Quebec-based tactical aircraft simulation provider Top Aces has completed the initial A-4 Skyhawk aggressor fighter jet training for Canada’s Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) program.
CATS is an ongoing commitment to sustain the Canadian Armed Forces’ performance and dominance in airspace through the use of red teams or groups pretending to be real-world enemies.
The first mission of this effort involved the introduction and formation of Skyhawks alongside Canada’s existing aggressor fleet of Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets.
Trainees included personnel from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Hornet combat aircraft based at 4-Wing Cold Lake, Alberta.
Additional sessions for the Hornet crew focused on their transition to the country’s upcoming Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters.
Delivering ‘Cutting-Edge’ Platforms
Top Aces wrote that the first two Skyhawk trainer planes arrived for the CATS in May.
Each vehicle is fitted with the company’s proprietary Advanced Aggressor Mission System, an Active Electronically Scanned Array, and corresponding data link solutions to fulfill near-peer threat aircraft roles.
“As a proud home-grown Canadian company, Top Aces is committed to providing the [Canadian Armed Forces] with cutting-edge training solutions to ensure our servicemen and women are fully prepared for any mission their country entrusts to them,” Top Aces CEO Paul Bouchard said.
“Canada’s forward-thinking approach to the CATS program has prompted Air Forces worldwide to follow suit.”
“Especially as allied counterparts shift towards 5th Generation fleets, they increasingly acknowledge this industry’s importance for operational efficiency, extending fleet lifespan, and supporting the continued service of veterans.”
The company noted in its CATS contract signing last year that the training services will run through October 2029.
