The federal government is buying at least 14 Boeing surveillance planes from the United States to replace the aging CP-140 Aurora fleet.
The deal costs more than $10 billion in total, including US$5.9 billion for the jets themselves, and the planes are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
Defence Minister Bill Blair, Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne held a press conference Thursday afternoon to make the announcement.
Officials say Boeing’s reconnaissance plane is the only available aircraft that will meet Royal Canadian Air Force needs before the Auroras reach their retirement age in 2030.
Officials said in a media briefing that the fleet will give Canada new capabilities in the Arctic to hunt submarines, and that allies including Norway are already flying the planes in the far north.
The officials from the Defence Department, Air Force and Procurement Department were providing the information on the condition they not be named.
(The Canadian Press)
