Discovery Air Defence

Discovery Air Defence, is a Montreal, Quebec-based defence contractor that offers contracted airborne training services to the Canadian Armed Forces through the Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) program. Discovery Air Defence operates a fleet of modernized fighter aircraft to provide Red Air threat replication, Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training, practice munitions drop, air-to-air gunnery training and naval target tow profiles for the Canadian, U.S. and German militaries. It also provides electronic warfare training and tactics development, and supports advanced radar trials in nationally-controlled environments.

Canadian Armed Forces personnel are authorized to fly onboard Discovery Air Defence fighter aircraft.

History
Discovery Air Defence was founded in 2000 by three former Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter pilots. In 2005, Discovery Air Defence signed a $94-million contract with the Canadian Armed Forces to supply contracted combat support and adversary training. In 2014, the company signed a contract to provide fast jet airborne training services to the German Armed Forces for five years.

Fleet
Discovery Air Defence operates the largest, privately-owned operational fighter plane fleet in the world. Discovery Air Defence aircraft do not have any RCAF markings and are not included in the RCAF aircraft inventory. Some Alpha Jets retained the German Air Force paint schemes but a few have been repainted in desert or northern camouflage. The fleet consists of: