The Royal Canadian Air Force is seeking its most significant investment in more than 30 years. In order to protect the safety and security of Canadians while meeting international defense obligations, the country’s government is launching an open and transparent competition to replace the country’s fighter aircraft fleet by purchasing a total of 88 advanced fighter aircraft.
The open competition is meant to ensure than Canadian aerospace and defense industries and manufacturers are consulted and engaged in the aircraft procurement process. Proposals for the aircraft will be evaluated based on cost, technical requirements, and various other benefits. The evaluation of bids will also include an assessment of bidders’ impact on Canada’s economic interests.
The winning supplier will be required to make investments in Canada equal to the value of the contract. Until permanent replacement aircraft are in place and fully operational, Canada must ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces has the equipment it needs to continue to deliver its missions and meet international obligations. To help the nation through this technology upgrade period, the government of Canada is currently involved in purchasing 18 supplemental fighter jets from the government of Australia.
The aerospace industry adds about $28 billion annually in gross domestic product to Canada’s economy. The Canadian defense sector includes more than 650 firms employing highly skilled workers in high-quality jobs. For this major aircraft replacement work, a contract award is anticipated sometime in 2022, with the first replacement aircraft delivered sometime in 2025.
