BAE Systems Showcases Maritime, Land and Cyber Capabilities at CANSEC 2023

BAE Systems (booth 713) will demonstrate a wide range of defence and security solutions for land, sea and cyberspace at CANSEC 2023. The event, held on 31 May and 1 June 2023 at EY Centre in Ottawa, will also look to the future of BAE Systems’ relationship with Canada, building on more than a century of collaboration.

Anne Healey, BAE Systems Canada Director, said: “CANSEC offers BAE Systems the opportunity to update our valued customers in Canada with the latest, world-leading technology that the company can provide from the depths of the oceans to the edge of space. Together we share a century of commitment and a partnership with purpose for security and growth in Canada.”

The company’s display at CANSEC will include the latest surface combatant for the Royal Canadian Navy alongside maritime training, the Beowulf all-terrain vehicle and ARCHER. There will also be an opportunity for delegates at CANSEC to find out more about the Company’s digital and intelligence capability, sustainable transport technologies and sustainment, training and support across all domains.

Healey continued: “BAE Systems is excited to work with Irving and Lockheed Martin to deliver the most advanced warship in the world, the Canadian Surface Combatant. In addition, we will demonstrate how the Company can deliver the best possible artillery systems and vehicles for the Army, secure communications across the Armed Forces and civilian authorities and hybrid and electric propulsion for public transport, marine vessels and other heavy-duty land vehicles. 

The following is a recent Q&A with Anne Healey, Country Director, Canada for BAE Systems, ahead of CANSEC 2023: 

Question: What does your role at BAE Systems entail and how long have you been with the company?

Anne Healey:  I’ve been with BAE Systems for nine years, and the time has flown by.  There have been a lot of exciting developments during that time and I’ve been very fortunate to work with such capable and professional people throughout.  My role centres around supporting our many business units and their operations and aspirations in Canada.  You’ll hear my colleagues and I talk about the importance of partnerships and that is true throughout the business and in the many steps along the journey.  This includes internal partnering to align and coalesce various teams as well as externally through our many suppliers and industry primes.  It’s a testament to the importance we place on truly understanding the customers’ needs and requirements throughout the procurement process including implementation and delivery as well as sustainment throughout the long life cycles of defence capabilities.

Question: Traditionally there aren’t many women in this industry, how did you get to where you are today?

Anne Healey: Defence is a field which has really transformed during my time in the sector.  There are many more women today than there ever have been and I attribute this to a variety of factors and initiatives.  Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) has been instrumental in supporting women and giving us a community and I’m proud of the work BAE Systems does to support this vital network.  It’s also through champions and role models that we have seen the number of women choosing defence as a career destination grow.  All of these factors have been instrumental in my career path and progression – from the WiDS community to having mentors and champions who generously coached and guided me along the way.  While defence has made great strides in its diversity and inclusion, there is more work to do.  I do believe continuing to raise awareness of the range of career options and how welcoming the sector is to all is important to convey, and reflect, to a wide audience, including those who are only beginning to decide their future path.  It really is a great, innovative and rewarding sector to work in and the variety of roles available mean that everyone can find a place in it that enables them to contribute, develop and be valued throughout their time in it.

Question: Tell us a little about BAE Systems in Canada and what it is doing here right now.

Anne Healey: Through our heritage companies and onwards to the present day we have been working in partnership with Canada’s Armed Forces for more than a century. We have a legacy of delivering critical capabilities that have served Canada both at home and abroad. Our aviation history includes Avro Canada, which produced the Avro Arrow, as well companies such as De Havilland Canada and Hawker Siddeley Aviation. We also built many of the frigates, corvettes, and supply ships that served Canada during the Battle of the Atlantic. Today more than 2,400 Canadians are employed directly or indirectly through the company and over the past five years we have created an economic impact of approximately half a billion dollars. We work across world-leading defence platforms and our strengths and core capabilities include providing the design, manufacture, integration and support services for the Canadian Armed Forces across the maritime, land, air, space and digital domains. Canada selected the BAE Systems Type 26 design for the Canadian Surface Combatant for the Royal Canadian Navy under a subcontract from Lockheed Martin, Canada. BAE Systems is the warship designer for the 15-ship programme and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is the nominated shipbuilder. This demonstrates how BAE Systems Canada can spearhead the delivery of enhanced capabilities to Canada working with our peers in local industry as we play our part in the nation’s security and economic development. Our work for Canada truly represents a century of commitment and a partnership with purpose with more information on that relationship available at www.baesystems.com/canada.

Question: Does BAE Systems plan to grow in Canada in the future?

Anne Healey: Absolutely. We have a range of solutions in-service in Canada including the Hawk aircraft, the stalwart M777 artillery systems and, of course, the design of the Canadian Surface Combatant.  Our future looks equally bright with interconnectedness, modern and mobile solutions, and open architecture being some of the future features demanded by customers that we are focused on.  At the heart of everything we do will be our partners; in industry and government.  As we look ahead to the future, BAE Systems offers capabilities across land, sea, air, space and cyber. We are committed to Canada as both a location and a valued set of customers and partners. It’s an exciting time to be working for the company here given the endless future possibilities for a relationship that has already endured successfully for more than a hundred years.

Question: What will the company be exhibiting at CANSEC 2023?

Anne Healey: BAE Systems is at CANSEC once more, in booth 713, and we will demonstrate a wide range of defence and security solutions for land, sea and cyberspace. We will look to the future of BAE Systems’ relationship with Canada, building on more than a century together. The BAE Systems display will include information on maritime data management and training, warship support, the Beowulf all-terrain vehicle and ARCHER. There will also be an opportunity for delegates to CANSEC to find out more about the company’s digital and intelligence capability, sustainable transport technologies and sustainment, training and support across all domains. Working closely with partners in Canada, North America and around the world, BAE Systems delivers advanced technology that contributes to national security, keeps critical information and infrastructure safe and supports economic development. With a workforce of more than 90,000 in over 40 countries, the company will demonstrate at CANSEC how it is developing new ways to provide customers with a competitive edge across the air, maritime, land and cyber domains worldwide. People can find out more at www.baesystems.com/cansec.