Technology Demonstration Program - Next Generation of Radar, Optical and Communication Satellites
Backgrounder
The Technology Demonstration Program (TDP) provides non-repayable contributions in support of early-stage, large-scale technology demonstration projects and collaborative research in the aerospace, defence, space and security sectors.
The TDP solicits applications from industry and uses a competitive process to award a non-repayable contribution that supports one or more large-scale projects per year, up to a maximum of $54 million.
The program covers up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, typically over a five-year period. The recipient of an approved project will commit to sharing a set portion of the government contribution (program target of 50 percent) with project partners.
Project Description
MDA Systems and its partners will receive $54 million to develop and demonstrate new technologies for next-generation radar, optical and communications satellites and associated data processing.
This project is a collaboration between MDA and other leading Canadian satellite, communications and geomatics technology companies:
- Whipcord (Lethbridge, Alberta)
- COM DEV International and exactEarth (both of Cambridge, Ontario)
- Magellan Aerospace (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- UrtheCast (Vancouver, British Columbia)
The research will aim to advance and improve
- airborne radar surveillance capabilities (i.e. satellite-mounted radar that can better monitor remote areas like the Arctic);
- spacecraft shielding, which uses composite materials and structures to protect against radiation, micro-meteorites and orbital debris;
- the capacity and speed of communications between satellites and the ground;
- direct data transmission technology (data transfer direct to users instead of via a ground station); and
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical imagery (advanced technology used in satellites to create two- or three-dimensional landscapes, for example).
The funding will also support knowledge transfer and strengthen the links between university researchers and the project's corporate partners. MDA Systems will maintain its long-standing research collaboration with Simon Fraser University through the development of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technologies for space-based supercomputers. Several other universities will be directly involved through their research relationships with their respective industry partners.
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Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Economics and Industry