MONTREAL, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Boeing said Monday it was planning closer cooperation with RTI to fulfill Canadian military contracts.
Boeing said in a statement it had "partnered with RTI International and invested in the RTI Claro facility in Montreal in support of the $346 million of contract work that RTI Claro will perform for Boeing in Quebec. The RTI contract will play a role in the current C-17 IB program as well as the anticipated Medium-Heavy Lift Helicopter IB program."
"These supplier agreements complement Boeing's already significant involvement in Quebec. Over the years, Boeing has partnered with many suppliers in the region. These companies provide goods and services for the company's major business units -- Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. As the Canadian Forces continue to modernize their defense systems, through efforts such as the Medium-Heavy Lift Helicopter program, Boeing anticipates that it will sign additional contracts to further expand its supplier base in the region," the company said.
"The C-17 Globemaster III provides Canada with a critical new airlift capability to meet its international commitments. The C-17's ability to fly long distances and land in remote airfields in land-locked regions make it the right airplane for Canadian humanitarian, peacekeeping and military missions, domestically and abroad. The aircraft already has been used to support Canadian Forces serving in Afghanistan," Boeing said.
Boeing said it was "a major contributor to the Canadian economy, generating approximately $1 billion in business annually. Boeing employs more than 1,400 highly-skilled employees in Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba who work in support of the company's major business units. Canada also is home to the third-largest international supplier base for Boeing, including many high-quality suppliers spanning every region of the country."
Boeing said its Boeing Integrated Defense Systems unit was "one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.4 billion business with 72,000 employees worldwide."
