CAE has announced today that it will invest C$714m in Project Falcon, a research and development (R&D) programme to expand capabilities in modelling and simulation technologies.
CAE provides simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defence forces worldwide.
The goal of Project Falcon is to expand CAE’s current modelling and simulation technologies, develop new ones and increase its capabilities beyond training into other areas of the aerospace and defence market, such as analysis and operations.
The Government of Canada will participate in Project Falcon through a repayable investment of up to $250m. This investment is being made through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI), which supports strategic industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in the aerospace, defence, space and security industries.
President and chief executive officer of CAE, Robert Brown said that innovation was essential for CAE even in these challenging economic times.
“Project Falcon will allow us to continue diversifying our revenue base by leveraging our core technologies into adjacent segments,” Brown said.
It will focus on applying investments into six main technology thrusts. Among these will be the development of an augmented visionics system — a technology enabling a pilot to take off and land safely even when visibility outside the cockpit is restricted.
CAE will expand its research and development initiatives in its traditional training markets, including simulation and modelling for new types of aircraft, unmanned vehicles and replacement models for current aircraft. CAE will also develop networking technologies to allow defence forces of many nations to participate simultaneously in real time training and mission rehearsal exercises.
Through the course of the programme, approximately 1,000 jobs will be created or maintained. CAE will carry out Project Falcon in Canada, using its R&D laboratories, and test and integration facilities in Montreal.
By Daniel Garrun.
