Procurement – Air

Hornet Extension Project (HEP)

Key Facts

Details

• The Hornet Extension Project is progressing rapidly to deliver new capability to ensure that the CF-18 Hornet remains operationally relevant for operations until 2032.
• The Project encompasses a number of enhancements and upgrades and is being delivered in two phases:
  • Phase 1 is delivering enhancements for up to 94 aircraft, mainly focused on addressing evolving civilian air traffic management regulations and meeting Allied military interoperability requirements.
    • This includes Satellite Radios, Inertial Navigation, and enhancements to current Sniper targeting pod simulators and to Mission Computers.
    • These upgrades will be delivered to up to 94 aircraft, which includes the 18 Australian fighter aircraft.
    • New cryptographic systems have been selected to meet changing interoperability standards so the CF-18 Hornet can use secure voice radios and satellite communications.
    • New systems have been selected to meet new Air Traffic Control regulations so the CF-18 Hornet can operate in North American and European airspace.
  • Phase 2 is focused on additional combat capability upgrades for up to 36 CF-18s, to ensure that sufficient, operationally relevant, mission-ready CF-18 fighters are available to meet air power capability requirements in the current battle space until the future fighter fleet reaches full operational capability.
    • This includes the delivery of a new sensor, new weapons, enhanced survivability and improved mission planning and security systems.
    • New weapons have been selected to greatly improve lethality against short and medium range air and ground threats. Orders for these weapons have been initiated.
    • Approval has been received to partner with the United States Marine Corps in the integration of an advanced radar that has superior range and detection capabilities. Orders for the radars have been initiated.

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Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP)

Key Facts

Details

Future Fighter Capability Project

• The objective of the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) is to successfully acquire and transition into service 88 advanced fighter aircraft along with the associated equipment, weapons, infrastructure, information technology, and sustainment, including training and software support. This project will leverage Canadian capabilities and support the growth of Canada's aerospace and defence industries.
• Strong economic outcomes are a priority for this project and Canada is seeking to leverage economic benefits that align with the Value Proposition (VP) strategic objectives.
• Canada has implemented a VP that seeks to motivate generational investments in Canada's aerospace and defence industries over the coming decades, and that drive innovation, exports, and skills development in Canada's Key Industrial Capabilities, including in such areas as In-Service Support, Aerospace Systems, and Components and Space Systems.
• The project will replace the current CF-18 fighter capability which principally operates out of Cold Lake, Alberta and Bagotville, Québec.

Activities to Date

Future fighter competitive procurement process

• In December 2017, the Government launched an open and transparent competition for the permanent replacement of Canada's fighter fleet.
• In February 2018, the Government announced five eligible government-led Supplier teams, including, Dassault (France), SAAB (Sweden), Airbus (United Kingdom), Boeing (United States of America), and Lockheed Martin (United States of America).
• In November 2018, the Dassault (France) team informed Canada of its decision to officially withdraw from the competition, and in August 2019, the Airbus (United Kingdom) also informed Canada that it was withdrawing. Only the three remaining Supplier teams are currently eligible to submit proposals under the future fighter competitive procurement process.
• After 18 months of extensive engagement with the eligible Suppliers, the Request for Proposal was released on July 23, 2019.
• On February 25, 2020, at the request of industry, Canada granted a three-month extension to the previous deadline of March 30, 2020, for submitting proposals for the Future Fighter Capability Project. On May 6, 2020, at the request of industry, the Government of Canada granted a further one-month extension to the proposal submission deadline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible suppliers then had until July 31, 2020, to submit their proposals.
• On July 31, 2020, the Government of Canada received bids from all three suppliers currently eligible to participate in the future fighter competitive procurement process.
• Proposals are being rigorously assessed on elements of capability, cost, and economic benefits. The evaluation will also include an assessment of bidders' impact on Canada's economic interests.

Fighter fleet facilities

• On May 20, 2020, Canada issued a Request for Proposal for the design and construction of a new fighter jet facility at 4 Wing Cold Lake. This facility will host three fighter squadrons and space for daily operations, maintenance, and training.
• On June 17, 2020, Canada issued a second Request for Proposal, this time for the design and construction of a new fighter jet facility at 3 Wing Bagotville. This facility will host two squadrons and will include space for daily operations, maintenance and training.
• On August 13, 2020, Canada awarded a $9.2 million contract to Canadian company, EllisDon Construction Services for the design of a new fighter jet facility at 4 Wing Cold Lake.
  • The contract includes options for the contractor to build the new facilities, and any additional infrastructure once the future fighter is selected, should the Government of Canada decide to exercise these follow-on options.
• On September 28, 2020, Canada awarded a $12.1 million contract to Canadian companies, EllisDon Construction Services and EBC Inc,  for the design of a new fighter jet facility at 3 Wing Bagotville.
  • The contract includes options for the contractors to build the new facilities, and any additional infrastructure once the future fighter is selected, should the Government of Canada decide to exercise these follow-on options.
• Starting this infrastructure work now – ahead of choosing a future fighter – is essential to enabling future fighter operations. It will ensure the facility is ready for the first aircraft deliveries, regardless of which aircraft is selected.

