Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC) said it will invest $149.4 million in research and development over the next five years, with another $52.3 million provided by the Canadian government, to develop an integrated cockpit and communication system for air-transport aircraft, business jets and helicopters.

CMC’s cockpit R&D initiative is called “FronTier.” The goal of the project is to create a complete cockpit system with open architecture, which will make components easily customizable and adaptable to both changing technologies and varied aircraft platforms. The project is expected to create and maintain high-technology jobs for Canadian engineers and professionals.

“FronTier will help position CMC as a major player in the field of avionics design and integration,” said CMC, an Esterline Corp. subsidiary based in Saint-Laurent, Quebec.

The repayable investment by the Canadian government under the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) was announced Jan. 13 by Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services.