Deal allows Canada to continue operating aging RCAF VIP aircraft in U.S. airspace

On the same subject

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  June 6, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  L’appel d’offres pour le remplacement des CF-18 lancé bientôt

  NORMAND BOIVIN Au cours des prochaines semaines, un mois au maximum, le Canada devrait lancer le processus d'appel d'offres pour le remplacement de sa flotte de CF-18. Le major-général Alain Pelletier est en train de mettre la touche finale aux travaux qui l'ont tenu occupé au cours des deux dernières années pour le choix du prochain chasseur, tout en s'assurant de maintenir la capacité opérationnelle de la flotte actuelle. « Nous sommes toujours en discussions avec les quatre fournisseurs en lice », a expliqué au Quotidien, lors de son passage dans la région mardi, celui qui est devenu, en mai, le nouveau commandant de la 1re Division aérienne du Canada. Même si le F-35 est le seul avion furtif de cinquième génération, le major-général affirme que les offres seront analysées en fonction de la capacité du futur chasseur à répondre à la mission que va se donner le Canada et du nombre d'années de service qu'il sera en mesure de fournir – 35 à 40 ans –, plutôt que de génération. Dassault a retiré son Rafale de la course. Furtif, oui ou non ? Les F-18, comme les F-16 ou les F-15, sont des avions de quatrième génération et sont facilement détectables par les radars. Le F-35 et le F-22 sont les seuls avions de chasse de cinquième génération, c'est-à-dire qu'ils ont une faible signature radar, ce qui les rend pratiquement indétectables. Entre les deux, le Typhoon, fabriqué par Eurofighter, est un appareil qu'on dit de 4,5e génération. Il n'est pas complètement furtif, mais a des caractéristiques qui diminuent sa signature radar. On peut le détecter, mais son écho est plus petit et peut être confondu avec autre chose. Il y a aussi des changements sur le Super Hornet. Boeing fait des tests pour diminuer sa signature radar par des contre-mesures électroniques et certaines peintures qui, semble-t-il, absorbent les ondes radar au lieu de les réfléchir. « Avec l'évolution des technologies, ce genre de dénomination tient moins la route, car on parle maintenant de 4,6 et même 4,7e génération. Nous avons nos exigences et nous discutons avec nos quatre fournisseurs », affirme le major-général Pelletier. Le F-18 Super Hornet de Boeing, le Gripen du Suédois SAAB et le Typhoon européen sont donc encore dans la course avec le F-35 Lightning de Lockheed Martin. Une fois que le Canada aura déposé la version finale de ses exigences, le major-général Pelletier estime que les quatre avionneurs devraient soumettre leurs offres à la fin de 2021. S'ensuivra une période de négociations devant aboutir à la livraison des premiers appareils quelque part en 2025, pour la mise en service au début de 2026. Lorsque les 88 nouveaux chasseurs auront été livrés et que les CF-18 prendront leur retraite, ils auront presque 50 ans. D'ici là, ajoute Alain Pelletier, le Canada va tout mettre en œuvre pour s'assurer que nos vieux CF-18 continueront d'être en mesure de remplir leurs missions de protéger l'espace nord-américain et d'assurer la paix ailleurs dans le monde. Ainsi, les avions, qui avaient été achetés au début des années 80 pour servir jusqu'en 2010, ont déjà subi des modifications pour les mettre à niveau avec de nouveaux systèmes d'armement et pour augmenter leur vie utile d'abord jusqu'en 2017, puis en 2025. À cause de la décision du gouvernement fédéral d'annuler la commande initiale des F-35 pour retourner en appel d'offres, ils devraient donc bénéficier de nouveaux investissements pour prolonger leur vie jusqu'en 2032. https://www.lesoleil.com/actualite/le-fil-groupe-capitales-medias/lappel-doffres-pour-le-remplacement-des-cf-18-lance-bientot-15e1736dc05d467a2f07b9381c5dd023

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  August 9, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  CAE poised to revolutionize pilot, aircrew and healthcare professional training by investing C$1 billion over five years in innovation

