List of aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force

This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated or have formerly been operated by the Canadian Forces Air Command (1968-2011) or the Royal Canadian Air Force (2011-present).

Contents

Current fixed wing aircraft

Aircraft Country of Manufacture Type Year(s) Produced Canadian Designation In Service[1] Notes
Multirole Fighter
McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet  Canada
USA		 fighter
fighter/attack
fighter lead-in trainer		 1982–1988 CF-188A
CF-188B		 72
31		 Originally Ordered 138: 98 CF-188A / 40 CF-188B. 15 CF-188A and 2 CF-188B have crashed since 1984, never during combat, killing a total of 7 pilots. 1 CF-188A and 7 CF-188B have been removed from operational service. Many of the crashed or retired aircraft are still used for parts as well as experimental and research purposes. Stationed at 3 Wing Bagotville and 4 Wing Cold Lake. Often referred to as "CF-18".
Trainers
CT-156 Harvard II USA Trainer 2000 CT-156 25 Replaced Canadair CL-41 Tutor as trainer; Leased and stationed at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. 24 originally ordered and received in 2000, 2 added in 2002.[2] 1 apparently lost, possibly 156112 when a student accidentally ejected while parked on the ramp.
BAe CT-155 Hawk UK lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) 2000 CT-155 20[3] 20 originally ordered and delivered from 2000 to 2002, 2 added in 2004 to replace 155202 and 155216 lost in crashes. 11 with 2 CFFTS and 9 with 419 squadron[4]
de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8  Canada aerial navigation and tactics trainer 1987
1989–1990		 CT-142 4 Operated by 402 "City of Winnipeg" Sqn and stationed at 17 Wing, Winnipeg
Demonstration Aircraft
Canadair CL-41 Tutor  Canada jet demonstration aircraft 1962 CT-114 25 Entered service as a basic and advanced jet trainer, replaced by the CT-156 Harvard II and CT-155 Hawk in 2000. Now used almost exclusively by 431 Air Demonstration Squadron "The Snowbirds"; no timeline or candidate to replace Tutor as jet for the Snowbirds. Originally 190 delivered.
Transports
Airbus A310  France Strategic Transport
Tanker/Transport		 1992–1993 CC-150
CC-150 MRTT		 3
2		 Originally ordered by Wardair, sold to Canadian Airlines and purchased by the military. Replaced Boeing CC-137; Stationed at 8 Wing Trenton
2 CC-150 have been converted to tankers and re-designated as CC-150T
C-17 Globemaster III USA strategic airlift 2007–2008 CC-177 4 Stationed at 8 Wing Trenton
Bombardier Challenger 600  Canada utility transport
VIP transport		 1982–1985
2002		 CC-144 6 Operated by 412(T) Sqn and based in Ottawa, but under command of 8 Wing Trenton Utility aircraft are 2 blue CL601s and VIP aircraft are white: 1 CL600, 1 CL601 and 2 newer CL604s)
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter  Canada utility transport / fixed wing search and rescue 1970s CC-138 4 Stationed at Yellowknife, NT
Lockheed C-130 Hercules USA tactical transport / fixed wing search and rescue 1964–1997 CC-130E
CC-130H
CC-130H-30
CC-130T		 8
6
2
5		 Stationed at 8 Wing Trenton, 14 Wing Greenwood and 17 Wing Winnipeg. One B[5], five E and three H aircraft lost to crashes. Eleven of nineteen remaining E models have been retired due to airframe life limits.[6] E models are being replaced with CC-130J Super Hercules, while H models will continue until 2017 in the Search and Rescue role.
Lockheed Martin CC-130J Super Hercules USA short-medium haul tactical lift aircraft 2010-2012 CC-130J 9[7] 17 to be delivered by April 2012.[6] The first CC-130J was delivered 4 June 2010.[8]
Search and Rescue
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo  Canada fixed wing search and rescue 1967 CC-115 6 Will be retired once a replacement found (either EADS CASA C-295 or Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan; all six fly for 442 Transport and Rescue Sqn at 19 Wing Comox
Maritime Patrol
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora USA Maritime Patrol / Anti-submarine Aircraft 1980 CP-140 18 Stationed at 19 Wing Comox and 14 Wing Greenwood
Lockheed CP-140A Arcturus USA maritime reconnaissance, search and rescue and fisheries & Arctic patrol 1991 CP-140A 1 CP140/A 119 is the only Arcturus remaining and is used as a training aircraft for the school at 404 Long Range Patrol and Training (LRP&T) Squadron, at 14 Wing Greenwood.[9]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Maveric UAS  United States Miniature UAVs (MUAV) 2010 Prioria Embedded Intelligence 5 The CF will procure the Maveric MUAV for $2.9 million dollars. [10] for employment by ground forces
Boeing ScanEagle / Boeing and Insitu  United States Miniature UAVs (SUAV) 2008 Boeing ScanEagle 1 Leased for 9 months for use by ground forces until the replacement of the CU-161.[11] On April 3, 2009 PWGSC awarded a contract to Insitu Inc. to provide the Canadian Forces with services for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAVs). The contract is estimated to cost $30 million.[12][13] PWGSC worked closely with DND on a competitive procurement called Project NOCTUA to lease Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) services for a two-year period, with an additional one-year option.[14]
IAI Heron  Israel unmanned aerial reconnaissance 2008–2011 CU-170 Heron 3 leased,
2 remain in service		 Leased from MacDonald Dettwiler in partnership with Israel Aircraft Industries for use in Afghanistan. Forecast to be replaced by new JUSTAS project UAV in 2011.[15]
ALIX / BAE Systems  Canada Miniature UAVs (SUAV) N/A Silver Fox [16][17] N/A
MMIST  Canada Joint precision airdrop system N/A Joint precision airdrop system [18][19] N/A MMIST awarded $3.4MM Joint Precision Airdrop System contract by Canadian Military in 2009.
MMIST  Canada Logistics Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) N/A CQ-10 Snowgoose [18][19] N/A

