Life extension for 10 CP-140 Auroras

The fleet is being reduced from 18 to 10. This contract is to keep them flying until 2020--when they will be 40 years old (text of the government news release):

20:11 GMT, November 18, 2008 Gatineau | The Canadian Minister of Public Works and Government Services, the Honourable Christian Paradis, the Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, and the Minister of Industry, the Honourable Tony Clement, today announced that the Government of Canada awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for the purchase of ten structural life extension wing kits for the CP-140 Aurora aircraft.

The CP-140 Aurora aircraft is the Canadian Force's long-range patrol airplane. The CP-140 Aurora Structural Life Extension Contract will ensure that the fleet continues to meet airworthiness standards and remains operational for many years.

“This contract demonstrates our continued commitment to the Canadian Forces,” said Minister Paradis. “We are procuring critical operational equipment as quickly as possible for the men and women of our Forces, while getting the best value for Canadian taxpayers.”

“These Aurora core structural upgrades will ensure the Canadian Forces can continue to protect Canada’s maritime and northern sovereignty,” said Minister MacKay. “And they are in line with the Government’s pledge to provide Canada’s military with the equipment they need to do their job.”

The Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy applies to this contract, meaning that Lockheed Martin will generate one dollar of economic activity in Canada for every dollar it receives from the contract.

“Through the industrial regional benefits policy, we are making sure that every contract dollar awarded is invested back into the Canadian economy,” said Minister Clement.


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Backgrounder
The CP-140 Aurora aircraft is the Department of National Defence's long-range patrol airplane used for maritime surveillance on Canada's east and west coasts and throughout the Arctic.

DND has a requirement to extend the structural life of their aircraft, which includes the acquisition of ten structural life extension wing kits and engineering support services.

To ensure a fair and transparent process, on June 11, 2008, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) posted an Advance Contract Award Notification (ACAN) on MERX™, the government's electronic tendering service. As no other supplier submitted a Statement of Capabilities that satisfied the requirements of the ACAN, PWGSC issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to Lockheed Martin.

The Lockheed Martin contract, valued at approximately $156 million U.S., includes engineering support services to extend the life of the Canadian Forces CP-140 aircraft.

Through industrial and regional benefits, this contract will also boost the economy by providing for 100 percent of the contract in direct and indirect industrial and regional benefits. This means that under the terms of the contract, Lockheed Martin is required to invest in the Canadian economy, dollar for dollar, what it receives from the contract [emphasis added].

The CP-140 Aurora Structural Life Extension Contract will ensure that the aircraft continues to be a valuable Canadian Forces asset, flying safe and productive missions in its maritime and land surveillance roles until 2020...

I used the defpro.news link for the photo. This is headline at the Government of Canada site:

Canadian Forces and economy get boost from contract to upgrade military aircraft

Jobs, jobs, jobs. And I don't see much "boost" for the CF given the reduction in the fleet size--except the new wing kits will mean the aircraft won't be going into the drink (sorry for the sarcasm).

So far there is no official program for a replacement aircraft--see here. Though I'm pretty sure the Air Force would like the Boeing P-8A Poseidon. But, since I wonder how many of those we might be able to afford, why not consider

A civilian maritime patrol aircraft fleet?

to relieve the Air Force of the non-military missions its patrol aircfraft perform and to rationalize and make more effective the government's existing civilian patrol activities?