General Atomics Aeronautical Systems successfully performed Cold Weather Validation (CWV) using a company-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in late Jan./early Feb. 2023, adding to the cold weather experience of the MQ-9 family of systems. The system’s ground servicing actions, maneuvers, and flights were based out of GA-ASI’s Flight Test and Training Center (FTTC) in Grand Forks, N.D. SkyGuardian is being proposed to multiple Nordic countries for their Defence and Security needs. The CWV flight test widens and accelerates the global operational implementation for SkyGuardian, especially for countries that need to operate in cold conditions.
To support the ramp-up of its A220 commercial aircraft production and to meet opportunities in the helicopters and defence, and space fields, Airbus plans to recruit more than 800 new employees in Canada in 2023, including approximately 500 for the creation of new positions, reflecting the growth of its operations in Canada. These new hires will be essential to maintaining its position as a leading player in the Canadian aerospace sector, ensuring the full potential of the A220 and supporting the decarbonization of air transport.
Saab has responded to a Request for Information (RFI) from NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency regarding a new generation of surveillance and control capabilities. Saab’s response is based on GlobalEye. NATO will define its new generation capability within the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) project.
Innovation for Defence, Excellence and Security (IDEaS) will be funding up to $3 million per successful proposal to create multidisciplinary research micro-networks (micro-nets) through its Innovation Networks element to build expertise in the field of quantum technology.
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, will visit Seaspan Shipyards as part of a trip to Vancouver, British Columbia. Seaspan is an integral partner of the Government of Canada as we deliver on the National Shipbuilding Strategy to renew Canada’s federal fleet of combat and non-combat vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. At Seaspan, Minister Anand will partake in a tour of the Shipyards and take questions from interested media.
The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) has signed a contract with the Chilean Navy for the supply of OSI Maritime Systems’ (OSI) Tactical Dived Navigation System (TDNS) for two SCROPENE Class submarines. This contract is the second government to government (G2G) contract between CCC and the Chilean Navy for advanced submarine solutions offered by OSI. The first contract, signed in 2020, provided upgrades to the navigation capability of two THOMPSON class submarines of the Chilean Navy.
CDR is sad to report that a long-time contributor to the magazine, Linda Wolstencroft, passed away unexpectedly on February 6, 2023. Linda was well-known in Canada’s defence and aerospace community, having worked in that sector for many years as a valued consultant. She was only 59 years old.
Canada announced the deployment of two Royal Canadian Navy Kingston-class Vessels to Haiti. His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Glace Bay and Moncton, with a combined company of over 90 Royal Canadian Navy sailors, will conduct presence patrols in and around Haitian waters in the coming weeks, focusing on the waters in the vicinity of Port-au-Prince.
Aéro Montréal has appointed Mélanie Lussier as President and CEO of Aéro Montréal, effective March 13. Suzanne M. Benoît, who currently holds the position of President of Aéro Montréal and has played an important leadership role since the creation of the industrial cluster, has announced her retirement effective March 10.
Thales and Schiebel are pleased to announce they have been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to deliver a game-changing rotary wing Uncrewed Air System (UAS) to provide a protective ‘eye in the sky’ capability for Royal Navy warships. CarteNav will provide the flexible AIMS-ISR mission system software to provide multi-sensor integration, planning, collection, and dissemination.
HENSOLDT is developing essential core elements of the novel sensor network in the German-French-Spanish armament project FCAS (= Future Combat Air System). As a member of the German FCMS GbR (FCMS = Future Combat Mission System) consortium, HENSOLDT has been awarded a contract worth approximately 100 million euros by the French procurement authority DGA
Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR), a world leader in helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) and Tactical mission operational training and support, is pleased to announce the award of a multi-year contract by French Ministry of Armed Forces Command to provide virtual SAR, Tactical, Aerial Use of Force/Gunnery , and NVIS simulation and training support services for helicopter aircrews operating the H225M, AS532, SA330, NH90, AS565, H125M, and AS342 Gazelle. The training will take place at the P1AR Search and Rescue Tactical Training Academy (SART/TAC) located in Bordeaux, France.
The antennas will be built, assembled and tested at MDA's state-of-the art high volume satellite production facility in Montreal
Canada has deployed a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft to support Canada’s efforts to disrupt the activities of gangs in Haiti and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to the Haitian people. Canada is undertaking efforts to address the dire security situation in the country and supports the Haitian National Police. Canada is providing this assistance in response to Haiti’s request for support as violence continues to escalate in the country.
A high-altitude surveillance balloon was detected and its movements are being actively tracked by NORAD. One of the places the balloon was spotted was Montana, which is home to one of the nation's three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.
Aero Transporte S.A. (ATSA) has signed a firm agreement for a Dash 8-400 freighter conversion with a large cargo door (Dash 8-400 F-LCD). With this agreement, ATSA has become the first South American operator of Dash 8-400 aircraft to join De Havilland Canada’s Cargo Solutions Program and ATSA’s Dash 8-400 F-LCD aircraft will be the first one operating on the continent.
COVE’s Digital Harbour initiative will monitor Halifax Harbour from the water, land, and air to deliver commercially relevant data for better public and private sector decision-making.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) conducted Operation NOBLE DEFENDER – a dynamic force employment operation – across multiple locations in the Arctic, and the coasts of Canada and the United States, between Jan. 15-31, 2023.
Navistar Defense announced an award from the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) for the prototype phase of the Common Tactical Truck (CTT) program for the US Army’s PM Transportation Systems and PEO Combat Support / Combat Service Support (PEO CS/CSS).
Canada has confirmed it will be sending 4 combat-ready battle tanks to Ukraine during a press briefing on January 26th. Canada has 112 Leopard 2 Tanks, 82 of them are designed for combat while 30 are designed for engineering and recovery purposes.
Saab received an order for the anti-armour weapon AT4 from the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). The order value is approximately EUR 24 million and deliveries will take place in 2023. The order was booked in Q4 2022.
The U.S. has confirmed it will send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, reversing course after Germany cleared the way for Europe to send tanks.
Since the early 1980s, Canada's astronauts have advanced science and technology and inspired Canadians. Nine extraordinary Canadian Space Agency astronauts have flown to space 17 times. Expanding Canadian space launch capability will bring economic opportunity for the Canadian space sector, not only in urban centres but also in regions, encourage innovation and research, support national security, and create good jobs for Canadians.
CAE Defense & Security has been awarded the competitive re-compete for Fixed-Wing Flight Training Service by the United States Army. The contract provides comprehensive initial and recurrent training for more than 600 U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force fixed-wing pilots annually.
