S I M U LAT I O N
www.vanguardcanada.com APRIL/MAY 2026 33
Visit us at CANSEC
MAY 27-28, 2026
BOOTH 901
COMMAND COMMAND
WITHOUT COMPROMISE
SOLUTIONS BUILT FOR A
MODERN DEFENCE LANDSCAPE
the new lesson plans and courses that will
underpin student training. The first CT-
102B Astra II aircraft arrived at 15 Wing
Moose Jaw in September 2025, with three
more following in October and Novem-
ber, bringing the current total to five air-
craft on site.
"The program is in the design and im-
plementation phase, wherein our teams
are focused on designing and standing
up the myriad elements of the program,"
says Ruess. "In the coming years, numer-
ous other milestones await, from IM/IT
implementations, to infrastructure con-
structions, ground-based training system
deliveries, and much more. At present, the
majority of the aircraft and simulator fleets
are in active manufacture."
A new fleet
FAcT comes with a complete recapitalisa-
tion of RCAF training aircraft. According
to DND, Canada will acquire 71 training
aircraft across five fleets: 23 CT-102B As-
tra II, 19 Pilatus PC-21, 19 Airbus Heli-
copters H-135, seven Beechcraft King Air
260, and three De Havilland Dash 8-400
equipped with a mission training system,
according to Ruess. When FAcT is fully
operational, the CT-102B Astra II will
"Simulation plays an important role in modern training
by complementing live flying, allowing students to
experience a wider range of scenarios than what is
possible in live flying alone."
— Harrison Ruess
Brigadier-General Daniel Coutts,
Commander of 2 Canadian Air Division, is
pictured testing a CT-157 Siskin II (Pilatus
PC-21) simulator at the Pilatus facility in
March 2026.Photo: SkyAlyne
