EADS and Canada broaden their aerospace cooperation
June 5, 2008
Canada has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with EADS for cooperative aerospace research and technology development, marking a new level of commitment in their long-standing relationship.
This agreement builds on 20 years of research collaboration between Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) and EADS, and allows the NRC to begin collaborative work with other EADS business units – including the company’s Military Transport Aircraft Division.
"This MOU broadens NRC's research and technology development relationship with a world-leading aerospace and defence company," said Dr. Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Jim Prentice, the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for NRC. "This relationship will, in turn, strengthen the aerospace innovation system, and benefit Canada's aerospace industry."
The C295 is a prime example of the successful partnership between Canada and EADS CASA – with Canadian technology having propelled this aircraft to global leadership in the tactical transport, SAR and maritime patrol sectors. The new Memorandum of Understanding between EADS and NRC will further solidify the strong ties in research and development, preparing the way for new advances that will maintain EADS as a global leader in aviation and Canada as an aerospace leader.
"Canadian researchers will collaborate on projects related to manufacturing and environmental technologies, as well as aerodynamics and airborne tests that should help reduce fuel consumption and adverse environmental impacts," said Dr. Sherif Barakat, the NRC Vice-President of Engineering. "This MOU is a natural evolution of the relationship between NRC and EADS, and will enable us to leverage our combined experience to develop new technology in the lab and then transfer it to the marketplace."
EADS and the Canadian aerospace industry have worked closely together for many years, as underscored by the country’s participation in the C295 programme. The C295 is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, and its avionics were developed by Thales Canada and are manufactured at Thales’ plant in Montreal, Quebec.
From an industrial presence point of view, EADS has positioned itself as a growing partner with Canada. The company’s Eurocopter Canada Ltd. is a leading supplier of rotary-wing aircraft, and EADS is a 50 per cent shareholder of Composites Atlantic with the province of Nova Scotia. EADS also recently acquired PlantCML, a leading provider of emergency response solutions, which has a facility in Gatineau, Quebec.
- To review previous feature stories, see the archive page.
Latest news
SAR walkaround
PW127G overview
