BelAir Networks Inc. of Kanata, Ontario has received, from the Canadian government, a $9.7 million loan to develop wireless networking technologies to improve defence industry communications. This investment is made through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI).

"The defence industry's need for robust, reliable and highly secure wireless networks is greater than ever before," said Minister Clement. "This investment will help meet this need, ensuring that modern-day military operations are conducted in the most efficient and secure way possible."

Through the $32.3-million project, BelAir will develop and introduce a new set of hardware and software capabilities for its wireless networking product line to improve the capacity, reach and security of networks used by defence industries for surveillance, communications, video transmission and other essential tasks. BelAir will collaborate with federal and academic partners, including the Communications Research Centre Canada and Carleton University.

exactEarth Ltd., the data services subsidiary of COM DEV International Ltd. has entered into an agreement to provide its space-based Automatic Identification System (S-AIS) service, exactAIS, to the Danish Maritime Safety Administration (DaMSA) on a paid trial basis. Under the agreement, exactEarth will provide DaMSA with an S-AIS data feed and value-added services for a limited time commencing with the launch of its first operational satellite in the second quarter of 2010. 

DaMSA, a department of the Danish Ministry of Defence, has significant experience in the deployment of terrestrial AIS systems. Its objectives in purchasing S-AIS data include enhancing its global ship tracking abilities, improving its ability to perform maritime risk assessment and Aids to Navigation planning, particularly in the Arctic region, as well as improving Search and Rescue operations.

Gabriel (Gabe) Batstone, formerly Vice President Business Development at NGRAIN, has joined CAE Flightscape as Managing Director located in Ottawa.

Esterline Corporation reported fiscal 2009 fourth quarter and full-year results for the period ended October 30, 2009. Income from continuing operations for the quarter was $37.9 million compared to year-ago income of $41.4 million.

For the full year, Esterline reported income $107.2 million and net earnings were $119.8 millioncompared with $120.5 million last year. FY2009 net sales were $1.43 billion compared with $1.48 billion a year ago.

Brad Lawrence, Esterline CEO, said the company's performance "...exceeded our expectations due primarily to a strong finish from our Canada-based avionics operation where R&D investments in the new T-6B military trainer cockpit and C-130 avionics retrofit programs are beginning to pay off." Lawrence added that the seamless integration of UK-based Racal Acoustics, acquired earlier in the year, enabled that operation to "...outperform our first-year expectations."

Obzerv Technologies Inc., headquartered in Quebec City has won a contract with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division for its ARGC-2400 long-range night vision camera.

The U.S Navy will test the Active Range-Gated ARGC-2400 camera by conducting data collection efforts at multiple Navy locations.

OSI Geospatial's International Systems Operations has completed the first installation of its Digital Maritime Operations Plot (D-MOP) system onboard a Brazilian Navy 209 class submarine. The contract for this project was signed in January 2008 and this is the first of 5 systems to be fitted.

On December 7th, the first two of Canada’s 17 CC-130Js moved to the front of the production line in Marietta, Georgia. The CC-130J on the left in the attached photo is the first and is in the position for interior trim. The CC-130J on the right is in the final assembly position. The aircraft will be delivered in the spring of 2010.

Aéro Montréal, the Aerospace Cluster of Metropolitan Montréal, in collaboration with CRIAQ, the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Québec, opened the 2nd edition of the Aerospace Innovation Forum in Montréal under the theme Aerospace Clusters: A World of Innovation.

The event, the result of the Québec aerospace industry’s determination to maintain its innovation capacity, is bringing together more than 400 representatives and researchers from the Canadian and international aerospace industry. 

Coming on the heels of a recent Conference Board of Canada report regarding the importance of Canada’s aerospace industry investing in research and development, Québec’s aerospace sector is taking advantage of the event to reaffirm its position as a leader in innovation and to recognize the need to intensify its efforts in the area of research and development (R&D).

The U.S. Operation of OSI Geospatial Inc. has signed R&D contracts valued at approximately $1.8 million. Under the terms of these contracts, the company will provide advanced technology engineering services and support. The company expects to recognize the revenue from these projects within the next 12 months.

L-3 Communication Systems-West was selected by the Canadian Forces for the delivery of its international version of the ROVER 5. As such, Rover 5i will serve as the Canadian Forces’ new Remote Video Terminal. 

“The ROVER 5i will allow the Canadian military to receive and view the very critical ISR video they require for current operations. This is a very important piece of kit that Canadian military personnel have been asking for,” said James Diefenderfer, L-3’s Canadian Business Manager.