Canada will require FFLIT – Future Fighter Lead-in Training to deliver effective fighter education, training and experience that will continue to be relevant to future Canadian Armed Forces operational demands. The future capability will also be essential to continued efforts by the RCAF to grow and retain the requisite levels of fighter pilot experience across the Canadian Armed Forces fighter force.

Through Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada requires an agile and flexible fighter force to enforce Canada’s sovereignty, enable continental security and contribute to international peace and stability.

The current North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Flying Training in Canada Program will cease fighter lead-in training FFLIT – Future Fighter Lead-in Training operations in 2023 to 2024, and the RCAF is currently in the final stages of adopting a temporary bridge training capability to sustain FLIT capacity until such time that FFLIT commences operation.

Procurement at a glance

  • Overview
    • Acquiring a new future fighter lead-in training (FFLIT) solution for the RCAF.
  • Procuring
    • Canada requires a FFLIT to deliver effective fighter education, skills and experience in the control and operation of military high performance jet aircraft.
  • Status
    • Engaging with industry to discuss Canada’s requirements and request feedback.
  • Next steps
    • The second request for information (RFI) was posted on CanadaBuys on May 17, 2024. Formal industry engagement will continue through fall 2024 as the plans to acquire the FFLIT capabilities are developed and evolve with industry feedback.
Requirement description

In support of Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada requires an agile and flexible fighter force to enforce Canada’s sovereignty, enable continental security and contribute to international peace and stability.

Canada’s FFLIT capabilities were previously being provided as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Flying Training in Canada Program. This program will come to its end within the next 5 years.

Canada’s decision to acquire the CF-35A fighter aircraft delivers a significant increase in defence capability and requires advanced training to prepare the RCAF pilots of the future. FFLIT is essential preparatory training for this critical Canadian defence capability.

CF-35A fighter aircraft

Procurement progress and engagement

The procurement is being completed through an open, fair and transparent competitive process.

Learn about the progress of and engagement involved in the procurement.

  • May 3, 2021
    • Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND), posted a request for information to engage the industry about Canada’s needs and seek information from the marketplace.
  • June 1, 2021
    • PSPC, DND and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) hosted a virtual industry day to introduce the FFLIT project and provide basic project concepts, as well as gain insight into industry interest. Representatives from over 50 businesses joined the session and had the opportunity to ask questions to public officials. PSPC, DND and ISED will analyze the feedback to organize potential future industry engagements.
  • May 17, 2024
    • PSPC, on behalf of DND, posted a second request for information on CanadaBuys for the FFLIT to share information and solicit comments and feedback from industry, to ensure a seamless transition with existing pilot training programs.

CAE has been identified as a strategic partner to the Government of Canada to work with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to design and co-develop the Future Fighter Lead-in Training (FFLIT) program, which will prepare and train pilots to operate Canada’s advanced fighters.

Leveraging CAE‘s extensive expertise and experience, this partnership will help streamline discussions and enable the acceleration of initial operational capability of the state-of-the-art FFLIT program. Additionally, the FFLIT program will support the long-term success of Canada’s CF-35A capability by providing continuous fighter-pilot training with cutting-edge technology and innovative training methods. FFLIT will equip fighter-pilot candidates with the advanced skills needed to operate the complex and significantly capable CF-35A in an ever-evolving operational environment.