Current helicopters

Aircraft Country of Manufacture Type Year(s) Produced Canadian Designation In Service[1] Notes
Helicopters
AgustaWestland AW101  Italy
 Canada		 Medium SAR helicopter 2000 CH-149 14 Fifty originally ordered. In 1987 the Mulroney government announced the purchase of 35 EH-101 to replace the CH-124 Sea King and 15 EH-101 to replace the Search and Rescue CH-113 Labrador. In 1993 the Chretien government cancelled the contract. Obtained 9 Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel from the United States as spare parts for CH-149[20]
CH-47 Chinook  United States Cargo helicopter 2008 CH-147 5 Twin-rotor medium/heavy lift helicopter. Six CH-147 "D" model entered service in 2008, with a further 15 long range hybrid "F" models on order, with delivery expected 2013-2014.[21] Operationally deployed in January 2009 to Afghanistan. The future CH-147 "F" model will be fitted with MX-15 EO/IR surveillance turrets and AN/ALQ-213V Electronic Warfare Management System (EWMS).[22][23]
Bell 206  United States Trainer 1982 CH-139 1
Bell 412  Canada Multipurpose utility helicopter 1995 CH-146 98 Originally ordered 100. 85 allocated for tactical helicopter use and 15 for the search and rescue role. Eight CH-146 Griffons were modified to act as armed escorts for CH-147 Chinook helicopters in Afghanistan, starting in December 2008 and fully operational since January 2009.
SH-3 Sea King  United States
 Canada		 ASW / utility helicopter 1964 CH-124 27 Originally Ordered 41, being phased out after 46 years of service and replaced by 28 CH-148 Cyclone starting in 2010-2011.
Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone  Canada ASW / utility helicopter 2010 CH-148 1 First helicopter delivered in February 2010. Originally Ordered 28. Faced with development delays, the first 19 will be delivered in an interim configuration starting in 2010 in order to start operational testing and crew training before the end of the year. The fleet will be complete in June 2012 and all interim-configuration helicopters are to be retrofitted in 2013.[24][25]

