The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will receive the first of four new air tankers, which will be used to refuel fighter jets patrolling the Arctic, toward the end of 2027.
A spokesperson for the Department of National Defence said in a statement that the first of the CC-330 Husky aircraft, which can be equipped for air-to-air refuelling of fighter jets, will be delivered in “late 2027.” The department had not previously disclosed how many of the new planes would be delivered by next year.
The RCAF’s current fleet of CF-18s and its soon to arrive F-35s require air tankers to stay on patrol over the Arctic. Given that fighter jets quickly burn through fuel, they can work with air tankers to extend the time they can stay airborne….