Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) announced it will invest more than $1 billion in research and development over the next five years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines. The investment includes a $300 million repayable contribution from the Government of Canada under the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative (SADI) program. P&WC is a United Technologies Corp. company.

"This major investment will enable us to sustain our engineering centers of excellence in Ontario and Quebec and reinforce our position as a leader in the global aerospace industry," said John Saabas, President, P&WC. "We are currently recruiting more than 200 engineers to support our development programs, which will bring our engineering workforce to more than 1,500 in Canada. This investment, and the support of the Government of Canada, allows us to maintain and create high-quality jobs while positioning Pratt & Whitney Canada for long-term growth."

P&WC is developing the most advanced propulsion technologies for improved environmental performance, including reduced fuel consumption, lower emissions and less noise. These technologies will be leveraged across P&WC's product lines for new turbofan, turboprop and turboshaft engines for business, regional and helicopter applications.

P&WC is also developing technologies to significantly reduce engine noise and undertaking programs to further eliminate materials of concern in our products and manufacturing processes.

P&WC has a long-standing commitment to investing in research and development to spur innovation and power sustainable growth. With approximately $400 million in annual R&D investment, P&WC ranks #1 in Canadian R&D spending for aerospace sector. Continued R&D investments have allowed P&WC to certify more than 70 engines over the past 15 years.