“Tortured and Long Delayed”—Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Airplanes

The “fixed-wing search and rescue” (FWSAR) aircraft project was designated a federal priority in the Chrétien government. Designed to replace five-decade-old CC-130H “Hercules” and CC-115 “Buffalo” airplanes, the Harper government committed itself to the FWSAR but by 2009 it was mired in allegations of requirements “rigging” by air force personnel in favour of one aircraft. The project was halted and then restarted in 2010. A contract was finally awarded to European manufacturer Airbus Defence and Space in December 2016. Software problems have pushed the initial operation of the fleet from 2021 to 2025–2026.