Boeing, the giant U.S. plane maker, is set to sign a multi-billion dollar contract to supply Canada's military with new jets and new helicopters. The federal government announced late today that it had rejected bids from Boeing's rivals for the aircraft. As a result, the federal government is expected to spend up to $8.3-billion on two contracts with Boeing, based in Seattle, Washington. Ottawa plans to buy four C-17 Globemaster (left) jets from Boeing for about $1.8-billion. These planes, among the largest in the world, are capable of moving immense amounts of equipment or materiel around the world. They can carry, for example, four tanks or the entire DART team. Canada has no such capability right now and rents rides for DART when it needs to move it.
Canada will also spend about $2-billion for 16 CH-47 Chinook helicopters (right) made by Boeing. Ironically, it was the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney that sold off Canada's last Chinooks, a so-called heavy-lift helicopter that can operate in difficult conditions like those in Afghanistan. And, in another ironic touch, the Chinooks that Canada sold were bought by the Dutch who are now using them in — where else? — Afghanistan where, as part of the NATO helicopter contingent there, they are sometimes used to ferry Canadian troops from place to place.
Canada wants the first new helicopters delivered by the summer of 2010 and wants the first jet delivered by late 2008 or early 2009.
I'm glad to hear this. Any delay in acquiring this equipment is not a good thing. It has been reported that our troops are forced to go everywhere by road and this puts them at greater danger of suicide bomb attacks which has been evident in the past week.
You made my day today, thanks. Now let's have a chat about you driving and playing with your blackberry at the same time…please tell me you weren't also chewing gum.
Kat