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The modernized air ranges will be able to accommodate Canada’s next generation of 4.5 or 5th Generation fighter aircraft and allow for the creation of Live Synthetic Blended (LSB) training and experimental environments, including simulated training assets.

The roadmap for the modernization will include the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR) as well as the Bagotville, Gagetown, Wainwright, Valcartier, Nanoose and Suffield training ranges. The study will look at how the RCAF ranges need to be modernized for all future RCAF platforms – fighter and cargo aircraft, helicopters, search & rescue and remotely piloted air systems. This will be done in the context of the RCAF Modelling and Simulation Environment (RMSE), including the Virtual Proving Grounds*, and will consider air traffic control, air weapons and air and space control simulators.

The initial scoping phase will run through to December 2020. The project will see QinetiQ bring together a team comprising systems engineers, simulation experts and range experts, as well as experienced ex-military personnel, from QinetiQ in Canada and the UK.

Duane Barry, Vice President Business Development of QinetiQ in Canada, says, “We are delighted to have secured this project to scope the upgrade of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s ranges to a standard required for future Training, Test and Evaluation (TT&E) programs. We were selected as part of the competitive bidding process, due to our extensive experience managing, operating and modernizing the UK Ministry of Defence’s ranges. We look forward to combining our unrivalled Test and Evaluation and range experience from the UK with our Canadian team’s local knowledge for the benefit of the Royal Canadian Air Force.”

This contract is strategically important for QinetiQ, as it provides a significant opportunity to deliver key value into the RCAF’s future programs and enables the company to continue to grow its presence in Canada. Winning the contract supports QinetiQ’s strategy to build a global integrated defence and security company that delivers mission-led innovation to customers for defence, security and critical national infrastructure programs across the world.