CANSEC 2013 Includes 287 Exhibiting Companies And 647 Booths

May 28, 2013. By David Pugliese - Defence Watch

Representatives from more than 280 defence and aerospace companies will gather in Ottawa to promote their products and services at a time when military budgets are being tightened and equipment programs are facing delays.

The annual CANSEC military equipment trade show will take place Wednesday and Thursday at the Ernst & Young Centre (formerly the CE Centre) near Ottawa’s airport. The show is sold out of exhibition space, with 287 companies setting up 647 booths to highlight their weapon systems and military and security products, say CANSEC organizers.

Tim Page, president of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), the organization that runs CANSEC, said the show has grown in size and importance over the years. “It’s become a show that corporate leadership pays attention to,” he explained. “You have the leaders of the defence contracting world who are making it a must do show.”

The show attracts around 10,000 visitors annually but attendance is restricted to members of the military, government employees, CADSI members and industry contractors.

“From a general perspective the exhibits should be expected to parallel where government spending on defence is anticipated to go,” said Page.

The Conservative government has promised to spend tens of billions of dollars over the coming decades re-equipping the Canadian Forces. The long list of projects includes the purchase of new fleets of supply ships, arctic/offshore patrol vessels, a replacement for the navy’s Halifax-class frigates as well as the acquisition of fighter aircraft, drones and search and rescue planes.

At the same time, however, the military is facing some budget cutbacks and equipment projects have been slowed to save money.

Still, CANSEC exhibitors say it is important for them to be seen and heard at the show.

“CANSEC is a great opportunity for us to interact with customers, industry partners and media, update them on the status of our major projects and showcase our products, services and new technologies,” said David Ibbetson, the Ottawa-based general manager for General Dynamics Canada.

Other firms highlight their existing contracts with the Canadian government. Textron Systems Canada Inc. will put on display at CANSEC the tactical armoured patrol vehicle it has built for the Canadian army. The contract for the acquisition of the vehicles, known by its military acronym TAPV, is worth a little more than $600 million.

“CANSEC is an opportunity for Textron Systems Canada to display the COMMANDO Elite, which was selected as Canada’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle last year, and provide show attendees with an update on how we are progressing with test vehicle production and delivery,” explained Neil Rutter, General Manager of Textron Systems Canada.

The company will also exhibit other vehicles as well as unmanned aerial vehicles.

CANSEC will also highlight the dogfight between companies who are hoping to sell the Conservative government a new fighter aircraft. Lockheed Martin is hoping Canada will purchase its F-35 stealth fighter, which it will promote heavily at the trade show. But other aircraft firms such as Boeing will also be pushing their aircraft as a replacement for the CF-18.

Boeing is promoting its Super Hornet at CANSEC 2013 while the French-built Rafale fighter will be highlighted at the booth of the Ottawa-based Thales Canada. If Canada were to select the Rafale, Thales Canada would play a key role in supporting that contract. “There are real possibilities here because of the increasing cost of F-35,” said Conrad Bellehumeur,  vice president of external relations for Thales Canada. “And you don’t need a stealth aircraft for continental and domestic defence.”

The purchase of a new search and rescue aircraft for the RCAF is also producing a similar battle between companies.

Airbus Military will be highlighting its C295 aircraft while Alenia is offering the C-27J.

Alenia has teamed up with Canadian partners, General Dynamics Canada, Provincial Aerospace and DRS Canada.

Airbus Military has joined forces with Discovery Air as its primary Canadian partner.

The British Columbia-based Viking Air wants to sell the government a new generation Buffalo aircraft for search and rescue, although it hasn’t yet built such a plane.

Boeing and Textron are once again going to highlight the V-22 Osprey at CANSEC for the search and rescue project. The firms believe that the aircraft which can fly like a plane but also, when needed, hover like a helicopter, would meet Canada’s search and rescue needs.