Canada’s air force is scheduled to receive the first of four new air tankers at the end of next year. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has provided details on the CC-330 Husky fleet, which is set to replace the aging Airbus 310s. These wide-body jets serve as the mainstays of the air force’s intercontinental fleet, facilitating troop and prime ministerial transport worldwide. Of particular importance is their role as aerial refuelling stations, crucial for enhancing Canada’s continental defense capabilities.
A spokesperson from the Department of National Defence informed CBC News that the initial new aircraft will be handed over to the RCAF in late 2027. In a deal worth about $3.6 billion, Canada acquired nine Airbus A330s in July 2023, including five previously used jets with minimal service history from Kuwait Airways and four brand-new planes. The exact number of aircraft to be delivered by the end of next year had not been disclosed until now.
Presently, three of the pre-owned Airbus planes have arrived, maintaining their original airline configurations. These aircraft are being utilized for passenger transportation, including carrying the prime minister, with one already undergoing scheduled heavy maintenance at Mirabel Airport. The fourth plane is undergoing interior and defense component upgrades in Switzerland, while the fifth is being converted into an air tanker in Spain.
The first newly constructed tanker is undergoing testing in Spain, while the other three are in the production phase in Toulouse, France. The RCAF’s fleet of CF-18s and forthcoming F-35s necessitate air tankers to conduct patrols over the Arctic efficiently. These fighter jets consume fuel rapidly and rely on air tankers to extend their operational durations and ranges. The significance of this role was underscored during the recent FIFA World Cup games in Toronto.
Canada’s new tankers will be equipped with the necessary boom and hoses to refuel all NATO-compliant aircraft. The aircraft being replaced lacked the substantial boom required for refuelling certain aircraft, such as the C-17 cargo plane and the F-35, which are common in the U.S. Air Force.
Regarding security enhancements, the new V-VIP Airbus, currently being retrofitted in Switzerland for the prime minister’s use, will feature a “self-protection suite” to defend against potential missile threats. This suite may include a combination of lasers, flares, and aluminum foil designed to counter incoming missiles. The air force anticipates that plane spotters and foreign governments will take notice of these enhancements and their capabilities.
The air force has outlined that the initial operational capability for the CC-330 Husky fleet is slated for 2028-29, with full operational capacity for all nine jets to be achieved by 2032-33. The aircraft are currently stationed in Ottawa, with new facilities under construction in Trenton, Ont., and Edmonton.
The RCAF’s existing fleet of five Airbus A310s, also known as the CC-150 Polaris, initially served as Wardair passenger jets in the late 1980s. One of the former A310s, which transported the last three prime ministers, is now on display at a museum in Trenton. Unfortunately, another A310 was involved in an incident in Guam in 2023, colliding with a parked French cargo plane. The remaining three A310s will continue in service until 2030.