MIRABEL, Que. - Defence contractors have started pouring the foundation for Canadian aerospace companies to get a piece of long-term support contracts on the new stealth fighter.
Lockheed Martin and L-3 MAS signed a memorandum of understanding today that will allow for some of the maintenance work to be carried out in Mirabel, Que.
The deal allows L-3 MAS, a subsidiary of giant U.S. defence contractor L-3, to bid on future contracts to service Canada's 65 F-35 jetfighters, which are expected to begin deliveries in 2017.
The Conservative government has been under fire since it announced in July that it intends to buy the high-tech aircraft to replace the aging CF-18s at a cost of between $14 billion and $16 billion.
Even though money won't change hands for a number of years and the contracts will be awarded on "best-value determination," Industry Minister Tony Clement hailed the agreement as a victory for aerospace workers.
Sylvain Bedard, president of L-3 MAS, says the company is confident in its ability to provide best value and reliable support for the F-35.
