List of active Canadian military aircraft

Summary

This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force. List of aircraft of Canada's air forces includes all aircraft operated by the RCAF and its predecessors, current and past while List of aircraft of the Royal Canadian Navy covers all RCN aircraft.

Current aircraft edit

Source: FlightGlobal.[1]

Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant Italy/UK Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) 2000 13 15 An order for 35 AgustaWestland AW101 to serve in the anti-submarine role and replace the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King and 15 AgustaWestland AW101 to serve in the search and rescue role and replace the Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador was cancelled in 1993. Nine VH-71 Kestrels were bought from the US in 2011 to be used for spare parts.[2] Three additional aircraft to be acquired, existing aircraft to undergo a mid-life upgrade[3] Two helicopters have crashed and were written off.[4][5]
Airbus CC-150 & CC-150T Polaris France Jet Transport/tanker 1992 5 5 8 Wing Trenton - 2 transport; 2 tanker; 1 VIP. To be replaced by Airbus A330 MRTT[6]
Airbus CC-295 Kingfisher Spain Propeller Search and rescue aircraft 2019 0 16 Greenwood, Nova Scotia; Trenton, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba and Comox, British Columbia (418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron). The aircraft will be primarily operated at CFB Comox, where Airbus is building an RCAF Search & Rescue Training Facility for the CC-295. As of 2022, all 16 aircraft were expected to be delivered by the end of the year.[7] However, initial operating capability is delayed until 2025/26.[8]
Airbus CC-330 Husky France Jet Transport/tanker 2023 0 9 Replacing the Airbus CC-150 Polaris. The first CC-330 will enter service in fall 2023 for VIP transport.
BAE CT-155 Hawk UK Jet Trainer 2000 16 22 22 delivered to 419 sqn and 2 CFFTS[9]
Bell CH-139 Jet Ranger US Helicopter Trainer 1982 13[10] 13 On contract from KF Defence Programs as trainers.
Bell CH-146 Griffon Canada Helicopter Transport/SAR 1995 85[11] 100 15 SAR and 85 tactical helicopters. Eight armed in 2009 to escort CH-147 Chinooks in Afghanistan. 9 B412CF Outlaw on contract from KF Defence Programs as trainers
Boeing CC-177 Globemaster US Jet Transport 2007 5 5 At 8 Wing Trenton[12][13] Replaced contracted aircraft or assistance from allies.
Boeing CH-147F Chinook US Helicopter Transport 2013 14 15 Previous D-model variants no longer in service.[14][15][16][17][18][19] One Chinook lost in crash on training mission in 2023.[20]
Bombardier CC-144 Challenger Canada Jet Transport 1982/2002/2020 4 4 412(T) Sqn under 8 Wing Trenton, stationed at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. VIP and medevac transport.
Canadair CT-114 Tutor Canada Jet Air demonstration, pilot proficiency flying 1962 26[21] 26 24 used by "The Snowbirds"

Five used by Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE), CFB Cold Lake for test support and pilot proficiency.[22][23]

de Havilland Canada CC-138 Twin Otter Canada Propeller Transport/SAR 1970s 4 unknown 440 Sqn Yellowknife attached to 17 Wing, Winnipeg.
de Havilland Canada CT-142 Canada Propeller Trainer 1987 4 unknown 402 Sqn 17 Wing, Winnipeg
Lockheed CC-130 Hercules US Propeller Tanker/SAR 1964[24] 12 unknown 8 Wing Trenton, 14 Wing Greenwood and 17 Wing Winnipeg.[25] 4 equipped for aerial refueling (CC-130HT, modified CC-130H); 8 SAR aircraft to be replaced by new FWSAR aircraft (EADS CASA C-295) from 2018-2022[26]
Lockheed CP-140M Aurora US Propeller Maritime patrol/ASW/SAR 1980 14 18[27] 14 were modernized and retained in operational status at 14 Wing Greenwood and 19 Wing Comox. As a cost saving measure, four aircraft were retired.
Lockheed CP-140A Arcturus US Propeller Trainer/Maritime reconnaissance/SAR 1991 0 3 All three aircraft were located at 404 Sqn 14 Wing Greenwood.[28] All three aircraft have been retired. One is located at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum and two are located at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Tucson, Arizona.
Lockheed Martin
CC-130J Super Hercules
US Propeller Transport 2010 17 17 Replaced Lockheed CC-130 transport variants.
McDonnell Douglas CF-188A & B US Jet Fighter/attack 1982 76[29] 138 98 A and 40 B models originally acquired. 20 lost to accidents, 41 retired. 3 Wing Bagotville and 4 Wing Cold Lake.[notes 1][30] 18 ex-Royal Australian Air Force F-18s being delivered as an interim measure, increasing the fighter fleet to 94 CF-18/F-18A aircraft.[31]
Beechcraft CT-156 Harvard II US Propeller Trainer 2000 24 26 24 leased in 2000, 2 added in 2002.[32] Two lost in crashes.[33][34]
Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone US Helicopter ASW 2015 24[35] 28 Replaced CH-124 [36] 24 helicopters in service as of March 2022.[35][37] One airframe (Stalker-22) lost to crash on operations.[38]
IAI CU-170 Heron Canada UAV Surveillance and target acquisition 2011 2 3
UMS CU-176 Gargoyle Canada UAV Surveillance and target acquisition 2020 unknown unknown

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Unofficially "CF-18".

