Mary-Louise Hoffman
Gene Colabatistto, CAE‘s group president for defense and security, has said the company is eyeing new unmanned aircraft programs as it aims for a bigger share of the pilot training services market, National Defense Magazine reported Thursday.
Sandra Erwin writes CAE has helped the U.S. Air Force train around 1,500 aircrews a year to operate General Atomics-built Predator and Reaper drones under a potential five-year, $100 million contract awarded in 2013.
The company expects contract funds under that program to increase by anywhere between $20 million and $30 million in 2016, the report said.
Additionally, General Atomics’ aeronautical systems unit awarded CAE a contract to provide flight training services to foreign Predator and Reaper buyers, Erwin reports.
Colabatistto told National Defense Magazine the company has received solicitations from other unmanned aircraft programs.
National Defense Magazine estimates that CAE’s training services portfolio has accounted for more than $850 million of the firm’s about $1.7 billion revenue during 2015.
