Breaking news
Canadian Defense Minister gave green light for a fifth C-17 Globemaster III military airlifter.
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World
Aviation Defense & Security News - Canada |
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| Canadian Defence Minister gave green light for a fifth C-17 Globemaster III military airlifter | |||
The Royal Canadian
Air Force will acquire a fifth aircraft to augment the current CC-177
Globemaster III (official Canadian designation for the C-17 Globemaster
III) fleet, a move that will extend the overall service life of the
fleet by at least seven years. The announcement was made on 19 December
by Canadian Defence Minister Rob Nicholson during a visit to Canadian
Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
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Royal Canadian Air Force C-17/CC-177
Globemaster III military transport aircraft |
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“The CC-177
fleet has proven to be an extremely effective fleet, one which enables
large numbers of simultaneous operations even on short notice,"
said General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff. “Canada’s
addition of a fifth aircraft increases the Royal Canadian Air Force’s
flexibility and availability to respond to international or domestic
crises.”
The additional Globemaster will improve the Canadian Armed Forces’ response capability to both domestic and international emergencies and provide support to a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance, peace support and combat. The additional Globemaster will ease the burden on the current fleet and extend the life expectancy of the entire fleet by about seven and a half years. With the purchase of an additional aircraft, the Royal Canadian Air Force is projected to have at least three Globemasters available more than 90 per cent of the time to respond to concurrent international or domestic crises. This represents an increase of approximately 25 per cent. The current fleet of Canada's Globemasters have been playing an integral role in ferrying supplies and troops to Kuwait to establish and resupply the Canadian camp through Operation Impact. It has also delivered essential armaments and materiel to CF-18s deployed in Lithuania in support of NATO as part of Operation Reassurance and the international response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The Globemasters have also been used domestically to provide support to Operation Nanook, where they transported both equipment and personnel in Canada’s largest Arctic sovereignty operation, and on Operation Boxtop, where they provide a critical lifeline and resupply Canadian Forces Station Alert in Nunavut on a semi-annual basis. “Our Government has made the rebuilding of Canada’s defence capability a cornerstone of our policy agenda at a time when the world remains volatile and unpredictable,” said Canadian Defence Minister Rob Nicholson. “Having a fifth [Globemaster] will significantly augment the flexibility of the Canadian Armed Forces’ strategic airlift, allowing our men and women in uniform to respond quickly when and where necessary.” Using existing defence budgets, the acquisition project cost is estimated at $415 million, in addition to 12 years of integrated in-service support valued at $30 million. |
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