Replacement of surveillance aircraft Bombardier fears preferential treatment for Boeing

“I sent four letters to Ottawa,” Eric Martell, president and CEO of the aircraft manufacturer, explained on the airwaves of 98.5 FM Thursday. [Boeing] Maybe over the counter to go ahead. »

The contract in question relates to the replacement of CP-140 Auroras operated by National Defence. These are long-range patrol aircraft which will be phased out from 2030 onwards. They started entering service in 1980. These aircraft can carry eight anti-submarine torpedoes.

Worth more than $5 billion, the “Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft” program will begin to take shape in 2023. First deliveries are scheduled for early next decade.

Boeing has already upped its hand with its P-8A Poseidon – similar to the 737 family of aircraft. Bombardier prefers its global private jets to be evaluated by the Canadian government, to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions. For the Quebec multinational, the challenge will be to convince Canadian authorities that a smaller device can do the same job as its rival model.

“Yes, there are people [du gouvernement] Who heard, but we do not have a clear answer to say: “Yes, there will be a call for tenders”, Mr. Martel said. We are not asking for the contract to be awarded to us by mutual agreement, but I would like to at least have the opportunity to bid with a product that we feel is very competitive. »

Assembly of the Global Family takes place in the Toronto area. The aircraft will be rebuilt in Wichita, Kansas, which was once responsible for building Learjets. Boeing aircraft are assembled in the United States.

In an email sent to Press, without confirming whether National Defense would call for tenders, indicated that “the exact number of platforms to be procured is still being determined.” Next steps for the project are expected to be announced “in the new year,” wrote a spokeswoman, Jessica Lamirande.

The American giant did not respond to Mr Martel’s comments on Thursday afternoon.

Bombardier is much smaller than Boeing, Airbus and Embraer in the military sector, but that wants to change. The company wants to generate around 10% of its annual turnover – around 1 billion US – in this sector.