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Story by Canadian Defence Review

 

January 9, 2026

 

Canada has been a world leader in training and simulation for many years and at this year’s event, Montreal-based CAE showed off its Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) simulation systems that enable integrated training environments to combine live training, virtual simulation and constructive modelling.

 

And on the defence side, the company showcased solutions for mission readiness, operational training, and simulation-based preparedness across various domains. CAE
is truly global in scale with over 13,000 employees and 240 training sites in 40 plus countries. In a sit down at I/ITSEC, company VP Strategy and Growth, Defence and Security, David Bancroft told CDR, “I’m based in Montreal and cover defence and security internationally and work now under France Hebert, President, Defence and Security at CAE.”

 

Bancroft explained, “One of the things we’re demonstrating here at I/ITSEC this week is a suite of tools that allow us to connect multiple training platforms into a common environment and this is something we are showing here for the U.S. market and internationally. Also we are working with the German Air Force in providing simulators for the NH 90 helicopter.”

 

VP Business Development, Defence and Security, John Edelman explained how CAE has partnered with Elbit for the Land Vehicle Crew Training System (LVCTS) program in Canada, “…Yes, the bids are in for LVCTS but it seems there’s a long review cycle on that program so we’re not expecting a decision until 2027.”

 

CAE TARGETS F-35 TRAINING

A big win for CAE recently was its involvement in the RPAS program where it’s partnered with General Atomics, makers of the SkyGuardian UAV. Edelman said, “CAE has a long standing agreement to work with General Atomics, not just on the Canadian program but internationally, including the U.S. market where we provide training systems for the Predator UAV.”

 

With respect to F-35 CAE has not given up hope that it can participate in that program despite the fact that Lockheed Martin closely guards its IP for that fighter jet. Edelman told CDR, “Right now we’re in discussions with the government and Lockheed about where there might be training opportunities on that program. There’s a potential for IP transfer either through the government or company to company.”

 

And CAE is already targeting the submarine program in Canada where it has reached out to the two remaining bidders on the program. “We’ve already had preliminary discussions with both Hanwha and TKMS about how we could work together and of course we have naval training experience through the CSC program,” Edelman concluded.

 

CUBIC WINS CWES

Cubic Corporation was recently awarded a multi year contract to provide high-fidelity live-simulation and training systems to the Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian Weapon Effects Simulation (CWES) program will deliver realistic weapons-effects training for soldiers at a number of CF bases.

 

As part of their mandate, Cubic will deliver instrumentation kits, vehicle tracking systems, urban operations training systems and after-action review systems that help simulate combat scenarios and provide feedback for training.

 

At I/ITSEC, Cubic’s Adam Syme, Senior Program Manager, told CDR, “Cubic has been doing training for the Canadian army for over 20 years and the CWES contract that we won is for 6 more years.” Syme is the program manager for CWES. “The training imperative drives all the action behind it.”, Syme told CDR.

 

SPEAR FROM CUBIC

Tim Welde (call sign Gopher) is a former
F-15 fighter pilot and was the first F-35 squadron commander at Eglin Air Force base. Tim is now a Senior Director of Business Development at Cubic Defense and in a sit down at I/ITSEC he told CDR about how his company’s SPEAR software pod is being utilized on RCAF CF-18s at Bagotville and Cold Lake for training exercises. SPEAR will also be embedded in Canada’s new F-35 fighters and is encrypted.

 

SPEAR (Simplified, Planning, Execution, Analysis, Reconstruction) is an extremely effective training tool for the fighter pilot as it provides real-time monitoring. After missions it supports detailed debriefs and reconstruction of “what happened, when, how”. Welde explained how, “SPEAR gives participants and commanders the ability to analyze performance firmly.”

 

NEWFOUNDLAND STARTUPS

Russ Baker is a Co-Founder of Newfoundland- based Avalon Holographics and at I/ITSEC he told CDR about how his company is working with the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando to demonstrate the company’s NOVAC product during I/ITSEC with the goal of allowing customers to experience its holographic capabilities.

 

Speaking of Newfoundland companies, at I/ITSEC CDR had the opportunity to sit down with Mike Winter, founder of Trophi.ai, a startup that bills itself as the coaching app that turns gameplay into a training plan. The company’s been so innovative it’s drawn the attention of Silicon Valley and VC investment. Winter told CDR, defence is one of the many areas where its technology can be applied.

 

Also in the startup category, CDR was able to connect with Hugh McGuire, CEO of Montreal-based Bloomsco. We learned that Bloomsco’s nascent AI training technology has already been employed by the Canadian Joint Warfare Training Centre and the company is looking to build on this as it continues to develop its defence training offerings.

 

At I/ITSEC, Montreal-based 3D company, Simthetiq, announced it’s been chosen to deliver a series of immersive air base training environments. It will be used by a NATO Air Force to train emergency response teams in critical security procedures.

 

GROUND COMBAT TRAINER FROM SAAB

And in keeping with our desire to always be engaged, CDR was invited by Saab to “test drive” its Ground Combat Indoor trainer. Saab spokesman, Magnus Palmer, told CDR the Studio Version is a virtual training solution that supports collective training – up to ten soldiers simultaneously – with ground- combat weapons including small arms and anti-tank weapons like AT4, Carl Gustaf M4 and NLAW.

 

By the way, Anna Lange, head of marketing and sales at Saab, pointed to the company’s newest capabilities on display
at I/ITSEC. Notably Saab’s evolving UAV training capability. Driven by the proliferation of drones in contemporary conflict, Saab has developed systems that integrate UAVs directly into live training exercises.

 

Over at the Calian display, company spokesman Jeff Wilson told CDR, “Calian supports the Canadian Army via simulation- based exercises. It builds synthetic training environments and runs complex exercises, both for combat readiness and for domestic operations such as disaster relief.”

 

With the focus on new technologies like AI, drones and cybersecurity this year’s show was extremely informative and judging by the uniforms we observed, of particular interest to Canada. While ACADA dropped out this year, our impression was that there was still a significant Canadian presence at I/ITSEC 2025. Canada remains a world leader in training and simulation technology.

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