Retired aircraft

Aircraft Canadian designation Country of manufacture Type In service # of aircraft Notes
Canadair CL-30/T-33 Silver Star (Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star) CT-133 Silver Star  United States/ Canada fighter trainer 1953–2005 576[26][27]
Lockheed C-130B Hercules CC-130B USA tactical transport 1960–1967 4 One crashed in 1967, remaining three were returned to Lockheed when Canada acquired much more capable CC-130E model aircraft.
McDonnell Aircraft F-101B Voodoo CF-101B Voodoo  United States fighter 1961–1985 112
McDonnell Aircraft F-101F Voodoo CF-101F Voodoo  United States fighter trainer 1961–1987 20
McDonnell Aircraft EF-101B Voodoo EF-101B "Electric" Voodoo  United States electronic warfare fighter 1983–1987 1
Canadair CL-90 Starfighter (Lockheed F-104 Starfighter) CF-104 Starfighter  United States/ Canada fighter 1961–1986 200
Canadair CL-90D Starfighter (Lockheed F-104D Starfighter) CF-104D Starfighter  United States/ Canada fighter trainer 1962–1985 38
Canadair CL-28 Argus CP-107 Argus  Canada Maritime Patrol / Anti-submarine Aircraft 1957–1981 13; 20
Bell Helicopters CUH-1N Twin Huey CH-135 Twin Huey  United States light utility helicopter 1971–1997 50
Bell Helicopters CUH-1H Iroquois CH-118 Iroquois  United States light utility helicopter 1968–1995 10
de Havilland Canada CS-2F Tracker (Grumman S-2 Tracker) CS-2F Tracker  United States ASW survelliance 1957–1990 100
de Havilland Canada DHC-7 CC-132 "Dash-7"  Canada STOL transport 1979–1988 2
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight Model 107-II-9 CH-113 Labrador  United States maritime search and rescue helicopter 1964–2002 6
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight Model 107-II-28 CH-113A Voyageur  United States Assault and utility transport 1964–1995 12
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou CC-108 Caribou  Canada STOL transport 1960–1971 9
Boeing 707-347C CC-137 Husky  United States transport / VIP aircraft / air refueling 1970–1997 5
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck CF-100 Canuck  Canada Interceptor fighter 1955–1981 329
Beechcraft Musketeer Model B23 CT-134 Musketeer  United States light trainer 1971–1984 24
Beechcraft Musketeer Model C23 (1982) "Sundowner" CT-134A Musketeer II  United States light trainer 1981–1992 24
Beechcraft B200 Super King Air  United States transport 1991–1995 3
Bell Helicopter OH-58 Kiowa CH-136 Kiowa  United States light attack helicopter 1971–1995 65
Bell Helicopter B206B JetRanger III CH-136  United States light observation helicopter 1981–1992 14
Boeing CH-47C Chinook CH-147 Chinook  United States heavy lift helicopter 1974–1991 9
Canadair CL-44D Yukon CC-106 Yukon  Canada transport 1959–1970 12
Canadair CL-84-1A Dynavert  Canada tilt wing monoplane 1965–1975 4
Canadair CL-66B (Convair 440) CC-109 Cosmopolitan  Canada turboprop transport 1960–1993 10
Dassault Falcon 20C CC-117  France small jet 1967–1989 8
de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk CT-120 Chipmunk  Canada single-engined piston basic trainer 1948–1972 113
de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter CC-123 Otter  Canada light single-engine piston STOL transport aircraft 1953–1982 69
de Havilland Canada DHC-7R Ranger CC-132R  Canada turboprop transport 1979–1984 2
Douglas Aircraft C-47 Dakota CC-129 Dakota  United States military transport 1943–1988 173
Grumman HU-16B Albatross CSR-110 Albatross  United States twin-radial engine amphibious flying boat 1960–1970 10
MBB/Kawasaki Heavy Industries BK-117-A3 CH-143  Germany/ Japan twin-engined medium utility/transport helicopter 1990 1
Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk.5 (North American Aviation F-86 Sabre) CF-86 Sabre  United States/ Canada fighter 1953–1975 370
Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk.6 (North American Aviation F-86 Sabre) CF-86 Sabre  United States/ Canada fighter 1954–1975 430
Canadair CF-5A (Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter) CF-116A Freedom Fighter  United States/ Canada fighter, reconnaissance 1968–1995 89
Canadair CF-5D (Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter) CF-116D Freedom Fighter  United States/ Canada fighter trainer 1968–1995 46
SAGEM Sperwer / Oerlikon Contraves Incorporated CU-161  France
 Switzerland		 unmanned aerial reconnaissance 2003–18 April 2009[15] 23

Leased and contract aircraft

The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in the past decade.

