National Defence interim contract worth $76m goes to small Montreal-based concern
A small Montreal company, Top Aces Consulting, has landed a multi-million dollar contract from the Canadian Department of National Defence to provide airborne combat training support, including threat simulation, target towing and electronic-warfare training using Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets.
Top Aces was selected over Bombardier for the Interim Contracted Airborne Training Services contract worth C$93.9 million ($76.3 million) over the next three years, plus two one-year options. The company will provide aircraft, pilots and maintenance support for military exercises involving the Canadian Forces. The company will acquire eight modified ex-German air force Alpha Jets from Arlington, Washington-based Abbatare for the contract.
During live training exercises, Top Aces aircraft will simulate different threats such as cruise missiles, drug-trafficking aircraft or hijacked aircraft. The company will also tow aerial targets and provide electronic-warfare training for air, land and naval forces. Top Aces was founded in 2000 by three former Canadian Forces fighter pilots.
Until 2002, the DND provided airborne training support itself using Bombardier CC-144 Challengers and Lockheed CT-133 Silver Stars. An attempt to put in place a long-term contract for the service resulted in no compliant bidders. The interim contract is intended to run until 2008-10, when a long-term training service solution is expected to be in place, the DND says.
BRIAN DUNN/MONTREAL
Source: Flight International
