Ultra is investing over $20 million to transform its Dartmouth, NS site into a global sonar centre of excellence. This news comes after Ultra was awarded a contract for the Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS) and Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) subsystems on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program.
“Ultra’s mission is to innovate today for a safer tomorrow. Our investment into a new sonar centre of excellence is a key part of supporting the important Canadian Surface Combatant program and preparing our business for further growth in international sonar systems well into the future,” said Simonn Pryce, Ultra Chief Executive. “We are very proud to be investing further into Canada and Canadian innovation, and are excited at how this will drive future value for all our stakeholders.”
Through this investment, the Dartmouth facility will be significantly modernized, reconfigured for expanded capacity, and networked to Ultra’s other sonar sites in the United Kingdom and Australia. These enhancements, according to a news release, will provide for the world-class sonar capability being delivered to CSC, and on other sonar systems for Canadian naval programs. It will also provide the capacity for further growth of sonar exports to Ultra’s core five-eyes markets, leveraging Ultra’s already significant successes in providing sonar capabilities to major international navies.
“As part of this investment, Ultra will also be upgrading areas of its facility involved in sonobuoy production – an activity which commenced in Nova Scotia in 1947. Ultra is Canada’s sovereign sonobuoy supplier, and also exports sonobuoys to a number of allied nations, and is expecting increased demand and staffing levels in this area,” the release states.
According to Darren Fisher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, this investment will transform the Dartmouth facility into a global sonar centre of excellence, and provide even more skilled jobs for the region.
Ultra’s investment in its Canadian sonar infrastructure will provide the modern, high-performing workplace that underpins the company’s dedication to Canadian high-tech job creation. In working in close partnership with Lockheed Martin Canada and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. over the past two years, Ultra’s Canadian team has grown by over 150 employees, with another 80 high-tech roles expected to be made available this year.