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Aurora Aircraft
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Acquired by the Canadian Forces in 1980, the Aurora long-range (operating distance of more than 9,200km) maritime patrol aircraft provides aerial strategic surveillance to Canada’s three coastlines. Officially called the CP-140 Aurora, the turbo-prop aircraft was originally designed for anti-submarine warfare but is extremely useful to monitor various activities, including: illegal fishing, migration, pollution and territorial sovereignty. The Canadian Forces fleet consists of 18 CP-140 Auroras. In the Arctic context, CP-140 Auroras assist JTFN to conduct sovereignty patrols. Most recently, the CP-140 Auroras were an integral part of Operation Nanook 08 -- a Canadian Arctic military exercise conducted in August, 2008.
CP-140 Aurora patrolling Ellesmere Island (August, 2007)
Photo Credit: Corporal Evan Kuelz -- Department of National Defence
The Department of National Defence disclosed in June, 2008 through its Defence Strategy that starting in 2020 it intends to replace the CP-140 Aurora fleet with 10-12 yet-to-be-named maritime aircraft. This surveillance upgrade compliments a previous October, 2007 announcement to purchase a fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) within the next five years. Able to assist the CP-140 Auroras with aerial surveillance, the UAVs can be equipped with cameras, radar, electronic sensors and possible weapons. It should be noted that issues of marginal operating conditions in the Arctic have been sighted as downfalls to the usage of UAVs.
The Department of National Defence announced in September, 2008 a $20 million upgrade to the CP-140 Aurora surveillance system to enhance the overall operating capability till the completion of fleet's service life in 2020. |
