Training provider seeks business boost on back of GlobalEye demand.
CAE is looking to build on its position as training provider for the Bombardier Global 6500 as Saab’s GlobalEye adaptation of the platform appears poised to attract additional military customers.
The Canadian government in late May announced its selection of Saab as preferred supplier for its airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) requirement, although a formal contract has yet to be signed.
At the same time, CAE and Saab signed a teaming agreement spanning “mission system support, advanced training, live, virtual and constructive integration and simulation solutions” in support of a buy for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
“The intent of our agreement with Saab is to be able to promote the best training solution in Canada, and outside of Canada,” says CAE Defense & Security president Pascal Grenier. “The Canadian programme will allow us to develop a great solution that will expand not only the pilot training but also the mission training.”
In addition to supporting the prospective purchase by Ottawa, which is for an unknown number of adapted Canadian-built ultra-long-range business jets, the new relationship could also support additional GlobalEye customers.
“Once Canada has signed a contract with Saab it will allow us to expand our partnership and offer capabilities outside of Canada also,” Grenier says.
Launch customer the UAE already operates five heavily modified Global 6000s, while GlobalEyes are also on order for Sweden (3) and France (2). The Saab Erieye ER surveillance radar-equipped type also is in a seemingly strong position to potentially meet a future NATO requirement, where it faces competition from the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail and Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
“We are already the authorised training partner of Bombardier for the Global 6000/6500,” Grenier tells FlightGlobal, describing the jet as “a very popular platform”.
“The current UAE [GlobalEye] pilots are training on our Global 6500 simulator already – anybody flying these aircraft around the world will train with CAE,” he notes. “Now with Saab, the intent is to not only train the pilots. In Canada, we want to offer – as we do on the [Boeing] F-18 – mission support.”
Describing CAE as “the largest independent provider of training solutions, and the one that allows a country to have sovereign capability inside their training”, Grenier notes: “Mission readiness is not getting the equipment faster only – it is being trained and ready to operate it.”
It is unclear when Ottawa expects its future AEW&C fleet to enter operational service, but deliveries would be likely to start around early next decade, following the completion of airframe modification work in Canada. Saab currently conducts the GlobalEye conversion activity at its Linkoping site in Sweden.
Grenier spoke to FlightGlobal at the ILA Berlin air show earlier this month, where CAE announced receiving a contract to modify two full-mission simulators supporting the NH Industries NH90 Sea Lion maritime helicopter for the German navy.
Placed via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, the work will integrate CAE’s Prodigy image generator with the training devices. The company says it will also deliver “major advances in visual immersion for complex rear-crew environments… including hoisting, door gunnery and cargo operations”.
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