How much for new Canadian military surveillance planes? U.S. offers price tag – National | 24CA News
The U.S. State Department is giving the go-ahead for a possible sale of navy surveillance plane to Canada — at an estimated price of US$5.9 billion.
That would translate to roughly $8 billion in Canadian {dollars}.
The potential sale, which has not but been finalized, may see Canada buy as much as 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon planes and associated tools to exchange its growing old fleet of CP-140 Auroras.
Canada submitted a letter to the U.S. authorities in March asking for extra details about the plane, after the federal procurement division stated consultations recognized the Poseidon as the one plane that would meet Canada’s necessities for a brand new surveillance plane.
In specific, the consults pointed to the necessity for an plane able to anti-submarine warfare and C4ISR — the acronym used for the battle administration idea of command, management, communications, computer systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency stated it had notified Congress concerning the potential sale, together with the estimated price and advantages to the U.S.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada,” the company stated in a press release.
“There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
Congress has as much as 15 days to intervene and reject the sale, however officers on each side of the border say that’s unlikely given the shut relationship between the 2 international locations. No formal congressional approval is required.
Once that 15-day deadline expires and Canada agrees to the acquisition, a letter of acceptance can be despatched by the U.S. and reviewed and signed by Canada, which might enable the Pentagon to start facilitating the procurement of the planes and tools.
Public Services and Procurement Canada stated the Canadian authorities has not but dedicated to buying the Poseidon plane from the U.S. and “continues to assess its options.”
“The final decision will be based on Canada’s assessment of the offered capability, availability, pricing and benefits to Canadian industry and communities,” a press release from the division stated.
The Pentagon famous the US$5.9-billion price ticket was the best estimated greenback worth for the request, and that the precise value can be decrease relying on last necessities and different elements.
A spokesperson for Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek’s workplace instructed Global News the federal government’s determination should “ensure significant Canadian economic benefits,” but in addition careworn the significance of Canada’s present navy surveillance plane.
“The CP-140 Aurora is a critical resource for the Canadian Armed Forces, which supports a wide variety of roles — from operations management, maritime and overland intelligence to search and rescue,” the workplace’s spokesperson stated in an e-mail.
Most not too long ago, an Aurora aircraft was deployed to help in final week’s worldwide seek for the doomed Titan submersible that went lacking whereas looking for the wreckage of the Titanic. The plane offered sonar detection capabilities whereas additionally conducting searches of the ocean floor.
The surveillance planes have additionally taken half in Operation NEON, the United Nations-led mission that enforces sanctions in opposition to North Korea for its weapons program.
Last 12 months, Global News realized that Chinese fighter jet pilots had been repeatedly “buzzing” Canadian Aurora planes over worldwide waters throughout Operation NEON, flying shut sufficient to pressure the Auroras to take evasive maneuvers.
The authorities’s determination to hunt substitute surveillance plane from Boeing, a U.S.-based firm, with no aggressive bidding course of sparked criticism earlier this 12 months from Montreal-based Bombardier.
The jet maker joined forces this 12 months with U.S. rival General Dynamics on a surveillance plane with submarine looking expertise. The aircraft can be a modified model of the Global 6500 jet, geared up with tech and sensors from General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada — an Ottawa-based subsidiary of the Virginia defence contractor.
Bombardier Defense govt vice-president Jean-Christophe Gallagher instructed reporters in May that Boeing ought to be capable of show the prevalence of the Poseidon in competitors together with his firm.
“Our platform not only burns 30 per cent less fuel; it flies further, faster, higher, it delivers on all of Canada’s requirements and it does it better than the American aircraft,” he claimed.
In its March letter of request to the U.S. authorities, Canada’s procurement division stated Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon is “the only currently available aircraft that meets all of the CMMA (Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft) operational requirements” and famous the P-8’s prevalence amongst Canadian allies.
“This platform is a proven capability that is operated by several of Canada’s defence partners including all of its Five Eyes allies — the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand — as well as Norway, and South Korea. Germany has also recently purchased this platform,” the March 27 assertion stated.
—with information from the Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
