Canada’s new status as an observer to an international stealth fighter development program could present an opportunity for Bombardier Inc. to learn, contribute expertise and ultimately enter a new segment of the defence business, the aerospace company’s chief executive said this week.

“New technologies are being developed, and it’s of interest for us to … see if we can have a role in the future,” Éric Martel, whose Montreal-based company primarily builds and services business jets but has been expanding into defence, said on a conference call Thursday.

“Bombardier could have an interest in … providing engineering resources and support to the program, and learning from this, and then after, if ever opportunities arise that are of interest, we could definitely get into this sphere.”

On July 21, Canada was given observer status in the Global Combat Air Programme, whose participants include Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. The GCAP program was launched in 2022 and aims to build a sixth-generation supersonic stealth fighter by 2035 to replace defence aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and Japan’s Mitsubishi F-2.

In a joint statement, the four countries said Canada will be given enhanced insight and an opportunity to deepen its understanding of the program’s capabilities and industrial framework, as well as the related security requirements and wider partnering opportunities.

“For Italy, Japan and the U.K., Canada’s involvement will also support greater alignment of strategic priorities and deepen mutual understanding of future combat air ambitions, thereby strengthening global security,” the statement said.

Martel told analysts on the conference call that momentum is building in Bombardier’s defence business, with strong and sustained customer interest around the world and a growing pipeline.

“The relationships we have built in key regions over many years continue to create opportunities across both our business aviation and defense activities,” he said.

Bombardier was given an international lift earlier this month when NATO announced plans to acquire up to 10 GlobalEye early warning surveillance systems from Saab AB. The GlobalEye is built on a Bombardier 6500 executive jet augmented by Saab radar and sensors.

In a further sign of the momentum in the company’s defence division, Martel said he dispatched a team this earlier this week to scout Canadian locations for a facility that would mirror the defence operations the company has established in the United States. Bombardier Defense is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, a site that includes a special-mission aircraft modifications and maintenance facility and an expert flight test centre.

“It’s all about having the people and the talent available, so we’re looking at establishing ourselves somewhere in Canada, a mirror operation of what we do,” Martel said.

The Canadian government has held talks with Saab about potentially acquiring some of the company’s Gripen fighter jets, with the condition that they would be built in Canada, but Martel said that remains a hypothetical for now. Still, Bombardier could benefit if that happens, he said.

“It makes a lot of sense. We build the plane, we know the plane more than anybody else,” Martel said.

“Saab has been a long-time partner. If they would need help, I think we would be helping.”

He said that Bombardier is not the only company in Canada that could help build Gripen jets, but it is unique in its ability to handle large-scale assembly.

“If there is part of that assembly, you know, a major structure that we’re the only one capable of doing in the country, and they want to be in the country, we could definitely support them,” he said.

Bombardier’s revenue grew to $2.15 billion in the second quarter, up six per cent from a year earlier, as the company delivered 32 aircraft. Adjusted earnings (before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization grew to $325 million, up nine per cent from a year earlier.

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“Having reached the midpoint of 2026, business aviation has performed strongly, with most industry metrics remaining positive and indicating future growth,” the company said in its financial report. “Despite challenging global conditions, market optimism in the outlook of the business aviation industry remained resilient in the second quarter.”

Bombardier reduced debt by $1.1 billion through debt redemptions in the first half of the year, while refinancing transactions extended debt maturities so no long-term debt is maturing until November 2030. Available liquidity of approximately $1.9 billion will, among other things, allow for continued investments in services and defence, the company said.

• Email: bshecter@postmedia.com