Aircraft Country of manufacture Type In service[28] Notes
Beechcraft B200 Super King Air USA light transport and utility aircraft 2009-Present Two aircraft leased from Aero Support Canada Inc. Part of the Multi-Engine Utility Flight(MEUF) based at CFB Trenton. Flown by Canadian Force pilots, they are used for light transport of personnel and equipment within North America.
Dornier Alpha Jet Type A  Germany jet trainer 2005–present 4 leased by Top Aces Consulting for CATS (Contracted Airborne Training Services); ex-German Luftwaffe aircraft; based at 3 Wing
Hawker Hunter F.58  United Kingdom jet trainer 2002–2005? 12 jets leased from Northern Lights Combat Air Support; former Swiss Air Force fighters; based at 4 Wing CFB Cold Lake
Ilyushin Il-76 Candid  Russia strategic airlift post-2001 - 2008? Contract with Toronto, Ontario based Skylink Aviation Inc for transporting equipment to Kandahar from Turkey or CFB Edmonton; contract ends with delivery of C-17
Mil Mi-17 Hip-H  Russia medium lift helicopter post-2001 - 2008? Contract with Skylink Aviation for transporting equipment and troops in the Balkans and Afghanistan
Antonov An-225 Mriya/Cossack  Ukraine strategic airlift post-2001 - 2008? Contract for use in the Middle East; contract ends with delivery of C-17
Antonov An-124 Ruslan/Condor  Russia strategic airlift post-2001 - 2008? Contract to ship supplies from CFB Trenton to Canadian Forces serving in Afghanistan; contract ends with delivery of C-17
Mil Mi-8 Hip  Russia transport helicopter November 2008 To be leased from SkyLink Aviation for use in Afghanistan
IAI Heron  Israel unmanned aerial reconnaissance 2008–2011 3 leased from MacDonald Dettwiler in partnership with Israel Aircraft Industries for use in Afghanistan, designated CU-170 Heron for $95 million for training and operations contract to keep the Herons in service until early 2011, with a C$ 35 million option for an additional 3rd year.[15][29][30]
Boeing ScanEagle  United States unmanned aerial reconnaissance 2008–2009 Leased from Boeing for use in Afghanistan for 9 months

