Canada’s Fighter Aircraft Depot

35+ Years of Partnership with the RCAF

In 2021, we marked 35 years supporting the RCAF’s only fighter aircraft fleet, including significant structural life-extension and systems modernization work that has ensured Canada's fighter fleet remains operationally relevant while extending the value of Canada's investment in the platform.

More than 1,100 Employees Across the Country

We have successfully leveraged our capabilities to create and sustain over 1,100 high-technology jobs by winning fighter support contracts with the RCAF and international customers in Australia, Switzerland, Finland, Spain and the United States. Our fighter-specialized facility is located in one of the world's largest aerospace clusters and we have a significant footprint across Canada, thus providing us with an extensive industrial network of suppliers, partners and recruiting sources.

Our Fighter-Specialized Facilities:

Offers more than 100,000 square meters of hangar/office space
Located in one of the world’s largest aerospace clusters
Offers direct access to two 12,000-foot runways
Provides security / controlled access to documents and facilities
Offers secure and embedded offices for customer representatives

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Aircraft Structural Modification and Life Extension Expertise

We are a world leader in developing and implementing fighter structural modifications and life-extension solutions, having successfully completed major depot-level programs for the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force and the U.S. Navy, as well as providing valuable support to other fighter users, including the Swiss Air Force, the Finnish Air Force and NASA. In addition, our complete understanding of full-spectrum In-Service Support (ISS) has resulted in significant ISS contracts on six other RCAF aircraft fleets.

Success Story

L3Harris has successfully implemented a comprehensive structural life extension program on the CF-18 fleet. This daunting task started with the definition of Canada’s unique operational mission profiles, which were then replicated on full-scale aircraft and component fatigue tests to accelerate the life usage of the structure to determine where and how it would fail. Throughout this program, L3Harris has identified, analyzed and addressed almost 4,000 life limited locations on the aircraft by developing and implementing over 200 modifications, repairs and inspections. The impressive result is a fleet life-extension that will ultimately exceed 25 years, ensuring the RCAF has a safe fighter aircraft to operate right to the end of its desired service life.

Largest Non-OEM Aerospace Engineering Team

With over 300 engineers and technologists, L3Harris has established the largest non-OEM aerospace engineering team in Canada, offering an exceptional range of engineering skills under one roof to support the full spectrum of customer requirements, from small to highly complex projects.

Specialties offered:

Aircraft Structure
Avionics
Electrical
Mechanical
Robotic Engineering
Software Engineering
Systems Engineering
Airworthiness

Success Story: New Periodic Inspection Interval

Using advanced analysis techniques, our deep knowledge of fighter aircraft and DND's certification policies, L3Harris developed and certified a new periodic inspection interval and card deck for the CF-18 fleet. The previous interval of 400 flight hours used by all F/A-18 operators was increased by 50% to 600 flight hours. The extended inspection interval increases aircraft availability by two aircraft per year and will result in total savings of approximately 400,000 maintenance hours to the RCAF over the remaining service life of the CF-18 fleet.

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Investment in R&D Offers Most Cost-Effective Solutions

Over the course of our contracts, we have successfully incorporated many technologies into our day-to-day work, offering our customers leading edge, innovative solutions like robotics, electronic publications and integrated data environments to provide our Canadian and international operators with the most cost-effective solutions for the maintenance and sustainment of their fighter aircraft. Our unique Canadian expertise is recognized and exported around the world.

From Innovation to Export

Our engineering team has developed a robotic modification/repair that allowed a significant service life extension for F/A-18 Inboard Leading Edge Flaps at a fraction of the cost of a replacement, saving approximately $20 million dollars for the Department of National Defence and Canadian taxpayers. This innovation, engineered in Quebec, has been exported to Australia, Finland and Switzerland.

A Culture of Innovation

L3Harris pioneered the development of electronic publications, leading towards a full digital and Integrated Data Environment (IDE) solution. This digital transformation started with the development of our Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals/Publication (IETM/P) "MAS Viewer" browser technology, which has evolved to support simultaneously multiple data standards and specifications adopted by the Department of Defence (DND), namely the S1000D specification, becoming the "defacto" standard for all major RCAF fleets. With the MAS Viewer IETM/P browser technology now serving 6 RCAF fleets and over 10,000 users, L3Harris brings all key data relevant to technicians and engineers, accessible to the user community anywhere and anytime, via desktops or handheld devices, where time sensitive decisions matter to return the aircraft into service.

Complete Solutions & Capabilities

From complete integrated fleet management to customized, scaled solutions, L3Harris offers recognized capabilities and experience across the entire spectrum of ISS competencies. L3Harris stands ready to support the Future Fighter Capability Project’s F-35 operational and sustainment needs as the company continues its rich legacy of ISS success in Canada.

MODIFICATIONS & UPGRADES
Manage the entire modification/upgrade cycle, from the non-recurring development, prototyping, validation/verification and certification, to the kit manufacturing/assembly and the complete embodiment on the platform. Read more .

MAINTENANCE REPAIR & OVERHAUL
Extensive experience in aircraft maintenance, repair & overhaul (MR&O), and current ISS lead on several of Canada’s major aircraft fleets, including the CF-18 Hornet fighter, the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter, the CT-114 Tutor Snowbird demonstration aircraft, the CC-150 Polaris multi-mission fleet, the CC-330 transport aircraft, the CP-140 maritime patrol aircraft, as well as, a supporting role on the CH-147F Chinook. Read more.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Extensive experience managing the material required to support the most complex platforms and fleets, using its fully integrated SAP system or government/enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to forecast and plan for future material demands based on solid data analytics. Read more.

TRAINING
Solutions for any platform or system regardless of the original equipment manufacturer. What matters most is getting the right training solution, at the right place, and deploying it to your operators, maintainers and management personnel, to ensure full-mission readiness. Read more.

CONFIGURATION & DATA MANAGEMENT
Our Canadian Product Configuration and Data Management (PCDM) team applies proven industry standards and practices in managing configuration and technical data. Read more.

FLEET MANAGEMENT
Partnering with the customer to manage its fleet from cradle to grave. Read more.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Highly skilled Program Managers who are Program Management Institute-certified professionals that ensure performance, flexibility and value for money. Read more.

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
Full range of services organized to provide high-value solutions to our customers. Services include aircraft structural, avionics, electrical, mechanical and software engineering, as well as flight sciences, on-aircraft implementation and airworthiness. Read more.

INTEGRATED INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
Significant experience and forward vision to develop and manage IIE solutions by integrating people, systems and data. Read more.

ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS
Wide range of solutions with services such as authoring, graphics and multimedia, data conversion, ILS integration, and products such as MAS Viewer, Interactive Document Library System (IDLS) and MAS svr. Read more.

INTEGRATED LOGISTICS SUPPORT
Full range of services including supply chain management, configuration data management, logistic support analysis, life-cycle material management, reliability engineering and failure mode and effect analysis. Read more.