Canada has updated its procurement plans, but the new Liberal government is reviewing its defense policy and defense minister Harjit Sajjan has prioritized replacing aging Boeing CF-18 fighters.
According to the 2016 online Defense Acquisition Guide, approval to begin the definition phase of the Future Fighter Capability program is scheduled for 2017, leading to a request for proposals (RFP) in 2017-19 and contract award in 2018-20. Canada’s CF-18s are now scheduled for retirement in 2025.
But the guide cautions all projects are subject to government approval and could change. Justin Trudeau’s government plans to complete its defense review by year’s end and publish the new policy early in 2017. The Defense Acquisition Guide will be reworked for 2017 to reflect any changes.
Unveiling its first budget in March, the Trudeau government shifted C$3.7 billion ($2.8 million) for large-scale defense procurements from 2015-21 to future years, arguing this aligned with the current timing of National Defense’s major equipment acquisitions.
Addressing the Cansec defense show in Ottawa on May 26, defense minister Sajjan said replacing the CF-18s needs to be dealt with quickly, with Canada’s original plan to buy Lockheed Martin F-35s having been derailed largely because of political opposition from the Liberals before they came to power in 2015.
The delays in selecting a replacement have forced Canada to formulate a project to extend the estimated life expectancy (ELE) of the CF-18s to 2025. This is expected to cost somewhere in the range of C$250-500 million. An RFP is scheduled in 2017, leading to contract award in 2018.
Other projects related to extending the CF-18’s service life include acquiring advanced jammers and expendables at a cost of C$50-100 million to keep the fighter relevant to 2025. Canada also will have to continue procuring operational flight program software updates beyond the original planned final load in 2017. Being consolidated with the ELE program, this is estimated to cost C$50-100 million.
An outstanding requirement to acquire an advanced short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9M on the CF-18 is included in procurement plans at an estimated cost in the C$250-500 million range. An options analysis is planned for 2018, leading to an RFP in 2012 and contract in 2022.
Also planned is an advanced air-to-surface weapon for the CF-18, at an estimated cost of C$50-100 million, with an options analysis beginning in 2017, RFP in 2109 and contract in 2020.
A low-collateral-damage weapon of less than 500 lb. is planned at an estimated cost on the C$50-100 million range, with an options analysis in 2017, RFP in 2018 and contact award in 2019.
All these weapons are required to be compatible with the chosen replacement fighter. Acquisition of an advanced long-range air-to-air missile for the new fighter is included in the guide, at an estimated cost of C$250-500 million, but the timeline is after 2026.
New for 2016 is a Fighter Lead-in Training project to improve conversion training. An options analysis is planned for 2017, leading to contract award in 2019. The existing Future Aircrew Training project aims to replace contractor-provided basic and advanced training programs with a contract award in 2021.
Other projects listed in the acquisition guide include:
• Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue: The RFP has closed, with the Airbus Military C-295, Embraer KC-390 and Leonardo C-27J competing to replace aging Lockheed CC-130Hs and de Havilland Canada CC-115s.
• Canadian Miltimission Aircraft: Replacement of the Lockheed CP-140A Aurora with a C4ISR (command, control, communications and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) aircraft, with contract award scheduled for 2025.
• Extension of the Airbus CC-150 Polaris tanker/transport service life beyond 2026 at an estimated cost of C$100-250 million and contract award in 2020. A project to replace the CC-150 is pending the choice of a replacement fighter, but contract award is anticipated for 2022.
• Mid-life upgrade of the AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopter to extend life to at least 2040 at an estimated cost of up to C$1.5 billion and contract award in 2019
• Life extension for the Bell CH-146 Griffon to 2031, with contract award in 2019, until it can be replaced under the Tactical Reconnaissance Utility Helicopter project beyond 2026.