Canada’s air force is set to receive the first of four new air tankers crucial for refueling fighter jets in the Arctic by the end of next year. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has revealed the status of the CC-330 Husky fleet, which is intended to replace the aging Airbus 310s. These wide-body jets serve as the backbone of the air force’s intercontinental fleet for transporting troops and the prime minister worldwide. However, their primary significance lies in their role as aerial refueling stations, essential for enhancing continental defense efforts.
According to a Department of National Defence spokesperson, the initial new aircraft delivery to the RCAF is scheduled for late 2027. In July 2023, Canada acquired nine Airbus A330s, costing around $3.6 billion, including five pre-owned jets with less than a decade of service from Kuwait Airways and four brand-new aircraft. The exact number of new aircraft to be delivered by the following year had not been disclosed until now.
Currently, three of the pre-owned Airbus planes have been received in their original airline configuration. These planes are being utilized for passenger transport, including the prime minister’s travel, with one undergoing scheduled maintenance and the others undergoing refitting processes. The first new-build tanker is undergoing testing in Spain, while the remaining new builds are in production in Toulouse, France.
The RCAF’s fleet of CF-18s and upcoming F-35s necessitate air tankers to conduct extended patrols over the Arctic due to the rapid fuel consumption of fighter jets. The crucial role of air tankers was demonstrated during the FIFA World Cup games in Toronto earlier this year when an aging air tanker supported CF-18s for prolonged aerial monitoring over the stadium.
The new tankers are equipped with the necessary boom and hoses to refuel all NATO-compliant aircraft, a capability lacking in the aircraft they are replacing. Furthermore, the new V-VIP Airbus, currently undergoing refitting in Switzerland for the prime minister’s use, will feature a “self-protection suite” to defend against potential missile threats.
The air force anticipates the initial operational readiness of the CC-330 Husky fleet by 2028-29, with full operational capability expected for all nine jets by 2032-33. While the current jets are stationed in Ottawa, new facilities are under construction in Trenton, Ont., and Edmonton.
The RCAF’s current fleet of five Airbus A310s, also known as the CC-150 Polaris, which originated as Wardair passenger jets in the late 1980s, will remain in service until 2030. One of the A310s was lost in a parking lot incident in Guam in 2023 due to parking brake failure, crew fatigue, and checklist design issues, with the remaining three jets continuing operations until their retirement in 2030.
