IMP Aerospace rebrands to include defence

Nova Scotia's largest aerospace contractor is rebranding itself as part of an effort to secure more military spending, including a piece of the federal shipbuilding contract.

IMP Aerospacewhich operates at the Halifax Stanfield International Airportsaid Wednesday that it will now be known as IMP Aerospace & Defence.

"We're quite excited that we can use this as an excellent opportunity to be able to announce that we're a broader base than just aerospace," said Carl Kumpic, the vice-president of International Marketing for the company.

IMP Aerospace & Defencewhich employs 1,800 people in Nova Scotiamade the announcement during the first day of the Atlantic Defence and Security Exhibition at the Cunard Centre in Halifax.

The company is best known for its work in military aircraft repair, maintenance and logistics.

"We can take all the experience and tools that we've developed over the last number of years supporting the air force and be able to translate and migrate them over to the benefit of our navy and land systems customers," Kumpic told CBC News.

But nearly a year after Halifax's Irving Shipbuilding won the exclusive right to bid on $25-billion worth of contracts to build 21 Canadian combat ships, there is still no sign of the key contracts that are needed to get the work started.

"There are a number of companies right now that are starting to grow and the rate at which they will grow internally will be dependent upon when that contract actually arrives here in the province," said Glenn Copeland, with the Atlantic Alliance of Aerospace and Defence Associations.

Chris Alexander, the parliamentary secretary to the defence minister, was on hand at the exhibition to discuss the shipbuilding program. He said negotiating a fair deal takes time.

"I can't stand here today and tell you exactly when this vessel or that vessel will be delivered," said Alexander.

"There are a lot of moving parts to this process."