Canada to Announce Winner of FWSAR Today; Airbus Tipped to Win

Canada’s Military Search-And-Rescue Planes to Be Replaced 14 Years Later (excerpt)

(Source: The Canadian Press; published Dec. 7, 2016)

OTTAWA --- One of the longest and most contentious defence procurements in Canadian history will inch closer to conclusion Thursday when the federal government announces a replacement for the military’s ancient search-and-rescue planes.

The decision comes 14 years after the Chrétien government first launched plans to replace the air force’s Buffalo and Hercules aircraft, the oldest of which have been flying since the 1960s.

What followed was a series of missteps and controversies eerily reminiscent of those that have plagued the effort to replace Canada’s aging CF-18 fighter jet fleet.

Public Procurement Minister Judy Foote and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan will announce the winning bid during an event at Canadian Forces Base Trenton alongside air force commander Lt.-Gen. Mike Hood.

Announcement to be made tomorrow on a new fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft for the Canadian Armed Forces. https://t.co/dcmmFnaSYD http://pic.twitter.com/Az26fZUm8C

— Canadian Forces (@CanadianForces) December 7, 2016

Government officials weren’t talking Wednesday, but industry sources say European aerospace giant Airbus has won with its C-295 design, beating out Italian firm Leonardo, which entered its C-27J Spartan into the multi-billion-dollar competition.

Brazilian company Embraer had also submitted a design, but was not seen as a contender. (end of excerpt)

Click here for the full story, on The Star website.

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