MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Government of Canada – in French
March 8, 2024 – Trenton, Ontario – Department of National Defense
Today, the Minister of National Defence, the Honorable Bill Blair, visited Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, home of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) air mobility operations in Canada. Minister Blair announced an investment of $850 million to modernize CFB Trenton so that it can accommodate the new fleet ofstrategic air transport and refueling aircraft CC-330 Husky from Canada.
This $850 million investment will fund significant infrastructure and airfield work in Trenton, including the development and design of a two-bay hangar, apron upgrades and taxiways, new runways, and other supporting infrastructure. These improvements will allow CFB Trenton to serve as the eastern primary operating base for the new fleet of CC-330 Husky transport and refueling aircraft.
Minister Blair reports that as part of the Strategic Air Transport and Refueling (ASTRV) project, Canada is rapidly acquiring nine CC-330 Husky aircraft, almost double the size of the previous fleet. Two Husky aircraft have been delivered to Canada so far – the first arrived in 2023 and the second, Husky 003, entered the CC-330 fleet on February 16, 2024.
Although currently configured for transport, the aircraft will eventually undergo conversion to become a multi-role transport and refueling aircraft. The CC-330 will provide the RCAF with greater flexibility to accomplish a variety of air mobility missions, including air refueling, passenger transport, air medical evacuation and strategic lift.
Additionally, Minister Blair welcomed a new aircraft to the Canadian Armed Forces fleet. He toured the first of three new CE-145C Vigilance aircraft, which arrived in Trenton on February 23, 2024. The CE-145C Vigilance is a modified Beechcraft King Air 350ER turboprop aircraft produced by L3 Harris, Texas, in as part of the Airborne and Piloted Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Capability Project (PRSRAP). It will provide Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) with a new airborne and piloted intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. Equipped with advanced sensors and secure communications equipment, these devices will provide the CAF with a critical new capability, leading to improved situational awareness and decision-making during ground operations. They will primarily be used to support CAF operations.
Minister Blair noted that as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the RCAF, it is undergoing its greatest transformation in a generation. Since 2022, the Government of Canada has completed the acquisition or upgrade of approximately 140 new or refurbished aircraft for the RCAF, including 88 new F-35 fighter jets, nine CC-330 Husky strategic transport and aerial refueling aircraft, up to 16 new P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft, 16 new or upgraded Cormorant helicopters And11 SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft systems. This is a monumental recapitalization of the RCAF that will strengthen Canada’s contributions to NATO and NORAD and improve the RCAF’s ability to protect Canada.
These projects also generate significant economic benefits for Canada. The ASTRV project could create or maintain 1,050 jobs per year in Canada and generate an annual contribution of $145 million to GDP over the duration of the contract. The acquisition and maintenance contracts for the PRSRAP project could create or maintain approximately 65 jobs per year and generate an annual contribution of $7.5 million to Canada’s GDP over the life of the contract.
Minister Blair was accompanied by General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defense Staff, Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander of the RCAF, and Brigadier-General Richard Schmidt, Deputy Commander of CANSOFCOM.
Later today, Minister Blair will participate in a roundtable discussion with female CAF members to mark International Women’s Day and Women in Aviation Week.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