  CAE today announced that it will be investing C$1 billion over the next five years in innovation to stay at the forefront of the training industry. One of the main objectives of the investment is to fund Project Digital Intelligence, a digital transformation project to develop the next generation training solutions for aviation, defence & security and healthcare. In partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Québec, the project will allow CAE to continue to play a key role in making air travel safer, defence forces mission ready, and helping medical personnel save lives. Other benefits include reducing aviation's environmental footprint and addressing the worldwide demand for aircrews. The Government of Canada and the Government of Québec will provide a combined investment of close to C$200 million over the next five years (C$150 million for Canada and C$47.5 million for Québec). Executives and employees of CAE were joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier of Québec Philippe Couillard for the announcement which signals one of the most significant investments in innovation in the aviation training industry globally. “As a powerhouse of innovation, CAE has been at the forefront of the training industry, including digital technology, for years. This strategic investment will take our company to the next level,” said Marc Parent, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE. “By seizing new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, or augmented reality, as well as many others, and applying them to the science of learning, we will revolutionize the training experience of pilots, aircrews and healthcare professionals, as well as improve safety. We are committed to investing C$1 billion over the next five years to help position CAE, Québec and Canada as leaders in digital technology.” Project Digital Intelligence will transform CAE's products and services to leverage digital technologies, ranging from big data to artificial intelligence, cloud-computing, cybersecurity and augmented/virtual reality. CAE will develop its next-generation training technologies for aviation, defence & security, and healthcare, while making use of its extensive training network and data ecosystem. The project includes three major activity areas: advanced digital technology development, digital transformation of the training and user experience, as well as CAE innovation and collaboration facilities. CAE will carry out Project Digital Intelligence in Canada, utilizing its R&D laboratories, as well as its test and integration facilities. As part of the project, CAE will develop an innovation campus in its Montréal site by transforming its workspaces, laboratories and processes to allow for greater innovation and collaboration. Throughout Project Digital Intelligence, CAE will collaborate and codevelop technology solutions with small and medium companies from across Canada and will qualify more than 150 new innovative suppliers across the country. CAE will also work with over 50 post-secondary institutions and research centres. The project is expected to create and maintain thousands of highly skilled jobs at CAE in Canada and in CAE's Canadian-based supply chain. CAE employs approximately 4,000 people in 18 locations across Canada and more than 5,000 in the rest of the world. The government investments are subject to the finalization of definitive agreements. Full Article: https://www.cae.com/news-events/press-releases/cae-poised-to-revolutionize-pilot-aircrew-and-healthcare-professional-training-by-investing-c1-billion-over-five-years-in-innovation

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  June 21, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  Some changes made to Canadian fighter jet requirements as new document sent to companies

  DAVID PUGLIESE Procurement Canada has provided aerospace firms a new draft version of the requirements for Canada's next generation fighter jet fleet. Some changes have been made in the draft request for proposals document to deal with concerns raised by the companies, according to federal government sources. The requirements for the new Canadian fighter jet originally put emphasis on strategic attack and striking at ground targets during foreign missions, according to federal government procurement documents obtained by Postmedia. While the Liberal government had been highlighting the need to buy the jets to protect Canadian airspace and meet the country's commitments to the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defence Command, the procurement criteria provided additional weight to those aircraft that can excel at ground attack for overseas operations. That criteria was seen to favour Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jet, say those industry representatives allied with Lockheed's rivals in the upcoming $19 billion competition. The evaluation criteria also had less emphasis on sustainability, another plus for the F-35 which has been dogged with high maintenance bills, they added. The latest version of the requirements now eases back somewhat on the ground attack role and puts a little more emphasis on air-to-air scenarios, say sources. Some changes have also been made to provide for more points to companies who can provide a better deal on sustainment of the aircraft. Another change affects the length of time a firm has to meet its industrial benefits associated with its proposal. That has increased from 20 years to 25 years. Pat Finn, the Department of National Defence's procurement chief, has said he wants the final request for proposals for the fighter jets out to industry by mid-July. At this point four aircraft are to be considered. Those include two U.S.-built aircraft, the F-35, and the Super Hornet, and two European planes, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Gripen. The winning bidder will build 88 jets for Canada. The new aircraft will replace the Royal Canadian Air Force's CF-18s. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/some-changes-made-to-canadian-fighter-jet-requirements-as-new-document-sent-to-companies