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Interim Fighter Capability Project (IFCP)

Key Facts

Details

• To maintain Canada's fighter jet capability, a Purchase Arrangement was signed between the Government of Canada and the Australian Government on November 9, 2018, to acquire 18 Australian F/A-18 Hornets to supplement Canada's current fleet of fighter aircraft.
• These additional 18 aircraft will augment the squadrons at Cold Lake, Alberta and Bagotville, Quebec.
• Canada received the first two Australian aircraft on February 21, 2019, with these aircraft the Royal Canadian Air Force declared Initial Operational Capability on June 28, 2019.
• Canada received a third aircraft on November 17, 2019, the fourth aircraft on February 13, 2020, the fifth aircraft on May 20, 2020, the sixth aircraft on June 27, 2020, and the seventh on September 6, 2020.
• The modification and inspections of the supplemental aircraft are being conducted by the CF-18 Prime Air Vehicle support contractor (L-3 HARRIS) in Mirabel, Quebec.
• In order to help sustain our existing CF-18s and these additional aircraft until the future fighter fleet is fully operational, this purchase includes the option to acquire up to seven additional airframes for spare parts and equipment; decision to procure these aircraft is contingent on quantity of spares that the Government of Australia makes available to Canada.
• A condition imposed by the Government of Australia on the February 2019 transfer of the first two Interim Fighter Capability Project aircraft was that engines could not be included in the sale at that time. This was due to the fact that when the original purchase of the 18 Australian F/A-18 aircraft was negotiated, the Australian government was unsure of the final timeline for phasing out their F/A-18 fleet.
  • The first two aircraft that the Government of Canada received came directly from an exercise in the United States, flown under their own power by the Royal Australian Air Force, and those engines (a total of four) were removed and returned to Australia.
  • The Interim Fighter Capability Project is planning to procure a total of 42 engines (36, with 6 spares).
  • All subsequent Interim Fighter Capability Project aircraft transfers have included engines, and to date, Canada has taken ownership of 7 Australian aircraft and a total of 10 engines.
    • The original two aircraft without engines (4); and
    • Five aircraft with engines (10).

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Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)

Key Facts

Details

• This project seeks to acquire Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems through an open and transparent procurement process.
• The systems will:
  • Complement the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) existing intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, and precision strike capabilities;
  • Support expeditionary, domestic, overland, maritime and Arctic operations;
  • Include a variety of sensors, including high resolution electro-optical systems, imaging radar and Signals Intelligence equipment. Data from these sensors will be relayed to the ground control station and CAF units. When these systems are used domestically, they will be operated in full accordance with Canadian privacy laws and statutes; and
  • Enable flexible and responsive decision-making by providing senior leadership with comprehensive and reliable intelligence.

Canadian Armed Forces Usage of RPAS

• During Canada's mission in Afghanistan, the CAF operated a fleet of unarmed Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, which have since been retired.
• The CAF does not currently operate a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems fleet. The Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Canadian Special Operations Forces operate small, mini, and micro Unmanned Aerial Systems; however, these are not in the same category as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.

Activities to Date

• In April 2019, project and expenditure authority approval for the definition phase was received.
• In May 2019, a list of Qualified Suppliers was established: L3 Technologies Harris, and United States Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
• Since May 2019, the project team has conducted multiple engagements with the Qualified Suppliers as part of the Review and Refine Requirements process to develop the Request for Proposal. These engagements have included site visits to production facilities, focused in-person and virtual meetings, and ongoing exchange of written questions and answers. The release of a draft Request for Proposal for industry comment is anticipated in the fall of 2020.

