Canada Pauses $800 Million Griffon Helicopter Upgrade While Keeping Separate $2.2 Billion Sustainment Contract Active

The federal government has ordered a pause on life-extension work for the Royal Canadian Air Force's CH-146 Griffon helicopters, Cbc reported. The $800-million Griffon Limited Life Extension contract, signed in May 2022, was recently suspended after notification to Bell Textron Canada Ltd. in Mirabel, Quebec.

The pause allows reassessment of project scope in light of cost, schedule, evolving complexity and planning for a replacement fleet, said Laura McIntyre-Grills, a spokesperson for the Department of National Defence. The RCAF operates 82 Griffon helicopters that first entered service in the early 1990s as a militarized version of the Bell 412EP.

Bell Textron showcased the first refurbished Griffon in 2024.

Upgrades under the contract include modernized communication and navigation systems, cockpit voice recorders, displays, sensors and engines. It remains unclear how many helicopters have received improvements so far. "We remain committed to working collaboratively with the federal government to adapt the GLLE program accordingly," said Lindsey Hughe, a spokesperson for Bell Textron.

A separate $2.2-billion sustainment contract awarded in January 2024 is intended to keep the CH-146 fleet flying until 2039. Both the air force and the company are determining whether all or only a select number of Griffons will receive the upgrades, Cbc reported.

"The project is being refined to focus on targeted upgrades that address obsolescence, to support continued safe and effective operations and sound investments," McIntyre-Grills said.