Vanguard Magazine

14 JUNE/JULY 2026 www.vanguardcanada.com I N T E R V I E W transformation will take a few years to fully implement new hangars, training facilities, classrooms, simulators, and accommoda- tions in addition to the new aircraft. In the meantime, our existing aircrew training system is at full throttle. It's not just about the aircrew, and there are a lot of initiatives ongoing with tech- nician and trades training. For example, we're investigating aligning RCAF air maintenance technician training with civil- ian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) training with civilian colleges. This is one of many examples of how we're moderniz- ing and streamlining our training systems. Q Canada recently announced its intention to acquire a dedicated Airborne Early Warning and Control capability for the first time. What does this bring to the RCAF's continental defence mis- sion and how does it fit into the broader NORAD modernization architecture? AEWC brings a much-needed ability to understand what's happening in Cana- dian airspace. We have a shortage of ra- dar coverage across this massive, sparsely populated country, and frankly it would be cost-prohibitive to cover everything with ground-based radars. AEWC brings the ability to rapidly shift that sensing and command and control capability to wher- ever we need it, whether it's in response to Russian bomber patrols or for special events like the FIFA World Cup or G7 Summit. AEWC is an important part of NORAD's missions of Aerospace Warning, Aerospace Control, and Maritime Warning. It will al- low us to better spot threats to Canada and the U.S. and do something about them. Right now, we are reliant on the US E-3 Sentry for NORAD missions, and those aircraft are getting tired, so having a Ca- nadian AEWC will be a welcome addition to the fight. Q What are the most important les- sons the RCAF is applying as it prepares to bring a new generation of capabilities into service? With a succession of defence policies over the last decade, we've seen an unprec- edented investment in the CAF and the RCAF. Strong, Secure, Engaged provided funding for many new capabilities, and since that was published in 2017, we've had additional funding under NORAD Modernization, Our North Strong and Free, and most recently, with the 2% of GDP announcements, and there may be more to come. This equates to the largest investment in the military since at least the 1950s, if not since the Second World War. What that means for the RCAF of today is that we're replacing around 350 aircraft - about 80% of our fleets - in the next de- cade. New Cormorant Search and Rescue helicopters and Kingfisher fixed-wing SAR aircraft. Five new training fleets as part of FAcT that I mentioned earlier, as well as a new Fighter Lead-In Trainer to replace the Hawks we retired a couple of years ago. New PC-21s for the Snowbirds, new CP- 8A Poseidon to replace the CP-140 Auro- ra, new Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, the CQ-9B Guardian. New refuelling tankers – the CC-330 Husky is replacing the CC-150 Polaris and the CC-130H(T) tankers. New AEWC aircraft, new fighters, and we're looking at our other helicopter fleets as well. And I haven't even talked about space yet – new satellite commu- nications, sensing from and within space, and space control capabilities! I'm not done yet. We are also investing heavily in the command and control sys- tems to connect the entire air defence eco- system: an upgraded Combined Air Oper- ations Centre (CAOC), radios, datalinks, intelligence capabilities, sensors like Over- the-Horizon-Radar (OTHR), and the data centres that underpin modern warfare are some of the key connective 'brain and ner- vous system' that are essential to defend against the modern threats we're facing. There's an awful lot of investment and most of that investment will be staying in Canada: new hangars and infrastructure to support all of those new aircraft, in-service maintenance and support contracts, and in some cases, Canadian aircraft like the six new Bombardier Global 6500s to replace our Challenger fleet. Our Cormorants are being assembled in Halifax, as an example of partnering with others under the Build, Partner, Buy framework of the Defence In- dustrial Strategy. We think there are many more opportunities like that to come. With all those things going concurrently and the general shortage of qualified, expe- rienced people, we need to do things dif- ferently. We're pushing people to change their mindsets, to accept smart risks, and to find better ways to do business – things like leveraging digital tools where we can, which should allow us to free up what I call "trapped human capacity" in the sys- tem. That will focus people's efforts on the important things, and not the things that use too much time for too little benefit. I can't have an unclassified conversation about a classified problem. CC-150 Polaris. Photo: DND

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