Skies Magazine: Q&A with president of Boeing Canada

[Retired AF Guy]

Not sure if this has been previously posted. The interview actually took place in October 2024, but was just yesterday posted to the SKies Magazine website. The full article can be found here. Below I've posted some RCAF related points:

Skies: Boeing has indicated it will pursue Canada’s Airborne Early Warning and Control program with the E-7A. Given that it’s a 737NG variant, like the P-8A, do you intend to get the Team Poseidon band back together to pursue it? Or is the door open for other companies?

A.M.: Boeing Defense is very aware of those future opportunities, and I’m confident at the right time, our various teams will present the required information and the proposals that will be called for by the Government of Canada. The E-7A is a superb aircraft that will be able to identify, track, and prioritize targets seamlessly. We know that NATO has selected the E-7A. United States Air Force is on contract for the E-7A. When we think about Canada’s NORAD commitment and the requirement for interoperability, I think there’s a good opportunity for Boeing to compete the E-7A into that program.

Also, I think to the replacement of the [CH-146] Griffon helicopter with the next Tactical Aviation Capability Set (nTACS). We will be very attentive to that procurement when the government asks for proposals or information. We have the Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT) opportunity that will play out in the coming years, along with some space projects that are in the defence policy, and perhaps even uncrewed aerial systems and weapons systems.

In addition, there is sustainment work. The P-8A fleet will be a superb asset for Canada, providing maritime domain awareness around our continent, and do that at great distances for a great length of time. … But, of course, there will be a need to sustain that in the future, and Boeing will be very interested in that opportunity.

Skies: How is Boeing approaching the FLIT program? You are bidding an aircraft, the T-7A Red Hawk, rather than an entire training program. Do you look for a training OEM as the prime and then become a partner?

A.M.: We look forward to participating in Canada’s Future Fighter Lead-In Trainer program and offering an advanced trainer to meet the Canadian Armed Forces’ needs. Whether a T-7A or a derivative, we will collaborate closely with the [FLIT] program and offer the optimum T-7 solution for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Skies: Your predecessor speculated about the T-7A not only as an option for FLIT, but also as a potential Snowbird demonstration aircraft, and even a platform for 414 Electronic Warfare Support Squadron, to support combat training.

A.M.: I’m always cautious to not overreach in terms of expectations. The T-7 in a FLIT role is going to be there to train and, of course, having modern tools to facilitate that will be key. We’ll need to see the requirements; once we have those, then the team will be able to put its best foot forward.

Skies: Boeing Global Services has, over the years, held up the CH-147F in-service support program in Petawawa, Ont., as the example of how to provide sustainment. Has Boeing had interest from other countries in exporting that model?

A.M.: There’s no question that a global company like Boeing would [look to] leverage what has been learned and advanced in one constituency, 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Petawawa, and, to the extent that they can, share that with a future customer. I know the work that the team has done over the years has been exceptional. They’ve really advanced the Chinook capability far forward. As the commander of the Air Force, I was impressed with the tactical aviation community’s ability to deploy the Chinooks into Mali. That was the first major international deployment for the Chinook, and it gave us a chance to support the mission in a way that had not been done before. That was largely due to the quality of the team on the ground—the aircrew, the maintainers and the support personnel—but also the fact that we had the fat tanks, a requirement established decades ago. Consequently, the Chinook in Mali was able to do things at much greater distances than the NH90. I’m very proud of that work, and we learned a lot. So, yes, I think Boeing would leverage what they’ve learned and offer that to future customers.