Canada opens bidding to four defence giants to manufacture 88 new figher jets

Photo courtesy of the Government of Canada, http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca.

As part of its defence policy, the federal government is looking to acquire 88 advanced fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force. This procurement is one of the largest in 30 years.

With the process reaching its 18 month mark, the government released a formal Request for Proposals to eligible suppliers, who have until spring 2020 to submit initial proposals.

The defence giants eligible include:

• Sweden—SAAB AB (publ)—Aeronautics
• United Kingdom and Northern Ireland—Airbus Defense and Space GmbH (with MBDA UK Limited, L3 Technologies MAS and CAE Canada)
• United States—Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company) (with Pratt and Whitney)
• United States—The Boeing Company (with Peraton Canada Corp., CAE Inc., L3 Technologies MAS Inc., GE Canada and Raytheon Canada Limited Services and Support Division)

Canada will provide two opportunities for all bidders to demonstrate that they can present a plan to meet Canada’s security and interoperability requirements. The security offer is due in fall 2019, and following feedback from Canada, bidders may revise and resubmit that offer as part of the initial proposal in spring 2020.

Bidders will also have an opportunity to address deficiencies in their proposals related to mandatory criteria rather than being outright rejected. Proposals will be rigorously assessed on elements of technical merit (60%), cost (20%) and economic benefits (20%).

The federal government is expected to award the contract to the selected bidder in early 2022, with the first aircraft delivery starting as early as 2025.