Vanguard Magazine

8 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com S Sit REp A contract was awarded to Ultra to begin work on the key Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) system for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program. This subcontract for the Towed Low Frequency Active Sonar (TLFAS) moves the development of CSC's anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability from the program definition phase into the full manufacture and delivery of the vessels' suite of sonars. According to a news release from Ultra, the TLFAS is a world-class towed sonar solution, optimized for the detection and tracking of stealthy submarines in challenging ocean environments. When deliv- Ultra awarded contract to provide Towed Low Frequency Active Sonar for Canadian Surface Combatants ered it will represent a step-change in Canada's anti-submarine warfare assets and will provide a level of sonar capability never before enjoyed by the Royal Canadian Navy. "Ultra recognizes our responsibility to provide, through CSC, the high- est possible level of ASW capability to the Royal Canadian Navy," said Bernard Mills, President of Ultra Maritime Sonar Systems. "We are there- fore immensely proud of this contract award, especially because it is grounded in Canadian innovation and ingenuity, and because it will be an enduring driver of both operational capability and national industrial benefit. Most importantly, this is not just a success for Ultra but is one for the entire CSC enterprise, and I want to thank our strong partners in Lockheed Martin Canada, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., and all our peers on the CSC team who are as dedicated as we are to the delivery of a world- class naval capability to Canada, built by Canadians". Ultra has fully designed and manufactured the TLFAS system in Nova Scotia, Canada, which includes design components built by other Cana- dian companies, such that the industrial benefit of this system selection is spread across multiple Provinces. "As we work to build the future fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy, we are pleased to see companies like Ultra stepping up to provide leading- edge technology for our shipbuilding projects," said Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement. "The National Shipbuilding Strategy continues to provide opportunities for Canadian businesses of all sizes, from coast to coast to coast." Thales was selected by Forbes as one of Canada's Best Employers in 2021 Forbes, in collaboration with analytics firm Statista, selected Thales as one of Canada's Best Employers in 2021. The selection was based on an independent survey of more than 8,000 Canadian employees working for companies employing at least 500 people in their Canadian opera- tions. The surveys were administered in a series of online panels and provide a wide-ranging sample of the Canadian workforce. With over 2,500 employees located from coast-to-coast, Thales Can- ada offers leading capabilities in urban rail, defence, aerospace, space, and digital identity and security. As a leader in corporate research and development, Thales Canada's domestic footprint extends across four provinces, eight cities, and has a growing workforce of over 2,500 employees from coast-to-coast. "Thales is honoured to be recognized by Forbes as one of Canada's Best Employers, especially given COVID-19's tremendous impact to Ca- nadian employees and their workplaces. This acknowledgment is a tes- tament to our exceptional team, their agility and their unwavering com- mitment to serving our customers in Canada and around the world," said Mark Halinaty, President and CEO, Thales Canada. Thales has a world-class portfolio of high technology solutions that help support its customers' critical missions and big ambitions. The company is a key partner to the Canadian innovation ecosystem and is home to Thales Group's global Centres of Excellence in artificial intel- ligence (Montreal), urban rail signalling (Toronto), fly-by-wire control systems (Montreal), and optronics (Montreal). As an employer, Thales is committed to leadership in training and skills development, employee communications, benefits, flexible work options, and community involvement. The company also continues to in- vest in the next generation of talent through robust co-op and internship opportunities, established entry-level recruitment initiatives, as well as ongoing career development, mentorship, and training programs for all employees. Photo: BAE Systems Image: Thales Canada.

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