Boeing said Monday it is investing $1.4 million in Bluedrop Training and Simulation to support the Halifax-based company’s CV-22 Osprey program.

The funding is being made under Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) program and is tied to the federal government’s purchase of Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft. It will allow Bluedrop to advance its simulation technology for the CV-22 Special Mission Aviator Ramp Trainer (SMART).

Bluedrop Training develops training programs, mainly for the defense and aerospace industries. It employs virtual, augmented, and mixed reality training solutions to improve safety and efficiency for complex, high-risk scenarios. 

Bluedrop will integrate the CV-22 SMART into the global Distributed Mission Operations network. The system provides full-mission simulation training for front and rear crew members, enabling them to carry out joint missions with both flight simulators and the SMART trainer. It will also allow crews to rehearse procedures and complex scenarios without the expense of live flights.

All development and integration work will take place at Bluedrop’s Halifax facility, with field testing scheduled at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Boeing Canada President Al Meinzinger said the investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to Canadian industry. “This investment in Bluedrop achieves these goals,” he said in a statement.

Bluedrop has supplied Boeing programs for more than a decade, including work on the C-17 Globemaster and CH-47F Chinook aircraft. CEO Derrick Rowe said the partnership has supported the company’s growth and expansion of its workforce.

The investment follows Ottawa’s decision in 2023 to acquire the P-8A Poseidon to replace the CP-140 Aurora patrol aircraft. A study by Doyletech estimated the purchase will generate more than 340 jobs and about $34 million in annual economic benefits in Atlantic Canada. Boeing says more than $237 million in ITB credits have already flowed to 16 Atlantic companies through past programs.