$3-billion plan in works to replace Canada's aging search planes
The federal cabinet will be asked early in the new year to give its blessing to spend $3 billion to replace Canada's geriatric fleet of search-and-rescue planes, the Canadian Press has learned.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said a proposal to replace the 40-year-old CC-115 Buffalos is on his desk and ready to be presented.
"I hope to move very early in the new year toward procurement," he said in an interview Friday.
The pitch to cabinet comes at a time of economic crisis, with a collapsing domestic auto sector, a possible recession and a looming federal deficit.
Regardless, MacKay said he believes he can make the case to replace the half-dozen aircraft, operated by the Canadian air force.
"It's a critical component of Canada's home guard [and] we need to have these aircraft," he said.
Buffalos difficult to maintain
The twin-engine Buffalos, which were ordered replaced five years ago by the Liberal government of Paul Martin, have become increasingly difficult to maintain because the manufacturer stopped production of the aircraft in 1986.
At one point, air force planners were looking to buy retired Brazilian CC-115s to cannibalize them for parts.
This year, plans were set in place to keep the six Buffalos in the air until 2015 if necessary, but the head of the air force said he's confident it won't take that long to get replacements.
"Earlier is always better with old airplanes," Lt.-Gen. Angus Watt said.
He insisted, however, that the Buffalos are safe and will continue with their duties, including operations along the West Coast where their slow speed makes them ideal for searching mountain ranges.
"People worry about aircraft life expectancy," Watt said. "They sort of have these dates, these lines in the sand and worry that the aircraft is going to fall off the edge of the Earth on that date. As long as I continue to put money into them, they can be flown safely and effectively."
Price tag $200 million more than expected
The purchase of 15 new aircraft is expected to cost around $1.5 billion, with an additional $1.5 billion tacked on for a 20-year in-service support contract, defence officials said.
The price tag is $200 million higher than when the project was conceived under the former Liberal government in late 2003.
MacKay defended the five-year delay, saying the Defence Department wanted to get the procurement right. Last year, MacKay's predecessor, Gordon O'Connor, and the then chief of defence staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, suggested the skyrocketing cost of the war in Afghanistan was also a factor in the delay.
The initial procurement, which was shelved in early 2007, was halted at the pre-definition phase among fierce competition between two European-based aerospace giants.
Italian aircraft maker Aleina, with its C-27J Spartan, has quietly lobbied the federal government and appeared to hold a slight advantage over the Spanish EADS-CASA C-295.
Watt denied there was — or will be — any favouritism.
"We don't have a clear aircraft in mind. It would depend what manufacturers bring to us," the chief of air staff said.
Opposition critics have said the unacceptable delay in replacing the search-and-rescue plane has made a mockery the Conservative government's "Canada First" defence strategy.
The Tories came to office in 2006 promising to rebuild the Canadian Forces and laid out as much $20 billion for heavy-lift aircraft, helicopters and tanks.
The air force relies on both the Buffalo and an aging fleet of C-130 Hercules cargo planes for fixed-wing search.