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FedNor has put $2.7M behind North Bay pilot training and AI cyber defence
The two projects tackle a real gap, training NATO-ready fighter pilots at home and building homegrown AI that defends military networks with minimal human input.
Driving the news: FedNor, through its Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII), is investing $2,700,909 across two Northern Ontario companies.
International Test Pilots School (ITPS) gets $1.5 million to relocate its International Tactical Training Centre to North Bay's Jack Garland Airport. The repayable investment covers renovating a 21,000 square foot hangar dedicated to Fighter Lead-In Training for NATO and allied pilots moving onto next-generation fighter jets.
SKADI Cyber Defense Corporation gets $1,200,909 to advance its Frostbow AI Cyber Defense system, which makes real-time threat assessments with minimal human oversight.
By the numbers: The project is expected to create roughly 60 full-time jobs and cements North Bay's position as a defence and aerospace training hub.
What they're saying: Minister Patty Hajdu said the investments support Canadian workers, businesses and innovation while strengthening the economy and sovereignty. ITPS Canada CEO Dave Lohse pointed to North Bay's airspace, aviation infrastructure and military heritage as giving the company the right environment to prepare pilots for modern operations. SKADI's Rachel Clark said the funding will help make Frostbow stronger and more accessible to businesses and the Canadian military.
The big picture: Canada's defence industry runs nearly 600 businesses, contributes over $9.6 billion in GDP and supports more than 80,000 jobs nationwide. Today's announcement also ties into the federal government's $6.6 billion Defence Investment Strategy, which aims to add up to 125,000 jobs over the next decade.
