Canada via the US foreign military sales program submitted a request for proposal for up to sixteen P-8A Poseidon aircraft to replace its own CP-140 Aurora fleet, Public Services and Procurement Canada said in a statement.
The Canadian government has determined that the P-8A Poseidon is the only currently available aircraft that meets Ottawa’s operational requirements, namely anti-submarine warfare and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR).
Canada has recently submitted a Letter of Request (LOR) through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program outlining Canada’s requirements and requesting an offer.
These requirements include up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft and associated equipment and initial servicing, as well as access to intellectual property and technical data.
Canada, the release added, has been looking to replace its CP-140 Aurora fleet, which was originally procured in 1980 and is scheduled to be retired in 2030.
Boeing in a separate statement said it looks forward to working with the USA and Canadian governments to finalize the sale under Washington’s foreign military sales process.
Sputnik / ABC Flash Point News 2023.
A surveillance aircraft carrying air-to-air missiles? That is against international defense treaties. They are allowed to fly near or even over enemy territory under the Geneva convention, but not like this.