Canada Looking at the A330 MRTT procurement
 

To meet both its Tanker and VIP roles, rather like the UK does.

https://simpleflying.com/airbus-a330-canadian-government-jet/?utm_source=Bibblio


..

Plenty of commonality with NATO and friendly nations too, which is helpful.

Well they're not going to buy the B767.........

Just toying with them?

Where's Beagle when you don't want a "Frankentanker"

IG

Boeing's lawyers effectively killed Bombardier's commercial transport business, I don't think Canada will be an available market for Boeing again for some time.

Nah, Boeing didn't help, but Bombardier did that to themselves (and remember the trade case was eventually thrown out). The C-Series business case was so severely flawed that it was never going to be a financial success for Bombardier.
If the A220 series does become a profit center for Airbus, all the thanks will be due the Canadian taxpayer...

If the MRTT is an off-the-shelf solution to a fairly generic and previously solved need, why choose a more complicated and expensive design that continues to struggle to get off the shelf? The KC-46 promises to solve a variety of needs, one of which (the primary?) is tanker. Someday, years after it was promised, it may be a fully, no-holds-barred, operational tanker. If we get half the lifetime and utility out of the KC-46 that we did from the KC-135, it will be a miracle.

The fleet that's being replaced, the CC-150s, were originally Wardair A310-300s four of which were converted to combi-freighters. The CC-150Ts were upgraded from the later for two-point hose and drogue refuelling and a new mission suite.

Support for allies leads me to the question of refuelling systems. Although the A330 MRTT usually comes with a boom, I wonder if a perceived lack of a domestic requirement means:
1) The fancy new KC-46 boom isn't required.
2) The Bug replacement is expected to be probe equiped with implications for the F-35 as a participant in the selection competition

Mind you its probably non-fuel payload and passenger capacity requirements that were the real deciders. Especially if the fleet split is like for like.

The article linked to by the OP states that Ottawa 'will outline the specific capabilities needed. An RFP (request for proposal) is expected to be issued later this year.' An RFP when you are down to one supplier and one basic product...hmmm.
.
(GlobalNav posted while I was composing this but I think it still stands)

The federal government departments (including defence) in Canada are very francophile; Airbus could sell them anything.

Surprising. After all, Boeing includes free tools and miscellaneous loose hardware behind the interior panels.

That was always the case, remember Bombardier got started in corporate aviation with the Challenger, aka 'Fat Albert' for its designer, the late Billy Lear.
That was a $2B gift to Bombardier from the Canadian taxpayer, so we have a pattern.
Boeing spat in the soup, so no soup for Boeing for a long time.

If they wait another few years, we'll sell them our old ones. Cheap! :E
RAAF to Canada

It must be possible to buy second hand A330s from the current stored worldwide glut and have them converted to the MRTT role.

N707ZS, that option would indeed have been possible. Basically the same sort of MRTT conversion for the A330 which Elbeflugzeugwerke did for the A310. However, Airbus would far sooner sell a brand-new full-fat A330MRTT than sanction an 'A330MRTT-lite' conversion with no boom, 2 pods and a simpler Fuel Operator's Station including a Mission Computer System which actually works!

If the RCAF elects for a CF-188 replacement which needs boom refuelling, the current A330MRTT is the better solution. But if they restrict themselves to probe-and-drogue AAR, then an A330MRTT-lite makes better sense.

With so much underfloor space for cargo, the A330 does not need additional fuselage tanks or a KC-46A style extended centre tank. For passenger carrying, the seat can be left in situ rather than passengers having to use 'palletised' seatling in the windowless KC-46A with its 'rendition-class' seating.

Currently, the assumption is that the CC-150T will remain in RCAF service until at least 2028.

A couple of the ex Qantas A330s were converted to tankers for the RAAF.

Or, as it's better known, Voyager! :-)

It isn't. The Voyager has the over-complicated A330MRTT modifications minus a boom. Subtly different.

Canada's defense procurement has a colorful, very questionable track record, lately. Be it useless British cast off subs, scandals about building naval vessels, new fighter jets, us Canadians seem to continually elect folks without a shred of common sense about equipping our forces. The more some say things will change, the more they keep repeating mistakes of yesteryear!

Trying to balance too many things - capability (want to be in second tier), cost (want to be cheap), local jobs ('nuff said), local jobs spread across a continent (even worse)

You must not live here if you think DoD is Francophile lol, must be why we have so much French kit (0, zilch, nada) in our Forces! I would take a Rafale over a bloated (for our needs) F35 any day.

In the category of selling us anything, those Victoria class submarines from the UK are hard to beat (no offense to my UK friends here, you got us!)

