Aircraft program needs $52M more
A program to modernize the Canadian military's fleet of surveillance aircraft has run into trouble, falling behind schedule and requiring another $52 million to complete.
The contractors working on the modernization of the CP-140 Aurora aircraft fleet warned the Department of National Defence they would be unable to meet all of its requirements within the current budget and schedule, according to a DND analysis in April on ongoing procurement programs.
Over the past 15 years, the Auroras have been put through a modernization process in various stages.
But national defence was told the last portion of the modernization was “behind schedule due to unforecasted design complexity and contractor delays in prototype aircraft modification,” according to the DND analysis provided to the Citizen. “Contractor advises that they will be unable to meet all DND requirements within current budget and/or schedule.”
DND was warned the program had fallen four years behind schedule, according to the document.
DND spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said $52 million will be provided to companies so the project can be completed. There will still be a delay in the project, but that has been reduced to about a year and a half.
Full operational capability for the modernized Aurora fleet is now planned for March 2024.
The last portion of the Aurora modernization involved the installation of satellite communications systems, a self-defence system and a military tactical-data-exchange network used by NATO countries.
The Auroras are Canada's primary surveillance aircraft, responsible for detecting illegal fishing, illegal immigration, drug trafficking and polluting along the Canadian coastlines. In addition, the planes have the role of providing aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to international missions such as in the Middle East.
Over the years, the 14 Auroras have had their outer wings replaced and new mission systems and sensors installed.
The project, which costs almost $2 billion, will allow the planes to operate until 2030 and beyond.
Two prototype aircraft are in Greenwood, N.S., and are being used for concept development, training and ground and flight testing, Le Bouthillier said. The first production aircraft has been delivered to Greenwood, and three others are undergoing modifications at IMP Aerospace in Halifax.
Earlier this year, National Defence boasted to Parliament that military equipment procurement was not only well managed but that all programs were within budget and on schedule.
“Defence equipment acquisition is well-managed,” DND noted in its 2021-22 plan recently presented to Parliament. One hundred per cent of the projects remained on their approved schedules and cost in the fiscal year 2019-20, the planning report added.
“The modernized CP-140 is a world-class capability and will remain so for years to come,” Le Bouthillier said.
The modifications that were made will ensure the Auroras can continue to fly until the Canadian Forces can replace them with a new fleet of next-generation, multi-mission aircraft, he noted.
That is expected sometime in the 2030s.