A F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is on display in Ottawa on July 16, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
June 17, 2013 - 12:34 PM
OTTAWA - The U.S. manufacturer of the oft-maligned F-35 stealth fighter has signed a deal with a leading Canadian maker of flight simulators.
The agreement between Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and CAE (TSX:CAE), was reached today at the Paris Air Show and announced as associate defence minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay was telling the House of Commons that no decision has been taken yet on replacing the existing fleet of CF-18s.
The memorandum between the two defence contractors would see CAE deliver training system support and services in Canada.
Steve O’Bryan, a Lockheed Martin vice-president, says Canada’s industrial contribution to this program has only begun and the deal is in line with the government's intention to develop key industrial capabilities.
Gene Colabatistto, who heads the military products, training and services division at CAE, noted the two companies have already collaborated on simulators for the air force's new C-130J Hercules transports.
The government has the multi-billion-dollar F-35 program on hold while it looks at alternative jets following a scathing auditor general's report on the planned purchase.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013