Laflamme Aero’s LX300 tandem rotor RPAS platform
General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada has announced a new Centre of Excellence in Sherbrooke, Québec, for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) technologies.
The Government of Québec, through Investissement Québec, is investing $9 million in the new centre. In addition to Investissement Québec’s contribution, this $9.7 million investment by General Dynamics Mission Systems merges the engineering, commercialization and export expertise of General Dynamics with the technological capabilities of Laflamme Aero Inc., one of Québec’s emerging aerospace innovators.
General Dynamics has also made a strategic investment in Laflamme Aero to support the development and maturation of its LX300 tandem rotor RPAS platform. Investissement Québec, also a shareholder of Laflamme Aero, is also contributing almost $1.9 million to industrialize and commercialize the LX300.
“The Centre of Excellence will position the province of Québec at the leading edge of emerging RPAS technology and advanced autonomous airborne mission systems integration,” said David Ibbetson, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Mission Systems–International. “Remotely Piloted Aircrafts are the future of aerospace and our investment will generate Québec and Canadian intellectual property, create and enhance domestic capacity, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics jobs – while developing world-leading RPAS technologies to address the growing needs of Canada and countries across the globe.”
The new Centre of Excellence is expected to add up to 45 high-skill jobs.
