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Alenia and Airbus are keen to put in their bids on Canada’s fixed wing search and rescue (FWSAR) project.

The winning bidder is expected to be selected next year. The new planes will replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 40-year-old Buffalo aircraft and older model C-130s currently assigned to search and rescue duties. Bids are due in September.

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The big question is whether Lockheed Martin will bid?

Previously, Lockheed Martin officials noted that the firm was interested in offering Canada the C-130J for search and rescue duties.

Asked whether the firm will bid, