Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 7 seconds.
Canada is expanding its fleet of upgraded Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft.
Through an existing modernization and life-extension program, four additional Aurora aircraft will gain new and enhanced capabilities and extended service lives. This will expand Canada’s current upgraded fleet to a total of 14 Auroras.
Defence Minister Rob Nicholson, accompanied by the Regional Minister for Nova Scotia and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Peter MacKay, made the announcement at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, on March 19.
14 Wing and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, are the home bases for Canada’s Aurora fleet.
“Our Government is providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the updated equipment they require, while also ensuring the best value possible for Canadian taxpayers, maximizing job creation, supporting Canadian technological innovation, and bolstering economic growth across the country,” said Minister Nicholson.
The Aurora program is a Canadian innovation success story, with Canadian industry delivering a world class capability. With new wings and tail, the Auroras will be restored to a “like new” configuration in terms of the critical structural components, extending the structural life to 2030. At that time, Canada will be better placed to buy its next Canadian multi-mission aircraft.
The addition of four more updated Aurora aircraft is Canada’s best means of ensuring effective piloted airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities into the future, and the best use of taxpayer dollars.
“This announcement demonstrates once again, our Government’s commitment to provide our men and women in uniform, right here in Nova Scotia and right across the country, with a world-class capability, while further investing and strengthening the Canadian aerospace industry,” said Minister MacKay.
“The Auroras will be restored to a like-new configuration with state-of-the-art avionics to ensure they continue to effectively and safely carry out domestic and international roles.”
The four additional aircraft will be modernized and life-extended under the existing competitively-awarded industry contracts. These enhancements and modifications are expected to be completed by 2021, and extend the operational effectiveness of the 14 modernized Aurora aircraft from 2020 to 2030.
The fleet of upgraded Auroras will be expanded from 10 to 14. The four additional aircraft will be modernized and life-extended under the existing, competitively-awarded, industry contracts. The expanded fleet of upgraded aircraft will deliver excellence at home by helping protect Canadian sovereignty through coastal surveillance, long range patrol, as well as contributing to international peace and security.
The modernized Aurora aircraft will offer superior capabilities, making it one of the best intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft available through until 2030. Upgraded and state-of-the-art avionics and missions systems will add three new capabilities to the aircraft specifically: Link 16 Datalink, beyond line of sight (BLOS) satellite communications capability and an improved self-defence system.
The total cost of the expansion is $548 million, which ensures the best value for taxpayer dollars and it will enable the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to maintain the strongest possible long range patrol capability until at least 2030.
The Aurora program is a further investment in the Canadian aerospace industry as the work will extend contracts held by Canadian companies such as General Dynamics Canada, IMP Group, MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates.
