Manned airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

Explore the procurement project for an aircraft to support the Canadian Armed Forces’ domestic and international operations.

The MAISR project will be delivered through 2 separate but interrelated procurements.

Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits policy applies to both procurements.

The first step involves the acquisition of aircraft, the acquisition and integration of prime mission equipment and training. Through the United States (US) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, the Government of Canada is acquiring 3 Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft. In August 2020, the US government awarded a contract to the L3 Harris to begin the integration of the prime missions systems of the aircraft. The 3 aircraft are now with L3 Harris and are expected to be fully integrated and delivered to the Government of Canada in 2023.

On August 31, 2020, following extensive engagement with industry, the competition was initiated with a Request for Proposal published on Buy and Sell to provide in-service support to maintain the new fleet of aircraft for a potential 22.5 year period. On May 13, 2021, the Government of Canada announced an initial 8-year in-service support and maintenance contract award to Team CERTAS, consisting of General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, from Ottawa, Ontario, and Voyageur Aviation Corporation, from North Bay, Ontario (estimated value of $72 million). Upon satisfactory performance, the contract could be extended for over 20 years.

Significant industry engagement and consultation has been conducted since 2013, including various Letters of Interest to solicit industry feedback on how to procure the aircraft and sustainment services. The resulting strategy is to procure the aircraft and mission equipment with related support through a government-to-government agreement, and long-term in-service support to maintain the aircraft and associated systems through a competitive process.

• Canada expects to receive and fully integrate the aircraft in 2023
• The aircraft will be located at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario
• April 26, 2019: Canada signed an agreement to purchase the aircraft and associated mission systems through the United States FMS program
• The announcement provided detailed information about Canada’s requirements and an estimated value of the sale, which includes a significant contingency
• October 2018: The United States government announced its intent to sell 3 Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft and associated mission systems to Canada
• April 2018: The FMS request was initiated

• May 13, 2021: Contract announced to Team CERTAS, consisting of General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, from Ottawa, Ontario, and Voyageur Aviation Corporation, from North Bay, Ontario for an initial 8 years of in-service support and maintenance
• August 31, 2020: Release of the formal Request for Proposals to potential suppliers
• Feedback received was considered when finalizing the formal Request for Proposals
• May 2, 2019: A draft Request for Proposals was released to potential suppliers for their review and feedback
• October 30, 2018: Interested suppliers attended another information session to receive updates from the Government of Canada and visited the base in Trenton, Ontario. Additional one-on-one meetings were also held
• June 4, 2018: An information session for industry regarding the in-service support program was held in Gatineau, Quebec. This included an information session and one-on-one meetings with interested suppliers
• April 12, 2018: A Letter of Interest was released