Canada has announced a formal agreement with Boeing to acquire up to 16 of the company’s maritime patrol aircraft. The Canadian government will invest up to 10.4 billion Canadian dollars (roughly $7.6 billion) for the aircraft and associated parts, according to officials. These new Boeing Poseidon P-8A aircraft will eventually replace the aging fleet of Lockheed CP-140 Aurora currently in service.
Delivery of the Boeing aircraft is set to begin in 2026, with an expected average of one plane per month. All 16 planes are anticipated to be delivered by the fall of 2027.
Defense Minister Bill Blair stated that the existing Aurora aircraft, in service since 1980, have become increasingly challenging and expensive to support. They are also less well-suited to modern threat environments. The acquisition of the Boeing aircraft will enable Canada to fulfill its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Additionally, as part of the agreement, Boeing has committed to investing C$5.4 billion in Canada over the next ten years. This investment has the potential to create up to 3,000 jobs throughout the country.
The approval for the sale of these Boeing aircraft to Canada was granted by the U.S. State Department in June. With this agreement, Canada is taking a significant step towards upgrading its maritime patrol capabilities while strengthening its commitment to international defense partnerships.
