For immediate release
Mirabel, Quebec, August 31, 2011 –The Government of Canada today announced a new amendment to the CF-18 Primary Air Vehicle contract with L-3 Military Aviation Services (L-3 MAS), an aerospace defence company, to include the full scope of the Optimized Weapon System Support program. The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, and the Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence.
“The top priority of the Harper Government remains the economy,” said Minister Paradis. “The contract is great news for the region as it will help maintain aerospace industry jobs in Quebec.”
“This announcement is another example of our Government’s support for the Canadian aerospace industry, and our commitment to creating jobs in a region with important aerospace capabilities,” said Minister Ambrose. “We’re continuously looking for innovative ways to improve military procurement that are both good for Canadians and good for our economy.”
“Our Government is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to giving the brave men and women of the Canadian Forces the tools they need to defend Canada’s interests both at home and abroad,” said Minister Fantino. “We are delivering on our major priority to ensure that the Canadian Forces are provided with the equipment necessary to fulfill our international security objectives with our allies.”
Valued at $111 million, this amendment adds new work but will not change the duration of the current maintenance contract. This is another example of the Government of Canada’s commitment to cut red tape in military procurement, reduce the number of contracts it manages and save money for taxpayers.
The objective of the Optimized Weapon System Support program is to focus on service and reduce the number of contracts required to support the fleet by bundling them under broader, multi-year contracts.
For more information on Canada's Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy, please visit the Industry Canada website.
-30-
Ce texte est également disponible en français.
For more information, media may contact:
Michelle Bakos
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
819-997-5421
Pascale Boulay
Office of the Honourable Christian Paradis
613-697-8907
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Media Liaison Office
National Defence
613-996-2353/1-866-377-0811
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/medias-media/index-eng.html.
As the Royal Canadian Air Force’s front line multi-role fighter aircraft, the CF-18 is used for air defence, tactical air advantage, tactical support, training, aerobatic demonstration and aerospace testing and evaluation.
Because of its superior power and speed and its exceptional tracking capabilities, the CF-18 has had great success in a multitude of military operations in Canada and around the world.
The amendment to the current CF-18 Primary Air Vehicle contract, with L‑3 Military Aviation Services (L-3 MAS), an aerospace and defence company of Mirabel, Quebec, includes the full scope of the Optimized Weapon System Support (OWSS) program. In amending the contract to become an OWSS-type contract, L-3 MAS will now provide additional support such as program management, life cycle and obsolescence management, engineering services, integrated logistics and supply chain management, spares procurement, and repair and overhaul services.
The contract amendment is valued at $111 million and is for the duration of the current contract, which runs until March 31, 2017, with three additional option years available if required(until approximately 2020). This contract will provide the CF-18 aircraft with support throughout its final years.
Once retired, the CF-18 aircraft will be replaced by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project is also providing significant benefits to Canadian industry. The F-35 is a family of single seat, single engine, fifth‑generation fighter jets with stealth capability, developed to perform reconnaissance, ground attack and air defence missions.
The L-3 MAS contract amendment will ensure that the Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy will apply to the rest of the value of the overall maintenance contract. This means that the government will guarantee that under the terms of the contract amendment, the supplier will be required to invest in the Canadian economy.
On an annual basis, up to 120 jobs will be maintained primarily in Mirabel for the period of the contract.
