, could be replaced by up to 10 DASH 8 aircraft.
