Canadian Special Forces King Air 350ER ISR aircraft to arrive by 2022.

The Canadian Special Forces will receive three new Beechcraft King Air 350ER twin-turboprop Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft in 2022.

Beechcraft King Air 350ER ISR aircraft (Picture Source: Textron Aviation)

The aircraft will be based at CFB Trenton, Ontario, and will be used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions both overseas and for domestic operations.

Canada finalized an agreement with the U.S. government in April for CAD 188 million ($US 142.4 million). The total program cost is estimated to be CAD 247 million ($US 187 million), which includes acquisition of the aircraft, mission equipment, and an initial allotment of funding for in-service support.

Canadian companies were interested in supplying aircraft and mission equipment, but Ottawa determined that only the U.S. could deliver the capability fast enough. A competition will be held for long-term maintenance.

The deal was approved by the U.S. State Department back in October 2018, according to an announcement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. That announcement included an estimated $US 300 million price tag.