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Fixed Wing Search And Rescue (FWSAR)

Key Facts

Details

• Canada is buying 16 Airbus CC-295 aircraft equipped with a state-of-the-art sensor suite which is expected to reduce search times, make searches more effective in all weather conditions, day and night, and increase interoperability with other search and rescue assets.
• The aircraft will:
  • Detect, identify and classify objects and people, in low light and bad weather conditions, using state-of the-art sensors.
  • Communicate better with other search and rescue assets and their systems, through modern communication, navigation, and data management tools.
  • Conduct searches at low speed and low altitude, whether it's over the Rockies, the Arctic, or an ocean.
  • The new aircraft will be able to meet all three extremes of Canada's search and rescue area of responsibility.
  • Be available when needed thanks to robust in-service support, including maintenance, engineering and training support.
• Five aircraft will be based at 19 Wing Comox, with two of those allocated to the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue; three based at 17 Wing Winnipeg; three based at 8 Wing Trenton; and three based at 14 Wing Greenwood. The remaining two aircraft will be rotated through the four bases to cover periods where aircraft must undergo maintenance.

Activities to Date

• In addition to the 16 aircraft that will be delivered, Airbus delivered a training variant of the aircraft. This aircraft arrived in Comox, British Columbia on February 4, 2020, and has been installed in the new training centre.
  • The Aircraft Maintenance Trainer was utilized for the first Initial Cadre Maintenance training course in October 2020.
• Construction of a new training facility for aircrew and technicians in Comox, British Columbia is now completed, with a commissioning date in later 2021.
  • The training centre is already being used, but the final formal handover is scheduled for later in 2021. This will be the point at which all aspects of the training centre (which includes the building, the training devices, the courseware, and the training aids) have been accepted by Canada.
• The first aircraft arrived in Canada on September 17, 2020, and was officially announced in Comox, British Columbia on September 25, 2020.

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CH-146 Griffon Limited Life Extension Project (GLLE)

Key Facts

Details

• The CH-146 Griffon Helicopter is based on the commercially available Bell 412 helicopter, and was developed with unique specifications for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
• Canada's fleet of CH-146 Griffons entered into service between 1995 and 1997.
• The CH-146 can carry up to 15 people (two pilots, a flight engineer, and 12 passengers), has a maximum gross weight of nearly 5,400 kilograms, and can reach speeds up to 260 kilometres per hour.
• CH-146 Griffons provided close fire support and tactical transport during the Canadian Armed Forces' engagement in Afghanistan, reducing exposure of CAF personnel to ground threats such as ambushes, land mines, and improvised explosive devices.
• The Griffon Limited Life-Extension (GLLE) project will extend the life of the fleet until at least the mid-2030s, while the project for the acquisition of the next generation of tactical utility helicopters is developed and implemented.
• The Griffon Limited Life Extension Project will:
  • Replace a number of the aircraft's avionics systems, including communications radios and cryptographic equipment, cockpit voice and flight recorders, navigation systems, automatic flight control systems, and control display units;
  • Upgrade of the cockpit to a digital configuration;
  • Upgrade engines; and,
  • Integrate sensor systems.

Activities to Date

• January 26, 2019: The Government of Canada announced Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited will perform design work for the definition phase.
• January 11, 2019: Expenditure authority is approved and the project enters the definition phase.

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Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopter (MHLH)

Key Facts

Details

• The Canadian version of the model-F Chinook is recognized by Allies as one of the most advanced versions available.
• 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron's facility in CFB Petawawa was specially built to house, maintain, and operate the Chinooks.
• In May 2016, a Chinook deployed in support of Operation LENTUS in response to the Fort McMurray wildfires. This was the first domestic humanitarian operation for the Chinook.
• In July 2018, three Chinooks were deployed to Mali under Operation PRESENCE in support of a United Nations mission.

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Challenger Replacement

Key Facts

Details

• The Royal Canadian Air Force Challenger fleet is composed of executive-style aircraft that provide the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with the capability to conduct aeromedical evacuations, and transport senior military leadership, small military teams and equipment to theatres of operations. It also provides flights for the Governor General, government representatives, and members of the Royal Family.
• When government travel must accommodate larger groups or include locations that require aircraft to travel greater distances, the CAF utilizes the CC-150 Polaris to fulfil such tasks.

Air Safety Regulations

• Regulatory changes are being implemented worldwide to improve aviation safety. These new regulations require the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B). ADS-B is a surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation and periodically broadcasts it, enabling aircraft to be tracked by air traffic controllers.
• The two older Challenger models (601) in the Royal Canadian Air Force fleet are not compliant due to the nature of their older avionics systems. Keeping these aircraft in the fleet would have resulted in restrictions from aviation authorities, including undesirable flight profiles, routing, operating times, or refusal of access to airspace. This limits flying efficiency and opportunities, as well as the capability's operational effectiveness.

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