Gordon O’Connor, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, representing the Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, announced a $9.7-million repayable investment for BelAir Networks Inc. to develop wireless networking technologies that will improve defence industry communications. This investment is being made through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI).
“The defence industry’s need for robust, reliable and highly secure wireless networks is greater than ever before,” said Clement. “This investment will help meet this need, ensuring that modern-day military operations are conducted in the most efficient and secure way possible.”
Through this $32.3-million project, BelAir will develop and introduce a new set of hardware and software capabilities for its wireless networking product line that will improve the capacity, reach and security of networks used by defence industries for surveillance, communications, video transmission and other essential tasks. The research and development for this project will also contribute to Canada’s highly skilled and knowledge-based workforce.
BelAir will collaborate with federal and academic partners, including the Communications Research Centre Canada and Carleton University.
“With the help of this SADI investment, BelAir is making significant wireless networking improvements that will benefit global defence forces,” said Bernard Herscovich, BelAir’s President and CEO. “This project will also help our company maintain its position as a world leader in the wireless networking industry.”
SADI supports strategic industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in the aerospace, defence, space and security industries. SADI is managed by the Industrial Technologies Office, a special operating agency of Industry Canada with a mandate to advance leading-edge research and development by Canadian industries.
