The aerospace industry is a significant contributor to the Canadian economy. Known as one of the country’s top manufacturing sectors, particularly in terms of research and development, it’s responsible for producing aircrafts, training simulators, flight systems and components like landing gear. Here are some of the aerospace companies in Canada bringing innovation to the commercial, military and space flight markets.
Top Aerospace Companies in Canada
- Bombardier
- Magellan Aerospace
- CAE
- Héroux-Devtek
- CMC Electronics
Aerospace Companies in Canada to Know
CMC Electronics makes operating systems and products for commercial and military avionics, including navigation systems, integrated cockpit systems, as well as displays, control panels and microelectronics. The company has been in business for over 100 years and has sold more than 12,000 flight management systems.
L3Harris provides advanced defense and commercial technologies for the air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. It specializes in tech solutions for government and military clients. L3Harris’ products include electronic systems, communications equipment, space technologies, missile systems and avionics systems. The company is based in the United States, with locations in 10 additional countries.
StandardAero provides engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for business aviation, commercial aviation, military and industrial power companies. Founded in Manitoba in 1911, the company now operates over 50 locations around the globe. StandardAero employs more than 7,500 people.
Global aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman designs and develops weapons, ammunition, defense systems, space technology and aircraft. It has been involved in Canada’s Polar Hawk program, surveilling the country’s arctic border. Northrop Grumman’s Canadian headquarters are in Richmond, British Columbia.
Collins Aerospace designs aerospace systems for commercial aviation, military and defense industries, helicopters and space exploration. Its Ottawa location specializes in wireless, ad-hoc networking technologies for tactical applications used by the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Navy. Collins Aerospace employs more than 80,000 people across 250 sites around the world.
Previously known for its luxury automobiles, Rolls-Royce now designs and builds power and propulsion systems for the civil aerospace, defense and energy sectors. The company’s research and development center in Manitoba tests its engines’ capabilities in extreme cold conditions. Rolls-Royce employs more than 50,000 people around the world.
Magellan Aerospace creates assembly and component products for the commercial, space and military aerospace markets. Its products include sounding rockets, small satellites and engine component housing, as well as military-grade aircraft engines and gas turbines. Headquartered in Ontario, the company’s innovative aerospace products have a global reach.
Formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation, RTX is one of the largest aerospace companies in the world. It offers aircraft engines and avionics, space technologies, maritime sensors, cybersecurity, drones, torpedoes and satellites. RTX has been in Canada for more than 65 years and is a prime contractor for the Canadian Department of National Defence.
The Royal Canadian Air Force uses GE Aerospace’s turboshaft engines in many of its planes. The company manufactures jet and turboprop engines, as well as integrated flight systems. GE Aerospace’s Canadian headquarters is in Ontario, with additional locations in Bromont, Winnipeg and Calgary.
Lockheed Martin is known for its military planes including the F-104 Starfighter and the SR-71 Blackbird, which can fly at more than three times the speed of sound. The company also produces missiles, weapons systems and cyber defense products. Lockheed Martin has Canadian locations in Ottawa, Montreal, Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company. It manufactures defense, space and security systems as well as commercial jetliners. Canada is one of Boeing’s largest international supplier bases, with more than 500 Canadian partners providing parts for all its commercial airplanes and almost all of its defense products.
Bombardier manufactures aircraft, rail and amphibious mobility systems and consumer products. With over 60 production locations across 26 countries, it has a wide manufacturing portfolio of commercial and business jets, three-wheeled motorized vehicles and snowmobiles. Since its founding in 1942, Bombardier has become one of the largest aerospace companies in the world, with over 34,000 employees.
Global aerospace company Airbus is known for its commercial aircraft products, but it also manufactures helicopters, military aircraft and satellites. It is the largest aerospace company in Europe, with a global presence spanning 180 locations around the globe. Airbus’ Canadian operation is its largest outside Europe.
KBR provides technology, science and engineering services to governments and companies around the world. Its aerospace division includes work in human spaceflight, spaceflight support and space domain awareness. KBR has had a presence in Canada since 1951 and maintains offices in Ontario and Alberta.
American company BAE Systems develops and manufactures products for the defense and aerospace industry. It has been involved in the design and production of major defense projects like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Astute-class submarine. BAE Systems has two locations in Canada, in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
CAE is a simulation and modeling company for the aerospace and defense industries. It boasts one of the world’s largest collections of full flight simulators for civilian and military applications and also develops modeling and simulation software. Training over 75,000 crew members yearly, the company assists clients with live and virtual training.
Héroux-Devtek designs, develops, manufactures and maintains landing gear for the aerospace industry. Its products are considered industry standard on a wide range of military and civilian aircrafts — the company even built the landing gear for the lunar module that Neil Armstrong used in the Apollo 11 mission that became humankind’s first moon landing.
General Dynamics Mission Systems develops and manufactures mission-critical defense systems. Its secure communications, navigation and situational awareness tools are used in aircraft and space systems. General Dynamics Mission Systems’ Canadian headquarters are in Ottawa.
Digital technology company Thales provides sensors, mission systems, communications and control systems, and communication networks for clients in the defense, space, aeronautics and transportation industries. Headquartered in Paris, the company employs more than 61,000 people in 56 countries. Thales’ Canadian headquarters is in Ottawa.
American electronics and defense company Safran’s avionics division makes cockpit display systems, helicopter autopilot systems, flight control components and flight operations quality assurance software. Its Ontario site produces landing gear, brake control systems and blade defrosters. Safran maintains a presence in 27 different countries around the world.
Related Articles
Explore Our Canada Coverage
Built In Toronto | Built In Calgary | Built In Ottawa | Built In Vancouver |
