TORONTO – “Boeing” is the company chosen by the Canadian federal government to replace the army’s old patrol planes, through a new multi-billion dollar agreement: after approval by the government (last week), the Treasury Board held a meeting Tuesday, authorizing the purchase of 16 P-8A Poseidon surveillance planes to replace the “aging” CP-140 “Aurora.” The Procurement Department also stated that this particular ‘Boeing’ model is the only aircraft currently available that meets the needs of the Royal Canadian Air Force, particularly with regards to submarine hunting technology.
The federal ministers of Defence, Bill Blair, of Procurement, Jean-Yves Duclos, and of Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, announced today in Ottawa the achievement of the agreement, which was valued at 8 billion Canadian dollars : The Poseidon planes are part of a C$10.4 billion project to replace the country’s aging fleet of “Aurora” military surveillance planes. The investment includes up to $5.9 billion for P-8A Poseidon aircraft and related equipment, with the remainder earmarked for investments in simulators, infrastructure and weapons. Canada will, meanwhile, procure 14 of the 16 Poseidons approved for sale and will keep the option open to purchase a further 2. Deliveries of the aircraft are expected to be completed as early as autumn 2027, with full operational capability expected by 2033.
“In today’s complex global environment – said Minister Blair – Canada requires a military that is capable of protecting our country well into the future. We are committed to ensuring that our current and future aviators have the most advanced equipment possible to do just that. Canada requires a multi-mission fleet to contribute to the safety and security of Canadians and protect the sovereignty of a country with the longest coastline in the world. The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is the right aircraft to fulfil this role”.
“Canadians take great pride in their armed forces, and, in today’s global environment, it is more important than ever to ensure that those who serve our country have the right equipment to keep Canada safe and secure. The purchase of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon will do just that, while also contributing to Canada’s aerospace and defence sector”, said minister Duclos.
“Our government will ensure that Canadian companies from coast to coast will directly benefit from this procurement. It will not only create good jobs, but also help grow our domestic aerospace industry. Boeing will be making strategic investments with leading Canadian firms and has also committed to growing its presence in Canada through further investments. We will continue to work with Boeing to ensure that Canadian companies can fully seize on all opportunities related to this important procurement”, concluded Minister Champagne.
In the pic above, a Boeing P-8A Poseidon with a P-3C Orion in flight (photo: U.S. Navy by Liz Goettee – via Wikipedia)