Citations edit

  1. ^ World Air Forces 2016. Flightglobal International. 2015. p. 13.
  2. ^ Pugliese, David (16 June 2011). "Obama's choppers purchased for parts for Cormorants". Victoria Times Colonist. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011.
  3. ^ Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada (January 14, 2020). "Cormorant mid-life upgrade - Air - Defence Procurement - Buying and Selling - PSPC Services - Home". www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.
  4. ^ https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/30696-seat-malfunction-led-to-canadian-helicopter-crash
  5. ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/human-errors-caused-helicopter-crash-probe-finds/article668813/
  6. ^ Defence, National (July 15, 2022). "Canada moves forward with the acquisition of aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force". www.canada.ca.
  7. ^ "Initial operational capability of Canada's CC-295 FWSAR aircraft delayed to 2025-26". 4 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Government of Canada provides an update on the operationalization of the CC-295 Kingfisher". 4 May 2022.
  9. ^ "CT155 Walkaround". Ipmslondon.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  10. ^ "CH-139 Jet Ranger". Royal Canadian Air Force. Government of Canada. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  11. ^ "CH-146 Griffon". Royal Canadian Air Force. Government of Canada. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Canada receives fifth and final C-17 airlifter - IHS Jane's 360". IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  13. ^ Canada, Service (August 31, 2016). "News". aem.
  14. ^ Canadian Press (August 2009). "Boeing nets $1.2B contract for 15 Chinook choppers". Archived from the original on August 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  15. ^ Pugliese, David. "It's Official: First CH-147F Delivered To Canadian Military | Ottawa Citizen". Blogs.ottawacitizen.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  16. ^ "Boeing Completes Delivery of Canadian CH-147F Chinooks Transport Helicopter". July 2, 2014.
  17. ^ 28-Oct-2010 16:13 UTC (2010-10-28). "On The Verge: Canada's $4B+ Program for Medium-Heavy Transport Helicopters". Defenseindustrydaily.com. Retrieved 2011-03-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "L-3 WESCAM to Supply Boeing with MX-15 EO/IR Imaging Sensors for Canadian Forces Helicopter Program A CH-147D (147202) was shot down in August 2010 by small arms fire which started an engine fire". Asdwire.com. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  19. ^ "Canadian Forces confirms helicopter was brought down by small arms fire". The Globe and Mail.
  20. ^ "Members killed in military helicopter crash near Garrison Petawawa, PM says". CBC News. June 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "CT-114 Tutor". Royal Canadian Air Force. Government of Canada. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE)". Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  23. ^ "AETE to join testing 'centre of excellence' in Ottawa". Skies Magazine. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  24. ^ "CC-130 Hercules". Royal Canadian Air Force. Government of Canada. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules". Ody.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  26. ^ "Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement Project - Defence Procurement - Buying and Selling - PWGSC". Archived from the original on 2016-09-04. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  27. ^ "CP-140 Aurora". Royal Canadian Air Force. Government of Canada. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  28. ^ "The Final Flight of CP140/A AC120... | Articles | News & Events - News Room | 14 Wing Greenwood | RCAF | DND/CF". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  29. ^ Government of Canada, National Defence (April 10, 2013). "CF-188 Hornet | Aircraft | Royal Canadian Air Force". www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca.
  30. ^ "Canadian CF-18 fighter jets to be kept in use until 2025". October 2, 2014.
  31. ^ "First used Australian fighter jets now flying in RCAF colours with more to come | National Post". July 14, 2019.
  32. ^ "Canadian Forces CT-156". Ody.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  33. ^ "2 military pilots eject safely before crash at 15 Wing Moose Jaw". CBC News. Jan 24, 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  34. ^ "Military pilots forced to eject while practising aerobatics: DND report". The Globe and Mail. Mar 28, 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  35. ^ a b "CH-148 Cyclone procurement project". 13 March 2013.
  36. ^ "Canada gets six Cyclone helicopters". June 19, 2015.
  37. ^ Defence, National (March 13, 2013). "CH-148 Cyclone procurement project". www.canada.ca.
  38. ^ Defence, National (April 30, 2020). "One Canadian military member killed and five missing in helicopter accident". www.canada.ca.

Bibliography edit

External links edit