- Five companies form Team StrīQ to pursue Canada’s RAGNAR air training program
- Team StrīQ aims to connect live aircraft, synthetic systems and secure networks
- Indigenous partners bring regional knowledge and long-term economic participation to the team
QinetiQ Group Canada, Serco Canada and three partners have formed Team StrīQ, a formal collaboration to pursue Canada’s Range Advancement Generation Next & Airspace Revitalization program, known as the RAGNAR project.
Des Nedhe Group Defence, Cold Lake First Nations Defence and Arcfield Canada round out the team, according to a joint announcement the companies released Wednesday. The team said Canada’s focus on the recapitalization of its defense industries makes this the appropriate moment for a next-generation training program designed with broad economic development and Indigenous opportunities in mind.
What Does Team StrīQ Propose for Canada’s RAGNAR Project?
Team StrīQ plans to tie live aircraft, synthetic systems, advanced threat environments, telemetry, secure networks, data services and training centers together as a single integrated system in support of Canada’s future operational readiness.
The Canadian-led initiative places sovereignty and readiness at the center of its approach and supports Canadian control over critical data, security and operational priorities, the companies said. The team also noted that it can help speed up the repositioning of Canada’s defense capabilities within NORAD, NATO and Five Eyes.
What Will QinetiQ, Serco and Arcfield Contribute to Team StrīQ?
Team StrīQ brings together expertise in training, managed services, systems integration, aerospace engineering and through-life support.
“Ensuring Canada’s next-generation aircraft and systems are matched by a next-generation training environment is the principal driver behind Team StrīQ’s proposal,” said Corrie Dale, managing director of QinetiQ Canada. The QinetiQ Canada executive pointed to the company’s long-term partnering agreement with the U.K. Ministry of Defence, which works to keep mission-critical capability safe, interoperable and operationally ready.
For Serco Canada, Managing Director Natasha McLean described plans to apply the company’s next-generation live and virtual training expertise so the Royal Canadian Air Force, or RCAF, can test, train and exploit operational capabilities. The effort would build on Serco’s 30-year partnership with Canada’s Armed Forces.
Arcfield Canada Vice President Luc Sabourin added that the company brings decades of Canadian aerospace and defense expertise to RAGNAR and intends to use its platform-agnostic capabilities to help sustain advanced systems and support the RCAF’s long-term operational readiness.
What Role Will Indigenous Businesses Play in the RAGNAR Project?
Des Nedhe Group Defence and Cold Lake First Nations Defence contribute regional knowledge, Indigenous business leadership and long-term economic participation to the effort. Grant Oliver, president of Des Nedhe Group Defence, described RAGNAR as “one of the most important defense investments Saskatchewan and Alberta will see in a generation.”
Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko explained that the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range is located within the First Nation’s traditional lands and that the community is committed to supporting the range’s protection while helping advance RAGNAR.
Through the initiative, Team StrīQ intends to create high-quality jobs, build local expertise in Goose Bay and expand the military training ranges at Cold Lake and Bagotville.
Which Academic and Industry Partners Support Team StrīQ?
D-TA Systems, Inzpire, the University of Alberta, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Raymond EMC are also backing Team StrīQ. The proposal seeks to open opportunities for Canadian companies, Indigenous enterprises, academia and regional workforces while strengthening domestic skills, supply chains, innovation and infrastructure.
The companies said they will build their approach around Canada’s operational, technical, security and environmental requirements, subject to the Canadian government’s acquisition decisions and procurement processes.
