The U.S. State Department has given preliminary approval for the potential sale of military surveillance aircraft to Canada, estimated to cost around $5.9 billion. The sale, which is still pending finalization, would involve Canada purchasing up to 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon planes and related equipment to replace its aging fleet of CP-140 Auroras.
Canada specifically requested information about the Poseidon aircraft due to its suitability for anti-submarine warfare and C4ISR capabilities. The consultation process determined that the Poseidon was the only aircraft that could meet Canada’s requirements for a new surveillance plane.
The Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress about the potential sale, emphasizing that it will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Congress has 15 days to intervene and reject the sale, but it is unlikely given the close relationship between the two countries. No formal congressional approval is needed.
Once the 15-day deadline expires and Canada commits to the purchase, a letter of acceptance will be shared and reviewed by both countries. This will allow the Pentagon to facilitate the procurement of the planes and equipment.
Canada has not yet made a final decision on purchasing the Poseidon aircraft and continues to assess its options. The price tag of $5.9 billion is the estimated maximum value, and the actual price will depend on the final requirements and other factors.
While the Canadian government aims to ensure significant economic benefits, it also recognizes the importance of the current CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft. The CP-140 Aurora supports various roles, including operations management, maritime and overland intelligence, and search and rescue.
In recent operations, the Aurora plane provided sonar detection capabilities during the search for the Titanic wreckage and participated in Operation NEON, enforcing sanctions against North Korea. However, Chinese fighter jets have posed challenges to the Auroras during these missions.
The government’s decision to consider Boeing for replacement surveillance aircraft without a competitive bidding process drew criticism from Bombardier, a Montreal-based company. Bombardier joined forces with General Dynamics to develop a surveillance aircraft with submarine hunting technology, claiming their platform excels in fuel efficiency and performance compared to the Poseidon.
Despite competing interests, Canada’s procurement department concluded that the P-8A Poseidon is the only aircraft currently available that fulfills all of Canada’s operational requirements. They noted that the Poseidon is already operated by Canada’s defense partners, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, and Germany.
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