Alenia Aermacchi, General Dynamics Canada, and DRS Technologies Canada Ltd.
(TCL) have signed a comprehensive teaming agreement to compete for the Royal
Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) upcoming Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Replacement
Program. The team will offer a market variant of the C-27J Spartan, Alenia
Aermacchi’s best-selling medium tactical military aircraft. The offering will
leverage Alenia Aermacchi’s international success with the C-27J, General
Dynamics’ system integration experience, and DRS’ training expertise. Alenia
Aermacchi will serve as the prime contractor and will provide the green aircraft
platform, including engineering support and avionics. The aircraft will be
modified, missionized, and supported in Atlantic Canada by General Dynamics
Canada. DRS TCL will provide long-term training support for the fleet. General
Dynamics Canada will act as the team’s mission system integrator. It will be
responsible for modifying the aircraft to accept high tech sensors and the
computers that manage them, increasing the search and rescue crew’s ability to
detect rescue targets. In addition, it will serve as the In-Service Support
(ISS) integrator for the C-27J. In close collaboration with Alenia Aermacchi, it
will work with the RCAF to maintain the high level of fleet availability
demanded by search and rescue operations. The DRS training development team will
design, oversee and manage the creation and maintenance of all courseware and
training aids for the duration of the contract. The training will support the
operational mandate of the FWSAR fleet by making maximum use of electronic
learning and simulation to optimize availability of the FWSAR aircraft for
operational employment. “This teaming agreement reaffirms our commitment to the
Canadian market and to providing the Royal Canadian Air Force with the most
capable, best value solution for the fixed-wing search and rescue replacement
program,” said Ben Stone, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alenia
Aermacchi North America. “Alenia is exceptionally proud to be working with these
two Canadian defence companies who collectively have over 100 years of
experience supporting Canadians and Armed Forces around the world. Our team has
the right experience, expertise, and platform to best support Canada’s search
and rescue program.”
The agreement will support new long-term, high-tech
jobs, across Canada as well as investments in infrastructure and technology,
making it an outstanding economic stimulus for Canada’s aerospace sector.
Additionally, Team Spartan is well-positioned to strengthen the Canadian economy
as its two Canadian companies have a history of tapping into the skills and
resources of Canadian suppliers, developing Canada’s industrial base, and
supporting research and development at the country’s leading
universities.
David Ibbetson, General Manager, General Dynamics Canada spoke
about the incremental value Team Spartan will create through this relationship:
“The FWSAR program sets a high standard for Industrial Regional Benefits (IRB)
requirements. As a company with an exemplary track record for delivering on
their IRB commitments, General Dynamics Canada will continue to engage with
local industry and suppliers on this opportunity, missionizing this aircraft in
Canada and supporting it proudly for years to come as it plays a critical role
bringing distressed citizens to safety. With Alenia’s C-27J as the platform, and
working with local Canadian companies, we will set the standard for search and
rescue capability.”
Steve Zuber, Vice President and General Manager of DRS
Technologies Canada commented, “Canada has some of the most rugged and sparsely
populated terrain on the planet and Canadians deserve the very best fixed-wing
search and rescue aircraft available in the world today. The made-in Canada
training solution will provide high quality aerospace jobs for Canadians and,
more importantly, will ensure Canada’s search and rescue crews will be ready for
the demanding job of keeping Canadians safe.”
Team Spartan continues to reach
out to local aerospace and defence companies to identify service and product
providers as well as potential subcontractors to complement the Team Spartan
solution and drive economic benefit to the Canadian industrial base.