National Defence committee  I would hope this is the way it will happen.

National Defence committee  The only point I might add is that at this time in our understanding of the concept of sustainment, it's very unclear. It's very uncertain. Therefore, that's why we have this concern that we've expressed to you.

National Defence committee  In any such acquisition, when close control is kept, people deliver when they're measured. That's a basic management skill. Therefore, if there are areas where it was not tight enough, hopefully this is being done or this is being attacked right now and will be solved.

National Defence committee  I do not know. I've only seen the numbers as expressed in the media.

National Defence committee  Of course we do not because we have not completed the contract. We have a fair idea.

National Defence committee  It was somewhere around three years.

National Defence committee  I guess you're asking me to compare. I would say that the present contracts may not be exactly the same as previous contracts. This one is different particularly because there are no IRBs, as there were previously in contracts. However, the timeframes you are mentioning seem to b

National Defence committee  I would hope so. That's what we claim we would like to see.

National Defence committee  It has been Bombardier, or L-3 now.

National Defence committee  I think that the points raised are the same that would have to be put forward. The purchase of an aircraft like this is based on two criteria. The first is whether it will meet our operational requirements. That appears to be well identified and acknowledged. What we feel is

National Defence committee  Of course, a company like L-3 MAS would prefer to see a contractual element like that included. Nevertheless, our understanding for now is that those aspects have not yet been defined in the agreement. It is very important, during the period prior to the signing of the contract,

National Defence committee  All right. I am almost done. Sustainment is very hard to export; therefore, establishing a Canadian sustainment plan early and ahead of signing the acquisition contract is all the more important, since this is the time many countries have negotiating leverage. I underline again

National Defence committee  Mr. Chairman, committee members, my name is Richard Bastien, and I am vice-president of business development at L-3 MAS. On behalf of my president, Sylvain Bédard, who is unfortunately out of the country today, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to express our views on th