Magellan Aerospace announces contracts to produce aircraft illumination flares

Magellan Aerospace Corporation has announced agreements valued at $48 million with the Canadian government to perform the licensed manufacture of LUU-2 illumination flares for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Magellan-produced LUU-2 illumination flares will be delivered from the Winnipeg facility’s propellant plant in Manitoba. The term of the contracts is five years.

The LUU-2 is an air-deployed high-intensity illumination flare. The RCAF utilizes the LUU-2 to support night time search and rescue operations with illumination. The flares produce about 1.8 million candlepower of visual illumination for five minutes.

“Magellan remains committed to continuing our 60-year legacy in supporting the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCAF with the delivery of critical mission support equipment and services,” said Haydn Martin, vice-president, Business Development, Marketing and Contracts, Magellan Aerospace.

In a press release issued by Public Services and Procurement Canada on March 15, The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, said: “These contracts provide the highly trained members of the Royal Canadian Air Force with the equipment they need to respond quickly and safely in potentially life-saving, nighttime search and rescue operations and help bring Canadians home. This critical procurement is another example of how our government is building a more agile and better-equipped military, while creating jobs and economic growth in Canada.”

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, said: “Search and rescue services are incredibly important to Canadians, and a core mission of our Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian Armed Forces flies approximately 1,000 search and rescue missions each year, and it is critical that we provide our women and men in uniform with the equipment they need to provide this life-saving service to Canadians. These contracts will ensure the Royal Canadian Air Force is well equipped and able to succeed day or night.”