Bell Textron Canada, a subsidiary of Textron’s Texas-based aviation company, has been awarded a contract worth 2.28 billion Canadian dollars ($1.69 billion) by the Canadian government. The contract aims to extend the lifespan of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters. This contract will provide in-service support for the helicopters until the mid-2030s.
The CH-146 Griffon helicopters play a critical role in both domestic and international operations, including tactical transport, emergency response, and search and rescue missions. With this contract, Bell Textron Canada will offer program management, engineering, technical and design change services, as well as repair, overhaul, and maintenance for the fleet. This work will be carried out within Canada, contributing to job creation and maintenance with an estimated 1,130 positions.
As the original manufacturer of the CH-146 helicopter, Bell Textron Canada possesses exclusive ownership of the fleet’s intellectual property rights. Currently, Canada operates 82 of these helicopters across 11 locations in the country.
The Canadian government highlights that Bell Textron Canada’s commitment to the country has the potential to contribute at least C$125 million annually to Canada’s gross domestic product throughout the duration of the contract.