Inform yourself before posting such drivel. The Airbus tanker would more than our needs without the reinventing the wheel aspect of the Boeing product.

...and now buying our cast off fighter junk! We do like our KC-30's/Super Hornets/Growlers/F-35's.....

Certainly the RCAF guys who took part in OP MOBILE rated the Rafale very highly. Agile, twin-engined safety and it has a vastly higher refuelling rate than the Typhoon. Or the F-35B, for than matter!

Quite which variant of F-35 would best suit the RCAF is difficult to assess. Certainly noe the -B; the -C is more expensive than the -A but unlike the -A, is fitted for probe and drogue AAR and has a greater internal fuel capacity. The -A could be fitted for probe and drogue, but LM would doubtless demand huge R&D costs to be paid by Canada.

The decision between the Hornet E/F, some variant of F-35 or the Gripen E will be made in 2022. For reliable operation in cold climes, the Gripen has proved to be outstanding.

But if the RCAF turns down the F-35, no doubt the F-18E/F will be chosen....eh?

Yeah, I have the feeling it will be the Super Hornet (which I still prefer over the F-35). Would love the Grippen and Rafale to be given a fair shake!

Fixed it for you

DOD isn't, but public works canada(ottawa) sure is

Or maybe is it only the Translation Bureau ;)

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022...nker-aircraft/

Canada plans to buy four new Airbus tankers, requests proposal

VICTORIA, British Columbia — The Canadian government expects to award a contract next year to Airbus for four new strategic tanker transport aircraft, according to the country’s National Defence Department. The cost of the contract is yet to be determined, but the government has allocated up to CA$5 billion (U.S. $4 billion) to purchase the planes.

Airbus was designated as the only supplier qualified to provide the tankers to the Royal Canadian Air Force. As a result, a formal request for its proposal for the planes was issued to the firm on May 13, 2022. National Defence Department spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande said the government has not yet received the proposal.

“Once Airbus’ response is received, an assessment and negotiation will occur,” Lamirande said, noting that a contract is expected to be awarded by April 2023.

The Canadian Armed Forces found the Airbus A330 MRTT, a refueling and transport plane, is the only aircraft qualified for the job. The Air Force wants the first of the A330s operational by 2028.

The new aircraft are part of Canada’s Strategic Tanker Transport Capability project, meant to replace the existing CC-150 Polaris aircraft flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Those refueling and transport planes have been in operation since 1992.

Originally six new aircraft were to be purchased as part of the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability project. But on July 14, Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the military would acquire two used Airbus A330s and eventually upgrade those to become part of the Air Force’s tanker and transport fleet. Canada acquired those used aircraft, built in 2015, from International Airfinance Corp., a global aircraft leasing company, in a deal worth about $102 million.

Lamirande said the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the commercial aviation industry created favorable market conditions to procure the used A330-200 aircraft at the best value for Canada. The government is scheduled to receive the aircraft in December 2022 and April 2023, and then ferry them to the country shortly after, she added.

“There are a number of predelivery and acceptance activities that need to be completed before any used aircraft will arrive in Canada” Lamirande said. Those include scheduled preventive maintenance, limited retrofit to prepare for service within the Air Force, painting of the aircraft, final delivery inspection and acceptance checks.

The used aircraft are currently configured for long-haul commercial use. They will initially be used for an interim period to perform cargo and troop airlift operations, said Lamirande. The planes could also be used to transport civilian passengers during humanitarian relief operations, as well as fly VIPs, such as Canada’s prime minister.

These used aircraft will, after an interim period of operations, be turned over to Airbus for conversion to the MRTT configuration as the other four new aircraft expected to be purchased.

and four are ordered

https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/p...bus-a330-mrtts

cheers

..and 5 to be converted.

8 boom and drogue tankers, 1 VIP. Assigned RCAF type name is “Husky” (Canadian gas station chain)


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....97a762255.jpeg

Lol, I'm pretty sure they're NOT named after the gas station chain.

Wow that is an old picture , gas at 89 . Price in Victoria last week was 1.93
I get mine on the reservation at 1.40 :)

Got this from Ottawa Aviation FB page, of the first former airliner now in RCAF markings


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....047485cea.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5f771ed2b.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cff57ccd1.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0140caf10.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....089354438.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d16192c02.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....783d2f409.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e1939cf82.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ccc21852d.jpeg

cheers

who gets to sit in the 2-2-2 seats?

Anyone who you have to call "Sir" or "Maam"...Private's need not apply.

Yep, Im sure the name of a flying gas station has literally nothing to do with a major Canadian oil and gas producer and supplier. Complete coincidence.