Montréal – In support of Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Canada has an agile, multi-purpose, well-equipped military by leveraging flexible defence procurement strategies, securing supply chains and making investments to modernize defence infrastructure.
Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, on behalf of Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that the Government of Canada has identified CAE, of Montréal, Quebec, as its strategic partner to work with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to develop and refine the Future Fighter Lead-in Training (FFLIT) program, which will prepare and train pilots for the transition to Canada’s future fighter jets.
The FFLIT program will enable Canadian control of fighter training capability, while supporting long-term, high-tech and high-value employment for Canadians. It is anticipated that the program will contribute $145 million annually to Canada’s gross domestic product and create or maintain 1,100 jobs annually across Canada, primarily in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, over a 37-year period.
CAE has extensive experience delivering defence capabilities for Canada, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Flying Training in Canada, the Operational Training System Provider and the previous generation of fighter lead-in training (FLIT) for the RCAF and NATO allies. The company was also recently selected to deliver the Future Aircrew Training program, partnering with KF Aerospace to form SkyAlyne. CAE is not only a world leader in commercial and military flight simulation and training, but also a Canadian champion that controls a significant global market share in this domain.
The identification of CAE as the strategic partner for FFLIT aligns with the Government of Canada’s commitment to making defence procurement faster and more efficient by addressing capability gaps, innovating defence procurement processes and changing our approach to working with industry.
“Today’s announcement highlights Canada’s commitment to building long-term capacity for our air force members, ensuring they receive the training they need to keep Canadians safe, while creating good jobs across the country. This investment also showcases how modern procurement strategies can support economic growth and national security, while ensuring our military is ready for the challenges it faces in an ever-changing environment.” – Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant
“Through our 2024 defence policy, Our North Strong and Free, we are working with Canada’s defence industry to find innovative ways to deliver on our defence commitments at home, and abroad. Our renewed relationship with industry includes strategic partnerships such as the one announced today with CAE Our work together will deliver the challenging and reality-based training our future fighter pilots need, while strengthening Canada’s industrial defence base and generating economic benefits for Canadians.” – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
“As a global leader in civil and military aerospace training, CAE is uniquely positioned to assist the RCAF in developing a strong training capacity for our Canadian pilots. By securing over a thousand high-skilled and high-paying jobs for years to come, this strategic partnership represents a new chapter for the Canadian aerospace industry. CAE is Canada’s training and simulation national champion with a global reach, and it can play a significant role in maintaining our defence capability.” – François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry