A new in-service support contract for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos announced this week, $2.28 billion contract with Bell Textron Canada Limited (BTCL).

The helicopters fulfill domestic and international missions, including tactical transport, emergency response, and search and rescue. This in-service support contract will sustain the fleet until at least the mid-2030s.

The contract will begin in April 2024 with most of the work being done in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

BTCL will provide program management, engineering, technical and design change services, component repair and overhaul, procurement of spares, and heavy maintenance services.

“Bell is proud to be awarded the contract by the Government of Canada to provide in-service support for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CH-146 Griffon fleet. In collaboration with our many partners in the aerospace industry, our teams deployed across the country will ensure the skills required to support the Griffon remain in Canada. Our 1,500 employees in Canada feel privileged to support the members of the Canadian Armed Forces so they can accomplish the full range of missions entrusted to this fleet, at home and abroad,” says Michael Nault, Vice President and General Manager, Bell Textron Canada Ltd.