Lockheed Martin Canada is starting an Atlantic Canada tour this week, with stops in Saint John, Halifax and St. John’s, to identify potential partners and suppliers for work on shipbuilding projects.

The company is in the midst of a $2.1 billion modernization program for the Halifax-class fleet, upgrading and refitting the Royal Canadian Navy’s 12 multi-role patrol frigates, but it is looking to future work with the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and other programs which will be built in Halifax.

Lockheed Martin officials will be briefing companies on how they can prepare and position themselves for shipbuilding work through major contractors and will “conduct a series of one-on-one meetings to learn about the capabilities of many New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador based companies,” the Ottawa-based firm said.

The list of companies already scheduled to mee with Lockheed Martin included:

· New Brunswick: Accreon, Belledune Port Authority, CARIS, Cirrus9, CLS Lexi-Tech, DEW Engineering, Fleetway Facilty Services, GreenNexxus, iBridge, Industrial Rubber, ING Robotics, Innovatia, Mariner Partners, NB Naval Center, Port of Dalhousie, Salient Training Solutions, University of New Brunswick, Valcom Consulting Group and others.

· Nova Scotia: Accu Translation, Akoostix, Amirix/Vemco, Armament Technology, Aspin Kemp and Associates, Atlantis Systems EduPlus, Bluedrop Performance Learning, Canadian Maritime Engineering, CarteNav, Dalhousie University, EMO Marine Technologies, Geospectrum, Hawboldt Industries, HMRI, IMP, Jasco Research, Joubeh, Marand Engineering / Portsmouth Atlantic, Metocean Data Systems, Moog Components Group, Ocean Sonic, Pro-Oceanus, Rolls-Royce, Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems, Xeos and others.

· Newfoundland and Labrador: Allswater, Avalon Controls, C&W Offshore, Camouflage Software, Compusult, Delta Radar, DF Barnes, e-Sonar, Genoa Design International, Grey Island Energy, GRI Simulations, ICAN / CNS Systems, ID Blue, Kraken Sonar Systems, Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, NavSim Technologies, Northern Radar, Notus Electronics, Oceanic / Fleetway, Pangeo Subsea, Pennecon Energy, Provincial Aerospace, Rutter, Solace Power, Verafin, Virtual Marine Technology and others.

Lockheed Martin says it has already generated more than 300 new jobs in Canada as a result of the Halifax-class modernization program, including more than 150 in Atlantic Canada. It also opened a new facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, in 2009 that includes a state-of-the-art naval training centre.