CAE says it been awarded a contract by the Italian Air Force to deliver mission trainers for the MQ-9A Predators operated by the Italian Air Force. This MQ-9 Predator is operated by the U.S. (Photo courtesy US DoD)
By Newell Durnbrooke
CAE says it been awarded a contract by the Italian Air Force to deliver the MQ-9A Block 5 Predator Mission Trainer Plus also known as PMT Plu. The contract, also includes initial in-service support for the PMT Plus.
CAE’s PMT Plus, developed in partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), is the most advanced training system for the MQ-9A Reaper, according to the Canadian-based firm. It provides a fully immersive training environment that replicates real operational conditions, enabling pilots and sensor operators to transition to flight operations with minimal training on the actual aircraft.
CAE noted the company has a long history of supporting the Italian Air Force across multiple aircraft platforms, including the MQ-9A. In 2018, CAE delivered the PMT Block 1 to the Italian Air Force, the first Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) trainer to achieve a Zero Flight Time Training qualification. CAE has 10 sites across Italy which are used to support military flight training for that country.
The PMT Plus enhances mission training for the MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft, enabling flight crews to train on the Italian Air Force’s specific Operational Flight Program (OFP) and includes Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC), according to CAE. The upgrade further improves visual graphics for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and delivers an advanced user interface for instructors, the firm noted.
Calian Group Ltd. announced a $250 million amendment to its Health Care Provider Recruitment (HCPR) contract with the Department of National Defence.
Calian says this amendment reinforces its commitment to the Canadian Armed Forces and its members and will ensure the continued delivery of essential health services to support their operational readiness and well-being. Since 2005, Calian’s work under the Health Support Services Contract—and since 2018, the Health Care Provider Recruitment (HCPR)— has delivered physicians, nurses, dentists and mental health professionals to CAF clinics across Canada.
“We are proud to play a role in safeguarding the health of Canadian Armed Forces members,” Kevin Ford, Calian CEO said in a statement. “Operational readiness is rooted in resilience—and that starts with a healthy force. This work matters and we take pride in supporting the well-being of CAF members so they can focus on the mission.”
The award contributes to Calian’s total contract backlog of $1.6 billion, two thirds of which is related to its defence business, supporting defence customers in Canada and internationally.
Galvion, which specializes in protection systems and power and data management solutions, has received a second follow-on order from the Department of National Defence for its ballistic helmets.
Canada is purchasing more Batlskin Caiman ballistic helmets. This latest order for an additional 5000 helmets with two helmet covers each. The helmets are to be delivered in early 2026.
The original Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme contract was awarded in February 2023 for 2,100 helmets and 4,200 helmet covers. In July 2024, year two of a five-year framework contract, the DND exercised an option to order an additional 8,400 helmets and 16,800 helmet covers, according to Galvion. The total Canadian DICE order is 10,500 helmets and 21,000 covers, all successfully delivered. With this latest follow-on order, the DICE totals now total over 15,000 helmets and 30,000 covers, all ordered within three years of the five-year framework.
Developed over a number of years with extensive SOF community collaboration and feedback and now fielded in the hundreds of thousands across multiple NATO countries, Glavion says the helmet delivers unmatched levels of weight and comfortability. It is specifically designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment needs.
Galvion is providing more helmets for the Canadian Army. (Photo courtesy Glavion)
The helmet systems assessed for DICE were trialled by members of the Canadian Army at the end of 2022. Conducted under operational conditions, the trials included the integration of equipment such as eyewear, night vision goggles, gas masks, hearing protection,
and cold-weather gear.
The Caiman helmet received the highest rating by a significant margin and
was selected after a phased bid process, according to the firm.
OSI Maritime Systems conducted a week of simulator trials at the Royal Canadian Navy’s Navigation and Bridge Simulator in Esquimalt, followed by a week of sea trials aboard an Orca class vessel.
During these trials, collision avoidance scenarios tested OSI’s Collision Avoidance Decision Aid (CADA) capability, according to the company. That is a module of the OSI’s Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System (ECPINS).
The trials mark a critical milestone in the validation of CADA’s decision-support capabilities under realistic operational conditions, OSI pointed out. The trials brought together OSI engineers, naval officers, and maritime domain experts to test how CADA assists bridge teams in complex navigational scenarios, including high-traffic areas and restricted waters.
Designed as an AI-augmented support tool, CADA helps operators identify, evaluate, and act on potential collision threats while maintaining full compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. OSI stated that the simulator trials are a proving ground for fine-tuning CADA’s algorithms and user interface to ensure seamless integration into existing bridge workflows. The sea trials prove integration of real-life sensors in challenging scenarios, the company added.
French aerospace group Safran is poised to pick France as home for a carbon brakes factory worth more than $500 million, Reuters news service reported. The contest for the factory, which will make the brakes for the aerospace industry, was between sites in France, Canada and the U.S.
The decision is not surprising. French President Emmanuel Macron has made re-industrialisation a key political priority, Reuters noted. In addition, the French government owns part of the company.
