Saab offers two aerospace centres in Gripen E proposal for Canada’s Future Fighter
By Garrett Reim15 December 2020
Saab is offering to open two new aerospace centres as part of its
Gripen E proposal for Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project.
The aerospace facilities, the Gripen Centre and the Aerospace Research
& Development Centre, would be based in the greater Montreal region, the
company announced at Aero Montreal’s International Aerospace Innovation Forum
2020 on 14 December.
Source: Saab
Gripen E
Mission system software and hardware development, as well as integration,
for the proposed Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Gripen E would be done at the
Gripen Centre.
The Aerospace Research & Development Centre would focus on a
variety of aerospace technologies, including automation, artificial
intelligence and “greening” technologies. That work may or may not be directly
related to the Gripen E. Rather, the research and development would focus on
next-generation aerospace technologies more generally.
Saab is also in talks with undisclosed local universities about partnerships
related to the aerospace centres, it says.
Saab has only about 50 people working in Canada currently, across
various businesses such as maritime traffic management and army training and
simulation work. However, between the two aerospace centres, the company
anticipates at least 3,000 people being directly employed.
The RCAF is looking to buy 88 advanced fighters to replace its fleet of
Boeing CF-18 Hornets. Canada’s Department of National Defence estimates
acquisition of the aircraft, related equipment and entry into service will cost
C$15-19 billion ($11.8-14.9 billion).
A contract is scheduled to be awarded in 2022 after evaluation by the
RCAF. The air force wants the first jets received as soon as 2025. The new fleet is
expected to fly beyond 2060.
In addition to Saab, the RCAF received bids in July from Boeing, which
is offering its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin, which is offering
F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters.
Canada is also part of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme,
spending more than $500 million on the effort since 1997, an investment that
has allowed Canadian companies to secure C$1.8 billion in contracts from the
project.
However, Ottawa has not yet committed to buying F-35s, hence the
acquisition competition. Politicians objected to F-35s in part due to the high
cost of early examples of the stealth fighter. The cost of the F-35A has fallen
to $77.9 million per unit, though operating costs remains high, at $35,000
hourly. Lockheed has promised to lower that figure to $25,000 hourly by 2025.
For its part, Saab has proposed that Canada’s IMP Aerospace &
Defence would handle in-country production of the Gripen E, and provide support
over the lifetime of the fleet. The company says initial aircraft would be
produced in Sweden to meet Ottawa’s goal of first fighter delivery in 2025. It
is still evaluating how many aircraft could be made in Canada, but says it aims
to “maximise” the number.
The rest of the Saab Gripen for Canada team would include CAE, which is
to provide training and mission systems; Peraton Canada, which is to supply
avionic and test equipment, as well as component maintenance, repair and
overhaul, and material management; and GE Aviation, which is set to provide and
sustain the fighters’ turbine engines.
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