I can see them in various South American Countries or perhaps the Philippine's. The Argentinians just took possession of two ex Norwegian P-3's that underwent a major rebuild at IMP in Halifax a few years ago. Our 14 CP-140's went through the same frame reinforcements not to mention the electric bits. Old frames with LOTS of capability.
CMMA - replacing the CP140 Aurora
- Thread starter Eye In The Sky
- Start date
I was actually thinking more along the lines of a role for us. We have a border that needs securing now...
Czech_pivo
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 2,561
- Points
- 1,260
Why not repurpose them for border surveillance and turn them over to the RCMP?
Would be a great PR move to appease the US.
Czech_pivo
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 2,561
- Points
- 1,260
Even offer to operate them jointly along the US border with Mexico as an air version of OP Caribbe.
not as long as there is a threat over our heads
RangerRay
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 4,522
- Points
- 1,260
Let me rephrase that…
No. No more appeasement. That means no more useless border security theatre and switch focus to real solutions to our national security issues. I’d rather we sold the Auroras to Air Spray and Conair to convert them into fire suppression tankers, if feasible.
Czech_pivo
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 2,561
- Points
- 1,260
I understand your comments but I’d still say that we don’t do enough border security today. There is too much that’s occurring in the Cornwall area that shouldn’t t be. There’s too much illegal border crossings occurring that shouldn’t.
Maybe not all 14 Auroras should be assigned to the RCMP then, maybe 8 and the remaining 6 possibly converted as you suggest to fire suppression or used somehow in the Arctic.
- Reaction score
- 2,215
- Points
- 1,060
Well the RCMP is looking for some NEW birds
Czech_pivo
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 2,561
- Points
- 1,260
Voila, maybe the Aurora’s could be re-purposed for them.
Buy all the rest.
IKnowNothing
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 1,428
- Points
- 990
We also have the entire Arctic that could put a FLIR / WESCAM / Search Radar package to use- especially if we traded the ASW gear for ASM capability.
GR66
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 4,593
- Points
- 1,160
I'm guessing there's a pretty good reason (or a bunch of reasons) that we are replacing the CP-140's. If other Government departments have a serious need for patrol aircraft why don't we put on our big boy pants and buy them new ones rather than 40+ year old hand me downs?
lenaitch
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 4,206
- Points
- 1,160
I agree. So much of what we have started doing is just throwing hardware, bodies and money onto the theatre's stage. I don't see the point of having a heavy, long-legged aircraft doing circuits over Cornwall, or flying along a prairie border than could more easily and cheaply surveilled by something a lot smaller and cheaper.
This would be another example of trying to turn the CG or CBSA into something they are not by simply throwing stuff at them.
- Reaction score
- 18,295
- Points
- 1,010
I am pretty sure that our Auroras (P3s) are close to, if not THE high time aircraft in the world for that fleet.
They need to go to sleep.
IKnowNothing
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 1,428
- Points
- 990
I agree when it comes to seconding them to other departments- but given the changing geopolitical realities I do question whether "pretty good reasons for acquiring a long term upgrade" =/= "pretty good reasons for immediately divesting when the upgrade arrives." At risk of cross contaminating threads- the RCA has pretty good reasons for needing SPG's- but is the (potential) decision to divest the M777's based on their lack of utility, or PY/budget constraints that may/should be lifting.
Of course- this is all predicated on the recent refits giving them some useful life left, if not- moot.
RangerRay
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 4,522
- Points
- 1,260
If there is a real need for that capability, and the aircraft are still viable, sure. But only if there’s a real need and it’s in our national interest, not to appease the regime to the south with border security theatre. They have made it clear that they aren’t acting in good faith and appeasement for the sake of appeasement will lead to more unrelated demands on our sovereignty.
The RCMP have an interesting policy rule about their aircraft. None are to be over seven years old. So about that Aurora fleet bought in 1980.....
Halifax Tar
Army.ca Fixture
- Reaction score
- 13,130
- Points
- 1,260
The folks in Serge are ...specialWait....
You can do that ?
Halifax Tar
Army.ca Fixture
- Reaction score
- 13,130
- Points
- 1,260
Is this a union thing ?
foresterab
Full Member
- Reaction score
- 451
- Points
- 880
Here's a counter proposition based upon a recent civilian fleet purchase:
Daher Aircraft delivers the first TBM 960 “birddog” airplanes to Conair in support of wildfire air attack missions - Daher
The utilization of Daher’s TBM and Kodiak aircraft families in multi-mission duties has expanded with deliveries of two new-production TBM 960s as “birddog” airplanes for the Conair Group Inc.’s operations in fighting wildfires. Conair’s selection of the TBM 960 – which was made following this...
www.daher.com
Bird dog aircraft (the ones that guide in and direct the water bombers) usually have a FLIR unit on them plus some have additional surveillance. It's all civilian grade units but depending on the bird dog and jurisdiction they may have more options. I don't need a P-3 if all I want is long range patrols...this works as well. Heck even little Censsna 172's work if all you want is aerial eyes...although that might not be what you want in a semi-secured security role.
Or you build on sister agency fleets like DFO's:
Government of Canada launches new aircraft to improve conservation and protection of our oceans - Canada.ca
Fishery officers require state-of-the-art aerial surveillance equipment to continue the important work they conduct protecting Canada’s marine resources, ensuring compliance with fisheries management measures and enforcing the Fisheries Act from coast to coast to coast.
Similar threads
