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Bell to modernize RCAF CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet

Bell to modernize RCAF CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet
A Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 Griffon helicopter conducts hoist evolutions during joint training operations with the U.S. Coast Guard in Barrie, Ontario.
The RCAF and USCG crews conducted the joint training to share search-and-rescue and other training techniques.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City photo.

On May 30 (2022), the Government of Canada announced a contract  for Bell Textron Canada to extend the life the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fleet of 85 CH‑146 Griffon helicopters until the mid-2030s.

“Since 1992 when the Griffon procurement was originally awarded, Bell has remained a key partner to the Canadian Air Force. For the past 30 years, our team has deployed across the country to support the fleet, and we are proud the government has shown, once again, their trust in a truly Canadian company like Bell,” stated Marc Bigaouette, director, Canadian Government Programs.

As the original manufacturer of the CH-146 Griffon helicopters, Bell is best suited to assess and define necessary design changes and associated repairs to the 85 aircraft in the fleet. Under the nearly $800 million CAD contract, Bell in Canada will perform modifications on the first nine helicopters in the Mirabel facility, then manage a competitive process to subcontract suppliers to perform modifications on the remaining 76 helicopters.

Bell intends to source a a broad base of Canadian industry partners to support the modifications of more than 80% of the fleet, ensuring the skills and capacity to sustain the Griffon remains indigenous to Canada. Bell’s Calgary Supply Centre continues its critical role in ensuring supply security for the fleet.

Bell to modernize RCAF CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet
A Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 Griffon from 444 Combat Support Squadron, and a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from 103 Search and Rescue Squadron prepare for a training exercise during NORAD Operation Noble Defender on March 10, 2022.
NORAD Operation NOBLE DEFENDER 22-2 is an air defence operation was runs from March 14 to 17, 2022, involving a variety of military aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and United States Air Force. Personnel and aircraft are based out of Canadian Forces Station Alert, Nunavut; Whitehorse, Yukon; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; and 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canadian NORAD Region photo.

The RCAF Griffon fleet is the largest helicopter fleet in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s inventory and has deployed internationally to support humanitarian, peacekeeping and coalition combat operations as part of the United Nations and NATO. Domestically, the fleet has supported civilian authorities in firefighting, lifesaving, and security missions.

The Griffon Limited Life Extension contract was announced during a ceremony at Bell’s Commercial Centre of Excellence in Mirabel, QC, and led by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, on behalf of the Honourable Minister Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

«We are proudly celebrating the award and implementation of the Griffon Limited Life Extension project for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) by the Government of Canada. Our teams, located from the East to the West Coast, in collaboration with industry partners, ensure that the skills required to sustain the CH-146 Griffon stay in Canada. Our 1,300 employees feel privileged to perform the work that will support the fleet of the RCAF for their critical missions in Canada and abroad,” said Steeve Lavoie, president, Bell Textron Canada.

In 2021, the Bell team celebrated its 35th year of building helicopters in Canada and boasts an economic impact of roughly $624 million CAD to Canada’s GDP, sustaining more than 6,200 Canadian jobs each year. Bell is currently hiring at its Mirabel facility to support the increased global demand of Canadian-built commercial helicopters.

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The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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