See also


References

  1. ^ a b Aviation Week & Space Technology 2009, 26 JAN 2009 240. Web.5 Aug 2009
  2. ^ "Canadian Forces CT-156". Ody.ca. http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/CF_CT156.html. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  3. ^ "Canadian Forces Hawks". Ody.ca. http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/CAF_Hawks_detailed.html. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  4. ^ "CT155 Walkaround". Ipmslondon.ca. http://www.ipmslondon.ca/reference_articles/aircraft/CT155%20Walkaround/ct155%20walkaround.html. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  5. ^ http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19660415-0
  6. ^ a b "Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules". Ody.ca. http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/CF_CC130.html. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  7. ^ "Flying high for 50 years". Intelligencer.ca. 2010-11-15. http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2847485. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  8. ^ "Government Of Canada Proud To Deliver New Generation Of CC-130J Hercules To The Canadian Forces". DND. - June 4, 2010. http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?cat=00&id=3403. Retrieved - June 4, 2010. 
  9. ^ The Final Flight of CP140/A AC120 To Tucson, Arizona
  10. ^ "Canada buys Maveric MUAV". Flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/08/12/346050/canada-buys-maveric-muav.html. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  11. ^ "Canadian military acquiring new helicopters, drones". CBC News. August 7, 2008. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/helicopters-military.html. 
  12. ^ "New contract for small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAV) will boost economy". Insitu.com. http://www.insitu.com/index.cfm?navid=20&cid=3116. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  13. ^ "New contract for small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAV)". News.gc.ca. 2009-04-06. http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do;jsessionid=ac1b105430d79e6f347e467348dab758e01043e90ddc.e34Rc3iMbx8Oai0Tbx0SaxeNbx10n6jAmljGr0?crtr.sj1D=&mthd=advSrch&crtr.mnthndVl=12&nid=441429&crtr.dpt1D=6688&crtr.tp1D=&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.yrStrtVl=2008&crtr.kw=&crtr.dyStrtVl=1&crtr.aud1D=&crtr.mnthStrtVl=2&crtr.yrndVl=2009&crtr.dyndVl=31. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  14. ^ "Project Noctua". Casr.ca. http://www.casr.ca/doc-loi-noctua-uav.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  15. ^ a b c COPA Flight 8 (June 2009). "Canadian Forces Briefing on UAVs". http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/flight8/recent.html#UAV. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
  16. ^ "Silver Fox UAV - Canadian National Defence ALIX". Acrtucson.com. http://www.acrtucson.com/UAVgallery/silverfox/CND_ALIX.html. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  17. ^ "UAVs in Canada 2004 Update-1.indd" (PDF). http://www.acrtucson.com/Presentations_n_Publications/pdf/UAVsInCanada2004.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  18. ^ a b http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/business/story.html?id=f4fefb82-8425-47b0-b70e-15c3bfa052ab Sherpa, Snow goose devices offer link to remote work sites
  19. ^ a b http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/magazine/vol16_3/articles/CFAWC_e.asp Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre: Improving CF SAR capabilities
  20. ^ Pugliese, David (16 June 2011). "Obama’s choppers purchased for parts for Cormorants". Victoria Times Colonist. http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Obama+choppers+purchased+parts+Cormorants/5009311/story.html. 
  21. ^ Canadian Press (August 2009). "Boeing nets $1.2B contract for 15 Chinook choppers". http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090810/canada_choppers_090810/20090810?hub=Canada. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
  22. ^ 28-Oct-2010 16:13 UTC (2010-10-28). "On The Verge: Canada’s $4B+ Program for Medium-Heavy Transport Helicopters". Defenseindustrydaily.com. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/on-the-verge-canadas-47b-program-for-mediumheavy-transport-helicopters-02390/#more-2390. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  23. ^ "L-3 WESCAM to Supply Boeing with MX-15 EO/IR Imaging Sensors for Canadian Forces Helicopter Program A CH-147D (147202) was shot down in August 2010 by small arms fire which started an engine fire[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/Somnia/article1665552/ Canadian Forces confirms helicopter was brought down by small arms fire". Asdwire.com. 2009-10-27. http://www.asdwire.com/news_detail/8316/L-3_WESCAM_to_Supply_Boeing_with_MX-15_EO/IR_Imaging_Sensors_for_Canadian_Forces_Helicopter_Program.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  24. ^ "Sikorsky's Cyclone Touches Down in Canada". Defense Industry Daily. 8 March 2010. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:799666a9-f7bc-497f-a3db-993d4cb5e5a7. Retrieved 8 March 2010. 
  25. ^ "PHOTOS OF THE CYCLONE HELICOPTER AT SHEARWATER: MORE TESTS EXPECTED NEXT MONTH". Defence Watch. 12 March 2010. http://communities.canada.com/OTTAWACITIZEN/blogs/defencewatch/archive/2010/03/12/photos-of-the-cyclone-helicopter-at-shearwater-more-tests-expected-next-month.aspx. Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  26. ^ Green, William: Observers Aircraft, page 194. Frederick Warne Publishing, 1956.
  27. ^ http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/historical/silverstarlst_e.asp
  28. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
  29. ^ 02-Sep-2010 10:42 UTC (2010-09-02). "Canada, Australia Contract for Heron UAVs". Defenseindustrydaily.com. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Canada-Contracts-for-Heron-UAVs-05024/. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  30. ^ 19-Dec-2005 03:04 UTC (2005-12-19). "Canada Crafting High-End UAV Requirements". Defenseindustrydaily.com. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/canada-crafting-highend-uav-requirements-01640/. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 

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