October 31, 2005
The companies behind the C-27J Spartan are in Calgary today and
tomorrow as part of their cross-country tour to identify Canadian
companies that they can involve in the $1.3 billion Canadian Forces
Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) aircraft program as partners
and suppliers. They will meet with more than a dozen companies.
The FWSAR program, for which Team Spartan is proposing the
C-27J, has a value of $1.3 billion for aircraft acquisition, role
fitment and initial support. There will also be an additional
20-year contract of similar value for in-service support.
Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) must reflect Canadian
content equal to or greater than 100% of the contract value -
estimated to be more than $2 billion - through benefits to industry
in all regions of Canada.
Team Spartan's IRB plan will ensure that Canadian companies have
access - through Alenia and its parent company Finmeccanica, L-3
Communications, Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce - to high-tech
international markets in Italy and throughout Europe, the United
States and around the world that may not currently be available to
them. This means new jobs and investment in many sectors of the
economy.
Last month, Team Spartan selected Halifax-based L-3 Electronic
Systems to provide the mission system for Canada's proposed new
Search and Rescue aircraft. This will mean US $60 to $70 million
for the Halifax-based company if the Department of National Defence
selects the C-27J.
"The C-27J Spartan meets or exceeds all of the Canadian Forces'
requirements for Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue and it is
competitively priced," said Marcello Cianciaruso, Alenia North
America's Program Director. "The C-27J is faster, has greater range
and can carry more than any other aircraft in its class, which
means it can provide Canada with the best SAR coverage for all
regions, including the North and at sea."
Senior officials from Alenia North America, L-3 Communications
Canada, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Rolls-Royce, collectively
known as Team Spartan, were in Toronto and Montreal last week and
have made similar visits to Nova Scotia and Manitoba.
"We believe the C-27J is the no-compromise solution for Canada,"
added Mr. Cianciaruso. "That's why we're travelling across Canada
to meet with companies that we can involve in our IRB plan as
partners and suppliers."
"Over the coming months, we will be announcing a series of
agreements with Canadian companies across the country," said
Giuseppe Giordo, President and CEO of Alenia North America.
"Canadian companies are well managed, have skilled employees and
are very competitive. Their work on Canada's FWSAR aircraft will
position them well for opportunities on international projects such
as the U.S. Army's FCA program."
In early 2005, Alenia announced a joint venture named Global
Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) with L-3 Communications'
Integrated Systems subsidiary to pursue the U.S. Army's Future
Cargo Aircraft (FCA) program. The FCA program calls for a new fleet
of multifunctional, fixed-wing, transport aircraft able to perform
logistical re-supply, medevac, troop movement, airdrop operations,
humanitarian assistance, and missions in support of U.S. Homeland
Security. The FCA is expected to replace the Army's C-23, C-12 and
C-26 aircraft. The C-27J is equipped to address the mission
requirements for each of these platforms and outperforms the
competition.
About Team Spartan
Team Spartan consists of Alenia North America, L-3 Communications
Canada, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Rolls-Royce. Their solution
for Canada's FWSAR program is the C-27J Spartan - a
high-performance, multi-mission, military aircraft with outstanding
SAR capabilities. The C-27J is competitively priced and is the only
twin-engine aircraft in the world that meets or exceeds all of the
Canadian Forces' requirements for FWSAR. To learn more about Team
Spartan and the C-27J, please visit www.c-27j.ca.
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For more information or to arrange telephone or in-person
interviews with Team Spartan representatives, please contact:
Keelan Green
Thornley Fallis Communications
Tel: (613) 231-3355 ext. 260
Mobile: (613) 220-2016
Email: green@thornleyfallis.com
