News
GA-ASI, CAE sign MOU to expand partnership
June 18, 2013, Le Bourget, Fra. - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and CAE today announced that the companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pursue opportunities to integrate CAE's simulation systems with GA-ASI's RPA for the purpose of offering international customers a comprehensive training solution.
June 18, 2013 By Carey Fredericks
GA-ASI and CAE have been teamed for the past two years to offer the Predator B and/or Predator C Avenger RPA to meet Canada's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) needs.
"We are pleased to expand our partnership with CAE to focus on international opportunities beyond Canada, enabling us to offer a global training solution for our aircraft" said Frank Pace, President, Aircraft Systems Group, GA-ASI. "CAE's expertise in modeling and simulation technologies and integrated training services, including extensive experience in aircraft mission training systems and simulators for RPA, is a strong complement to GA-ASI's proficiency in the design and manufacture of proven, reliable aircraft systems and Ground Control Systems (GCS)."
Specifically, GA-ASI and CAE will explore collaboration to develop an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Mission Training System for Predator(R) B/MQ-9/Reaper, Predator C Avenger(R), and Predator XP. In addition, if the agreement results in a training partnership, this may assist GA-ASI in satisfying its anticipated Canadian Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) obligations related to the potential procurement of the company's RPA under Canada's Joint Unmanned Surveillance and Target Acquisition System (JUSTAS) program.
This planned collaboration helps demonstrate GA-ASI's commitment to Canadian industry and to the key industrial capabilities that they offer globally. Through this partnership, CAE and other Canadian suppliers may have greater opportunities in the rapidly growing unmanned global market. These opportunities, if realized, will strengthen the Canadian defence industrial base directly, protecting Canada's economic and security interests while creating high-quality and innovative jobs for Canadians in this critical defence industry.
"We are pleased to be able to work on expanding our existing relationship with GA-ASI for the JUSTAS program pursuit in Canada and now begin discussions on offering a world-class training solution to international operators of the company's Remotely Piloted Aircraft," said Gene Colabatistto, Group President, Military Products, Training and Services, CAE. "As unmanned systems continue to take on increasing importance on today's battlefield and become more complex to operate, there is a growing need for simulation-based training. Our UAS mission training systems, including our new UAS Mission Trainer product, are ideal for training and preparing the entire mission crew in a cost-effective synthetic environment."
The GA-ASI/CAE effort will focus initially on exploring the integration of GA-ASI's GCS and aircraft system with CAE's UAS Mission Trainer, including aircraft and sensor control and mission execution. In parallel, GA-ASI and CAE jointly may market the prospective integrated simulator/training systems to international customers.
