To accelerate defence investments underway,  at the CANSEC trade show, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney Wednesday announced that Canada has entered into negotiations to procure the GlobalEye, Saab’s Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft platform. This is projected to support 3,000 jobs in the Canadian aerospace and defence sector – from the skilled trades to engineering and compute – opening massive opportunities for Canadian workers. 

“The first job of the government is to keep Canadians safe. Our government is protecting Canadians and supporting our Allies with an approach that transforms defence procurement. With our new strategy, we are building our economy and creating careers in the skilled trades, science, and engineering. The GlobalEye procurement will help us secure our North and build our economy at once," stated the Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

"No less than one-third of the projected fleet of GlobalEye aircraft will be manufactured in Canada over the next 15 years. That means at least 40 aircraft, including orders from Allies, built by Canadian workers. At the heart of the GlobalEye system is the Canadian-made Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft – a modern jet transformed into a cutting-edge surveillance aircraft," the statement released from the PMO said. 

The Saab GlobalEye combines airborne early warning and control with long-range air, sea, and land surveillance in real time from a single platform. With a suite of advanced sensors and mission systems, Saab’s GlobalEye will be a key resource for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to enhance North American security by detecting and deterring threats across the Arctic and beyond. With airborne surveillance capability, GlobalEye can track objects and signals up to 650 kilometres away and will share real-time information to the CAF.

A strong, resilient industry will take more than just singular procurement. It requires fundamentally rethinking approvals and production timelines. To that end, the Prime Minister announced the delivery of a series of measures first announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy which include a modernised Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, now in effect, to direct investments toward the areas that matter most for Canada’s competitiveness, Incentivising foreign contractors that secure Canadian defence contracts to subcontract to Canadian firms and invest in our supply chain. Cutting red tape with a new 90-day approval standard so companies, especially small businesses, get faster, more predictable decisions. Introducing the Strategic Investment Transaction – a new crediting system for high-value investments, such as building or expanding a Canadian facility, funding research and development (R&D), or transferring intellectual property to a Canadian company. Introducing a new Canadian Company Boost: if a Canadian company does at least 70% of the work domestically, they get credited as if they did 100% – removing a bureaucratic penalty on companies that are already building in Canada. A new Strategic Partnership Framework, now in effect, to enable companies to work more closely with government to build the sovereign capabilities the CAF needs: Rather than one-size-fits-all procurement, this new framework will catalyse robust partnerships – with government sharing operational priorities and industry bringing innovation and expertise. Companies designated as Strategic Partners will need to invest in Canadian R&D, grow domestic supply chains, and hire a Canadian workforce. In return, the government will be an anchor customer – accelerating approvals and supporting exports to global markets. A Defence Concierge Service, now in effect, to help Canadian companies access the support they need to grow, especially small and medium-sized businesses entering the sector: The Defence Concierge Service will connect businesses with the right programs, provincial partners, and export opportunities, and specialised staff will be integrated into industry associations. As a result, businesses will receive personalised service, will no longer get lost in administrative red tape, and most importantly, the government will be able to respond more quickly to requests.

 The Defence Advisory Forum, applications for which will open June 1,  to ensure the partnership between government and defence industry remains in sync. Senior industry executives drawn from across our 10 sovereign capability areas and every region of the country will advise government on how to best grow our defence industrial base, investment needs, and barriers to growth. The forum will be co-chaired by the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Industry, and the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement.

"Together these measures will transform our regulatory system from one that checks boxes to one that builds our defence industrial base with speed and scale. By investing in our people, our capabilities, our industry, and our partnerships, we are building a stronger, more secure Canada – one that is ready to meet today’s challenges, support our Allies, and shape a safer, more prosperous future for generations to come," The statement read.