technology
Canada Accelerates Procurement of Six New AEW&C Aircraft to Counter Missile and Air Threats
Ottawa is fast-tracking the purchase of new Airborne Early Warning and Control planes to counter hypersonic and cruise missile threats from Russia and China. The program will emphasize Canadian content with three competing platforms under review. The government plans to provide an update in the coming months.
May 6, 4:00 AM·3m read1 source
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The Carney government wants to acquire half a dozen new Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft at a cost of more than $5 billion. The planes, packed with radar and detection equipment, will fly at altitudes of more than 10 kilometres searching for enemy missiles, aircraft and drones.
Once crews detect a threat, the aircraft can relay information to other Canadian Armed Forces systems and allies to coordinate a response.
The primary military threat facing Canada is hypersonic or cruise missiles arriving from the north, the sea or space launched by Russia or China, according to the Canadian Armed Forces. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, these threats have become increasingly sophisticated and lethal.
In an ideal world, the Canadian military wants this equipment to be as compatible as possible with its future F-35 fighters and other fifth-generation capabilities.
The Canadian government has undertaken a rigorous analysis of AEW&C options and is moving the procurement forward much faster than usual. The process is being carried out under the direction of the departments of National Defence and Industry as well as the new Defence Investment Agency.
The main options for the AEW&C contract are the Swedish GlobalEye made by Saab, the Aeris X by L3Harris, and the E-7 Wedgetail by Boeing. The Liberal Party of Canada is committed to acquiring Canadian-made Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.
The GlobalEye and the Aeris X install their radar and detection systems on Global 6500 jets manufactured in Toronto by Bombardier. L3Harris is promising to carry out the integration of the radar and detection systems on Canadian soil at its existing facilities in Mirabel, north of Montreal. The platform for the E-7 Wedgetail is a Boeing 737 manufactured in the United States.
