Aerospace and defense companies CAE and Leonardo were tapped by the Canadian government to enhance its fleet of CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopters and provide flight simulators under two contracts worth up to $911 million combined.
The Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade program will require Leonardo to modernize the aircraft into its most advanced version and to supply more airframes or parts to raise fleet size to 16 helicopters, the Canadian armed forces said Thursday.
The contractors will also provide flight simulators to train aircrews on the upgraded aircraft in Canada and ensure they are capable of performing SAR missions.
Upgrades and training systems are scheduled for delivery starting in 2026, with the modernized fleet slated for full operations by 2029.
