CAE has announced a significant new partnership with SkyAlyne, a joint venture it shares with KF Aerospace, to deliver cutting-edge pilot training for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). This sub-contract, spanning 25 years and valued at approximately $1.7 billion, will form part of the broader Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program.
Under the terms of this agreement, CAE will be responsible for providing comprehensive aircrew training, including live flying exercises, high-tech simulations, and ground school instruction. The program will build on CAE’s established operations at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where the company has been involved in the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program for many years.
A key component of the contract involves CAE developing and deploying advanced simulators and training devices. These will be installed at two key RCAF bases in Moose Jaw and Southport, Manitoba, tailored for the aircraft fleets the RCAF is acquiring through the FAcT initiative. The delivery of these training devices is expected to unfold over the next five years, with more developments anticipated in the coming months.
CAE has signed a 25-year sub-contract valued at approx. C$1.7 billion from @SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and @KfAero, to provide the@RCAF_ARC with modern, state-of-the-art pilot training as part of the Future Air Crew Training (FAcT) program. https://t.co/bJsSymo8OV pic.twitter.com/cXCHTXxIRi
— CAE (@CAE_Inc) October 1, 2024
“The FAcT program launches a new era in Canadian military aircrew training, and CAE is proud to be delivering advanced products and services that will enable the most extensive training system recapitalization ever undertaken by the RCAF,” said Marc Parent, CAE’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “For more than 75 years, CAE has put the readiness and safety of military pilots and service members at the forefront of its training and simulation development. With FAcT, our priority will be to ensure the RCAF has the depth and the technical advantage it needs to support the mission readiness of Canada’s next generation of military personnel.”
In addition to this initial contract, CAE is poised to secure an additional order in the near future, which will cover the ongoing in-service support and maintenance of these training assets, further solidifying its long-term partnership with the RCAF.
SkyAlyne’s joint venture brings together two of Canada’s leading defense and aviation companies. This collaboration aims to offer the RCAF an all-encompassing training solution from a single provider. Drawing on their extensive experience with RCAF pilot training, CAE and KF Aerospace will now also expand their expertise to train Air Combat System Officers (ACSO) and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AES Op). This will be achieved through an innovative, cost-effective model that consolidates training under one integrated program.
“As the world we live in continues to change and evolve, the RCAF needs the most capable and well-trained aircrew that can excel in challenging and dynamic global environments. Together with partners like CAE, SkyAlyne is providing the RCAF with a world-leading training system that will set a new standard,” explained Kevin Lemke, General Manager of SkyAlyne. “The team supporting SkyAlyne includes leaders from coast-to-coast-to-coast and the personnel at CAE are among the best of the best. CAE’s contributions to the FAcT program will be immense.”
With nearly 25 years of experience in delivering world-class pilot training at 15 Wing Moose Jaw through the NFTC program, CAE’s role in the new FAcT initiative reinforces its status as a key player in Canada’s military training landscape. As the company continues to evolve alongside the RCAF, CAE remains committed to providing top-tier, future-ready training for the next generation of Canadian aircrews.
