Due to our unique location as a gateway to other parts of the world, Greater Halifax has a strong history in the aerospace and defence industry. In the 18th Century, the city of Halifax served as a principal naval station in the British Empire, and was of great importance to Canada's development and evolution from colony to nation.
Today, aerospace and defence in our region is still as strong as ever. As a $1.6 billion industry, a number of world-class aerospace and defence companies are located in our region. These companies are backed by a highly skilled workforce and excellent support services, which allows them to compete nationally and internationally.
A few examples of these companies are Pratt & Whitney Canada, General Dynamics Canada Ltd., IMP Aerospace, Lockheed Martin Canada, L-3 Communications Electronic Systems, Sikorsky Canada Inc., and SAAB Microwave.
Maritime Helicopter Project
Currently, there are several key aerospace and defence projects taking place in our region. One notable project is the Maritime Helicopter Project, which will replace old Sea King helicopters with a new fleet of Cyclone helicopters. Through this program, a $45-million training facility is being built in Halifax to provide long-term in-service support to accommodate the new helicopters.
Canadian Forces Base Halifax (CFB Halifax)
Greater Halifax is home to Canada's East Coast naval base, which is the largest military base in Canada in terms of the number of posted personnel. The base employs over 9,000 individuals, and provides construction engineering, general and specific mandated safety, environment management, logistics, and harbour support among other duties.
Some of the facilities owned by CFB Halifax include Her Majesty's Canadian Dockyard (HMC Dockyard), which contains berths for Canadian and foreign warships, Formation Supply Facility, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott, as well as various shore-based training facilities.
Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia
The Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia (ADIANS) is an organization which assists in the pursuit of aerospace and defence industry growth and development opportunities for Nova Scotia. As a facilitator, ADIANS links companies to each other, to government agencies, and to larger aerospace companies seeking suppliers, partners, and collaborators. ADIANS supports the diversified industry base in both defence and commercial aerospace markets. Aerospace and defence employs approximately 6,000 skilled and experienced workers in Nova Scotia, and it generates approximately $600 million in revenue for the province.
For more information on how you can grow or locate your aerospace and defence business to Halifax, please email us at info@greaterhalifax.com.