The Canadian government awarded Bell Textron Canada a contract worth approximately $ 800 million for the Mirabel-based company to extend the life of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet.
Bell Textron was the original aircraft manufacturer, of which approximately 100 were delivered to Ottawa between 1994 and 1998. These helicopters have already been used in tactical transportation, emergency response and operations missions. search and rescue operations.
The first upgraded helicopter is due to be delivered in 2024. The other aircraft in the fleet, which now includes 85 CH-146 Griffon aircraft, will be delivered no later than 2028.
Bell Textron owns the intellectual property rights to the CH-146 Griffons, making it the only company authorized to assess and define engineering changes and repairs to the aircraft, Ottawa said in a statement.
The contract called on the company to make changes to nine helicopters, then oversee the tendering process in which subcontractors will be responsible for making changes to the other 76 aircraft.
Because the contract is subject to the Canadian government’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, Bell Textron undertook to execute it in a way that would generate business opportunities for the entire Canadian supply chain, including small and medium. size of businesses, and to stimulate change in key areas of the Canadian aerospace sector.
Source: Radio-Canada
