Aurora/Arcturus Life Extension Program (ALEP)

Joe Varner

The top Chretien government priorities for renewing Canada's maritime forces as outlined in the 1994 White Paper on Defence are the procurement of new Maritime Patrol Helicopters, and the Upholder class submarines. Although barely mentioned, the third most important Maritime Command, and the second most important Air Command programme, after the Maritime Helicopter Project, is the modernization of the eighteen year old CP-140 Aurora/Arcturus maritime patrol aircraft fleet. The 21 Aurora/Arcturus aircraft based in Comox, British Columbia and Greenwood, Nova Scotia, are key in mineral and fisheries rights enforcement, search and rescue, drug interdiction, environmental protection, surveillance, peacekeeping, and multi-purpose military operations. Indeed, the Aurora/Arcturus is the Canadian Forces only strategic airborne surveillance system.

An Aurora/Arcturus airframe life of 2015 is currently considered achievable through conventional Depot Level Inspection and Repair. The government must now proceed with a modernization of the avionics and sensors if the Aurora/Arcturus is to remain effective during this time frame. The reason behind the life extension program is simple. The Aurora/Arcturus' ageing technology limits the operational capability of an otherwise effective aircraft. The electronic components and mission systems in the aircraft are 1970's vintage technology, and it is increasingly difficult, and expensive, to maintain this equipment. The ageing mission systems of the Aurora/Arcturus also complicates multi-national operations, so important in an age of increased second generation peacekeeping. The ability of the Aurora/Arcturus to operate beside our allies has eroded considerably over the last 17 years. Canada must possess the capability to effectively communicate and operate with its allies' navies around the world, if we are going to continue as an effective member of the international community. In short, the ALEP is driven by reasons of operational, interoperability and support considerations. ALEP will cost approximately one billion dollars but will come out of the existing department of national defence budget and thus will not be in competition with social programmes.

The Aurora maritime patrol aircraft is a vital element of Canada's maritime forces in that one Aurora, on a ten-hour patrol, can provide surveillance over 300,000 square kilometres of ocean. Indeed, the Aurora/Arcturus is the Canadian Forces only strategic airborne surveillance system. This ocean area has grown substantially in the last year through the Oceans Act which has expanded our maritime stewardship over a new 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Canada's maritime forces would be completely over-tasked to monitor and control this large an ocean area without a modern and effective maritime patrol aircraft. Most importantly, the Aurora represents one of the only means of monitoring our Arctic Ocean area, a long ignored part of our sovereign territory. If we are going to claim a 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone, and maintain our sovereignty over Canada's northern waters, then a life extension for the Aurora becomes critical.

Furthermore, the Aurora/Arcturus as already mentioned is a robust weapons system in that it has been employed on peacekeeping missions by maintaining the United Nations embargo off of the former Yugoslavia. It has been employed against drug runners on the high seas. Aurora/Arcturus also played a key role in monitoring the actions of the Spanish fishing fleet in Canada's so called 'Turbot War'. These highly versatile systems have been employed to stop the illegal dumping of fuel in Canada's territorial waters by foreign vessels, thus ensuring the protection of Canada's maritime environment. Lastly, the Aurora/Arcturus is a highly effective platform from which to engage submarines in the event of international hostilities.

This is as important today as it was during the Cold War, especially when considering the rapid proliferation of submarines around the world and particularly now in the Asia-Pacific region.

In conclusion, the Aurora/Arcturus is a vital component of Canada's maritime forces and must receive its life extension and modernization if it is to remain effective into the 21st Century.