What do Cyber Command’s acquisition requests reveal?

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  April 29, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  10,000 made-in-Québec masks for manufacturing SMEs in the aerospace sector

  MONTRÉAL, April 29, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéro Montréal proudly announced today the launch of a new, innovative initiative that will provide 10,000 reusable masks to manufacturing SMEs in the aerospace sector. This project aims to support the continuation or resumption of their activities in a safe work environment. This Montréal-made face mask will help protect thousands of qualified employees in the aerospace industry without jeopardizing supplies necessary for the proper functioning of health services. Companies in the aerospace industry have already deployed a wide range of health measures to ensure business continuity, and this new initiative by Aéro Montréal will complement what is already in place. The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented and will require the maintenance of these safety protocols for many months to come. Numerous companies are preparing for the resumption of operations and will undoubtedly face procurement challenges to ensure that they provide personal protective equipment to their employees, including masks. Promoting a gradual and safe resumption by supporting local entrepreneurship Aéro Montréal will draw on the strength of its network to offer reusable masks free of charge. Our team will be contacting our many SMEs over the next few days so that they can take advantage of this offer. Inspired by the Panier Bleu program, this initiative also aims to support the local textile economy. This is why it is being implemented with the support of the Metropolitan Fashion Cluster mmode, and Quartz Co., a Montréal based coat supplier. The company Quartz Co. modified its production line to manufacture protective textile products. This inter-cluster collaboration will enable the supply of washable masks to be available in record time at very competitive costs. Once the 10,000 free masks have been distributed, aerospace SMEs wishing to purchase additional masks, will be able to do so by contacting Aéro Montréal. "Through this initiative, Aéro Montréal is reaffirming its support for small and medium-sized enterprises, which play a crucial role in the supply chain. By working with local players, Aéro Montréal will help ensure a safe and efficient resumption of activities for a key sector that represents more than 42,100 direct jobs in Québec," stated Suzanne M. Benoît, President, Aéro Montréal "Over the past months we have invested significantly in acquisitions of viable Quebec production plants. At Quartz Co., we believe in the importance of retaining and developing a local production force. Thanks to these efforts, we can contribute today to the fight against COVID-19, manufacturing masks among other items for our corporate clients," added Jean-Philippe Robert, President of Quartz Co. About Aéro Montréal Created in 2006, Aéro Montréal is a strategic think tank that groups all major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, as well as associations and unions. The activities of Aéro Montréal are made possible thanks to the participation of the governments of Québec and Canada, the Montréal Metropolitan Community, as well as company members of the cluster. SOURCE Aéro Montréal For further information: Léa Guicheteau, Project Manager, Communications and Media Relations, Aéro Montréal, 514 550-7494, lea.guicheteau@aeromontreal.ca; Kaven Delarosbil, Director of Communications, Aéro Montréal, 514-743-2728, kaven.delarosbil@aeromontreal.ca Related Links http://www.aeromontreal.ca/

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  December 22, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  Japan releases record-high budget, but not all programs made the cut

  By: Mike Yeo MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan's defense budget for the next fiscal year will set a record high for the seventh year running, although the approved figure is still lower than that requested by the Defense Ministry. The country's Finance Ministry approved a budget of $51.5 billion for the Defense Ministry, which is $3.5 billion lower that the Defense Ministry requested in September. Funds expected to upgrade Japan's fleet of fighter jets were removed as part of the reduction. Specifically, the request for $205 million to upgrade the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's F-15J Eagle interceptors was cut in full. The upgrade would have seen the interceptors get new radars and mission computers, and equipped with standoff land-attack missiles. But local media reports said the escalating costs of nonrecurring engineering work prompted a rethink of the program. Japan requested and received the U.S State Department's approval for the upgrade of up to 98 F-15Js for an estimated cost of up to $4.5 billion. The work would have been carried out by F-15 manufacturer Boeing in conjunction with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which built the Japanese jets under license in the 1980s. Plans to buy two more Kawasaki C-2 airlifters and 25 wheeled Type 16 combat vehicles were also impacted, with the adjusted budget now allocating funds for only one C-2 and 22 Type 16. However, plans for Japan to acquire four more Lockheed Martin F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing jets and two F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing jets over the next fiscal year will go ahead. Japan has an eventual requirement for 105 F-35As and 42 F-35Bs, which makes it potentially the biggest operator of the Joint Strike Fighter outside of the United States. The country announced earlier this week that it selected Lockheed Martin to partner with local industry in the development of a next-generation fighter jet. The approved budget also allocates $323 million to increase the range of the indigenous truck-launched Type 12 anti-ship missile, with Japan seeking to eventually use the missile from aircraft and ships to strike naval targets from standoff distances. Budget documents also confirmed Japan is conducting a feasibility study on building two more destroyers fitted with the Aegis combat system and radars to beef up ballistic missile defense. The move follows the decision to cancel plans to build two Aegis Ashore systems on Japanese soil due to the danger of boosters from the missile interceptors falling onto populated areas. Previous local media reports said the proposed destroyers would use the Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar, which was also selected by Japan for the canceled Aegis Ashore systems. The budget is for the forthcoming Japanese fiscal year, which starts April 1, 2021. https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2020/12/21/japan-releases-record-high-budget-but-not-all-programs-made-the-cut/

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  August 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  Europe’s next-gen fighter club faces a dilemma: Who else can join?

  By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — With mainland Europe and the United Kingdom pursuing their own sixth-generation fighter programs, differing views have started to emerge about how many nations should partake in the action. At issue is whether the British Tempest and the German-French-Spanish Future Combat Air System can coexist in the long run without cannibalizing the continent's defense budget. What's more, while leaders in the U.K. have openly advertised their appetite to pick up partner countries for Tempest, Paris and Berlin are divided about admitting additional members, besides Spain, for fear of slowing down their effort. German defense officials early this year told Bundestag lawmakers they consider it risky to keep the circle of participants too small because team Tempest could go around snagging up contributors, though that concern has yet to bear out. To Dirk Hoke, the CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, the issue comes down to the budget. His company is the co-lead for the FCAS program along with France's Dassault Aviation. Notably, the French have the lead for the Next-Generation Fighter, envisioned as the central aircraft for the larger program of supporting drones and command-and-control equipment. “Europe can't afford two new systems,” Hoke said in a virtual panel discussion organized by a German defense industry lobbying association. That is especially the case, he argued, because a competition between the U.K. and members of the European Union would reinforce the perception that Britain's divorce from the bloc has weakened the intra-continental defense alliance — a notion that leaders on both sides of the Channel have been trying to dispel. Finding a way to merge FCAS and Tempest should become a top priority for decision-makers once a Brexit agreement on future trade and defense relations is in the bag, according to Hoke. Until then, he said, “we simply have to be patient.” In order to be prepared for “an opportunity to negotiate at eye level,” both projects should continue to work through their technology development so that eventual touchpoints for cooperation are already far along, he explained. In contrast, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has urged caution when it comes to broadening the FCAS circle too soon. “I don't know if there won't be some new partners in the future,” he said during a company earnings call late last month. “We must not exclude them.” Noting that Spain already was admitted to the program after Germany and France had kicked it off, Trappier said the companies involved were still learning to work together. “We have to get to know each other and share our work together,” he said. “If we change partners every six months, I can tell you that we will not reach 2040,” he added, referring to the envisioned in-service date for the futuristic weapon. The next big milestone for the program is fielding a demonstrator aircraft in 2026. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/08/17/europes-next-gen-fighter-club-faces-a-dilemma-who-else-can-join