Article content

Canadian special forces will receive three new surveillance aircraft from the U.S. with the planes expected to arrive in 2022.

The three Beechcraft King Air planes, to be based at CFB Trenton in Ontario, will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cell phone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Canadian special forces buying three new surveillance aircraft from U.S. for $188 million Back to video

The agreement for the aircraft was finalized on April 26 with the U.S. government. Three aircraft and equipment will be delivered in the spring of 2022, the Canadian Forces noted.

The federal government is also setting up a competitive process to select a company to maintain the aircraft and related systems for a potential period of 20 years. A Request for Proposals is expected sometime this summer.

The agreement signed with the U.S. government is for $188 million (CAN).