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The RCAF accepts delivery of its fifth CC-177 Globemaster aircraft. Katrine Laframboise Photo
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has accepted delivery of its fifth CC-177 Globemaster aircraft, increasing its flexibility to respond to both domestic and international emergencies and support a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance, peace support and combat.
Defence Minister Jason Kenney joined Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin, Commander of the RCAF, to witness the aircraft’s inaugural landing in Canada. The aircraft, tail number 705, augments the current fleet of four CC-177 Globemasters operated by 429 Squadron and based at 8 Wing Trenton.
Quick Facts
- The additional Globemaster will extend the life expectancy of the entire fleet by about seven and a half years.
- With the purchase of an additional aircraft, the RCAF is projected to have at least three CC-177 aircraft available more than 90 per cent of the time to respond to concurrent international or domestic crises. This represents an increase of approximately 25 per cent.
- The current fleet of CC-177s has been playing an integral role in ferrying supplies and troops to establish and resupply the Canadian camp in Kuwait through Operation IMPACT. It has also delivered essential materiel to CF-18s deployed in support of NATO as part of Op Reassurance and the international response to the Putin regime’s aggression against Ukraine.
- The CC-177s are also used to support domestic operations, including more than 75 missions in support of Canada’s North, including delivery of 1.5 million litres of fuel, seven million pounds of equipment and 3,120 personnel to locations such as Alert, Iqaluit, and Resolute Bay.
- Using resources the Government had previously set aside for National Defence to implement the Canada First Defence Strategy, the acquisition project cost is estimated at $415 million, including the cost to purchase the aircraft, spare engine, ancillary equipment, specialized systems, project costs and contingency for exchange rate fluctuation. The cost for 12 years of integrated in-service support for the additional aircraft is estimated at $30 million.
