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Top Aces

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Top Aces Inc.
IndustrySpecialized Aviation
Founded2000
HeadquartersMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Key people
Paul Bouchard, President; Didier Toussaint, Group President
Website[1]

Top Aces Inc. is a Montreal, Quebec-based defence contractor that offers contracted airborne training services primarily to the Canadian Armed Forces, Bundeswehr, and United States Air Force, as well as NATO allies. The company has multiple permanent operating bases in Canada, the US, and Germany, as well as supporting exercises at temporary locations all across North America and Europe. Operating a fleet of modernized fighter aircraft flown by highly experienced former and current military pilots, they provide Red Air threat replication, Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training, practice munitions drop, air-to-air gunnery training and naval target tow profiles.[1] As of 2024, Top Aces has flown an industry leading 130,000 accident free flight hours in support of military customers.

The Alpha Jet and Lear 35 platforms are also utilized by No. 414 Squadron RCAF for electronic warfare training and tactics development, and support for advanced radar trials in nationally controlled environments, as part of the CATS contract.[2][3] All Electronic Warfare Officers and EW role equipment being provided by the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) of the RCAF also utilizes Top Aces Alpha Jets for testing, chase, and pilot proficiency, being flown by RCAF personnel.

History

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Alpha Jets line up in Top Aces colours

Top Aces was founded in 2000 by three former Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter pilots. In 2005, Top Aces signed a $94-million contract with the Canadian Armed Forces to supply contracted combat support and adversary training.[4]

In 2014, the company signed a contract to provide fast jet airborne training services to the German Armed Forces for five years. This contract was then extended and expanded in 2021.[5]

In 2017, Top Aces was awarded a long-term Contracted Airborne Training Services contract with the Government of Canada.[6] The CATS contract was amended in 2023, extending it to 2029 and expanding it by adding A-4N aircraft.[7] In March 2017, Top Aces was awarded a short-term contract to provide training support to the Australian Defence Force, with three Alpha Jet aircraft deployed to RAAF Base Williamtown for two years.[8]

In November 2020, it was reported that Top Aces was in negotiations with the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the purchase of 29 early model Lockheed Martin F-16A fighter aircraft with a cost-per unit price of $3–4 million.[9] Four of the planned 29 F-16s arrived in Top Aces F-16 Center of Excellence in Mesa, Arizona in January 2021 and began flying operations for the USAF in early 2022.[10] Top Aces plans to ship the rest of the orders in 12 batches with two jets arriving every other month.[11]

In 2022, Top Aces merged with Blue Air Training, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.[12] Blue Air Training specializes in providing close air support training to JTACs from the US and NATO. The company employs highly experienced veteran attack pilots and JTACs operating a mixed fleet of turboprop aircraft and helicopters, with the ability to live-fire training munitions including bombs, guns, and rockets.

In 2024, the Canadian government announced a contract with Top Aces to train Ukraine F-16 pilots.[13]

Top Aces, formerly Discovery Air Defence Services (DADS), is no longer a 'Wholly Owned Subsidiary' of the parent company Discovery Air.[14] It is now owned by Clairvest and other unnamed investors with transactions completed on 22 December 2017.[15] As of July 2018, Top Aces Inc, Top Aces Holdings Inc and Clairvest are subject to ongoing legal proceedings lodged in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List).[16]

Fleet

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Top Aces A-4Ns in Canada

Some Alpha Jets retained the German Air Force paint schemes, and the F-16s retained their Israeli Air Force paint schemes. The remaining Alpha Jets and A-4s have been repainted in aggressor camouflage colours that mimic certain foreign aircraft. Small low visibility Canadian flags have been added to the vertical tail stabilizers of aircraft contracted to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The A-4N and F-16 fleets have been upgraded with Top Aces proprietary Advanced Aggressor Mission System. This system is designed to provide high fidelity threat simulation and includes AESA radar, HMCS, IRST, Tactical Datalink, and EW capabilities.[17] To reflect this, the upgraded aircraft are referred to by the company as the Advanced Aggressor Fighter or AAF variants.

As of 2024, Top Aces and Blue Air Training have the following aircraft listed with Transport Canada, the FAA, or in long-term storage.[18]

Top Aces fleet[19]
Aircraft No. of aircraft Variants Notes
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet 60 Model A (35), Model 1B(25) 19 Alpha Jet A's operating in Canada and Europe. 1B's and remaining A's in long-term storage and not all registered.[20]
Learjet 35 3 35A
Lockheed Martin F-16A 29 F-16A/B Registered and operating in the United States.[11]
Mcdonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk 22 A-4N (21), TA-4J (1) 8 A-4N-AAFs operating in Europe, with additional A-4N-AAFs and TA-4J added to the Canadian CATS program beginning in mid 2024.[7]
Blue Air Training fleet[21]
Aircraft No. of aircraft Variants Notes
Valmet A-90 Raider 8 L-90 Redigo modernized and specialized for the CAS training role.
Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 7 OV-10G
Pilatus PC-9 10 PC-9/A
IAR-823 Brasov 6
Bell 206 Longranger 206L3

Top aces previously operated aircraft:[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Exhibitor Profile for Discovery Air Inc.
  2. ^ "414 Electronic Warfare Squadron". Royal Canadian Air Force. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  3. ^ About Us
  4. ^ History
  5. ^ Discovery Air deploys A-4N jets to Germany ahead of training contract
  6. ^ "Discovery Air - Discovery Air Defence Awarded Long-Term Contracted Airborne Training Services Contract". Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  7. ^ a b "Top Aces Announces Important Upgrade to Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) Program in Canada Through 2029 - Top Aces". www.topaces.com. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  8. ^ "Discovery Air Defence and Air Affairs Australia Win Jet Air Support Trial Contract in Australia". Top Aces. 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  9. ^ Zaken, Danny (29 November 2020). "Israel in talks to sell F-16's to Canada's Top Aces". Globes. Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Top Aces completes first flight of its F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighter - Top Aces". www.topaces.com. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  11. ^ a b McCullough, Amy (19 February 2021). "Top Aces Brings 1st Israeli F-16s Back to the US". airforcemag.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Blue Air Training Corp. and Top Aces Corp. announce groundbreaking business combination".
  13. ^ "Minister Blair announces new military donations for Ukraine at the 18th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group". National Defence. 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  14. ^ "Federal Corporation Information - 1002778-2". Federal Corporation Information. Government of Canada. 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  15. ^ "Download SEDAR Filings - Code Verification and Accept Terms of Use". www.sedar.com. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  16. ^ "CCCA Proceedings - Ontario Superior Court of Justice" (PDF).
  17. ^ "Top Aces". www.topaces.com. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  18. ^ "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Top Aces". Transport Canada. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  19. ^ "Our Fleet".
  20. ^ "Top Aces acquires 25 Belgian Air Force Alpha Jets". Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Aircraft | Blue Air Training". blueairtraining.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  22. ^ "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: History Search Result for Top Aces". Retrieved 2023-02-27.
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