Boeing has helped Canada modernize its military forces—and is looking to the future Royal Canadian Air Force pilots have flown the CF-18 Hornet for more than 30 years, and Boeing hopes it can produce the next generation of jet fighters for the nation’s military. The company wants to have the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in consideration for Canada’s fighter replacement program. That campaign follows a number of major contracts to modernize the nation’s defense forces in recent years. The Canadian military also operates Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III and the CH-147 Chinook. “We’re providing the Canadian forces with some tremendous products, services and support,” said Jim Barnes, director of Business Development in Canada for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Barnes works in Ottawa, Ontario, where the company’s recently expanded office oversees the execution and program leadership of Boeing’s long-term support program for Canada’s 15 new CH-147F Chinook helicopters. The last rotorcraft in that contract was delivered in July. The site also serves as the Canada Business Development office for Defense, Space & Security, and it allows Boeing officials to talk often with Ministry of Defence representatives and others within the Canadian government, as well as current and potential industry partners. “Being here in front of the decision-makers, being able to walk down to their offices, has been very beneficial in pushing our efforts forward,” Barnes said. Over the past decade, Boeing has played a large role in bringing Canadian forces into the 21st century. In January 2014, Boeing completed a digital electronic warfare system upgrade to 77 of the country’s CF-18 jet fighters. In 2007 and 2008, Boeing delivered four C-17 Globemaster III airlifters, designated the CC-177 in Canada. They since have been used for military and humanitarian missions around the globe. Canada’s army is a customer of Boeing subsidiary Insitu, which has provided ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system services. That initial 2008 contract has been extended to include the installation of unmanned aircraft capabilities on Royal Canadian Navy vessels. Boeing also has provided the Canadian navy’s all-weather Harpoon missiles. Many of Boeing’s major defense programs rely on a network of suppliers in Canada, and Canadian industry directly contributes to support contracts to maintain the mission-ready capability of the CF-18, CC-177 and CH-147. In addition to vying to replace the CF-18 with the advanced Super Hornet, Boeing sees other potential military contracts in Canada, according to Barnes. Substantial opportunities for Defense, Space & Security exist in other nontraditional markets, including energy, remote area logistics and information technology, Barnes noted. “We’re chasing opportunities across all divisions,” he said, “including cybersecurity, secure communications and energy.” n 20 Boeing Frontiers Government Relations. “We were doing carbon fiber structural work long before most places were, and we’re now the largest aerospace composite manufacturer in Canada.” Work on components for the 787 accounts for 45 percent of the site’s work, Jensen said. But with production rate increases for the Next-Generation 737 and 777, all of the site’s teams are busier than ever, said Marty Lehman, director of Manufacturing and Environment, Health & Safety at the Winnipeg site. Part of his job is to make sure the site keeps up with productionrate demand without any slip in safety procedures, which has been a challenge, he said. He also is focused on improving the site’s Lean+ manufacturing, an area in which Winnipeg has excelled, winning the company’s Fred Mitchell award for its high Lean+ scores four times in recent years. “The Lean drive up here in Winnipeg is strong,” said Carl Cline, a manufacturing manager for the factory’s Process Center, which supports programs across the site. He and other employees point out that work done in Winnipeg means there are numerous opportunities to learn new skills. “With the variety of work in here, there’s always a challenge,” said Tom Donato, who helps to build 737 environmental control system doors. His line now produces more than 80 such doors a month to keep up
Frontiers December 2014–January 2015 Issue
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