Flying F-16 fighter jets, top aces pilots will train the U.S. for the next five years. Enemies with the Air Force, the deal could earn the Quebec company up to 230 million.
Posted at 4:10 pm
The world’s first private operator of this type of military aircraft, Top Aces has won its first major flight training contract with a rival in the United States – the world’s top defense spender. Based in Montreal along the Trans-Canada Highway, the specialist in combat training services already counts the Canadian and German armies among its clients.
Corporate Communications Manager Erin Black said, “These are investment years for us. That’s big for us. It’s probably showing other countries what we can do and opening the door for something else. »
The 26 Top Aces F-16 fighter jets purchased from the Israeli military will end up at two bases: in Eglin, Florida and in Luke, Arizona. Starting next month, they will camp in the role of fighters for American pilots of the F-35 – the fighter jet built by Lockheed Martin that will be presented as the most advanced from a technological point of view – as well as the F-22.
For the company, which was founded in 2000 by former military pilots, the contract marks the culmination of a long process. In 2019, the company was one of seven selected for a framework contract worth US$6.4 billion. The top aces managed to get their upper hand.
“We’ve been talking about it for a long time, and finally it’s a reality,” said M.me black
If the deal allows top aces to step up, the benefits will be felt further south of the border. It has two American bases where the company needs pilots, mechanics and engineers.
The United States has decided to join the list of countries outsourcing the adversary role, which would give its pilots more productive training hours and lower costs. In Canada, Top Aces won a 480 million contract with the Canadian National Defence. Renewable, the deal will reach 1.4 billion by 2031.
Top Aces currently has 380 employees, including approximately 160 in Quebec, spread across Canada, the United States and Germany. The company’s workforce will swell with this new contract. Mme Black, however, did not quantify the size of the planned hiring.
The company counts Caisse de depot et placement du Québec (CDPQ) among its shareholders. According to a recent annual report, Quebecers’ placement of wool socks is estimated to be between 50 and 100 million.
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- 780 billion US
- This is the estimated military budget in the United States for fiscal year 2022
Source: United States Government
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