CAE submits CATS bid

CAE, together with Draken International, has submitted its bid to the Canadian government for the Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) programme, CAE announced on 16 February.

The team has offered a fleet of Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter aircraft to support the CATS programme and deliver adversary and threat training, electronic warfare and target towing operations. The fleet has had extensive upgrades and now delivers capabilities similar the CF-18 fighter aircraft they would be training against.  

CAE and Draken have also proposed a comprehensive research and development programme aimed at developing the next-generation live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training capabilities for adversary and aggressor air training services.

Under the teaming arrangement, a Canada-based joint venture company has been formed to operate the fleet of aircraft and have responsibility for delivering the combat support training services to the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, and Canadian Army. 

Mike Greenley, vice president and general manager, CAE Canada, said: 'Our solution leverages CAE's training systems integration capabilities and NATO Flying Training in Canada experience, and combines this with Draken's world-leading fleet of adversary fighter aircraft and unmatched aggressor training practices.

'The Canadian forces need to train against future threat aircraft that cannot be replicated without combining actual live-flying fighter aircraft with simulated enhancements. Our comprehensive solution will provide a better and more challenging overall training experience for Canada's fighter pilots by providing actual fighter jet adversaries that will look and act like real-world threats.'

The Canadian government expects to award a ten year contract to the successful bidder by the end of 2016.