Canada purchasing up to 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry announced that Canada has finalized a government-to-government agreement with the United States government for the acquisition of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for up to an additional two. “After significant engagement and thorough analysis, we are confident that the P-8A delivers the best anti-submarine and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for our country. The aircraft will operate seamlessly with allies. This platform is a proven capability that is operated by all our Five Eyes allies-the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand-as well as other defence partners. The estimated investment for this project is $10.4B CAD; it includes up to $5.9B USD for the P-8A, associated equipment, training devices and sustainment set-up. The balance will cover additional investments in simulators, infrastructure and weapons,” the Department of National Defence stated in a press release. Boeing is the maker of the P-8 Poseidon.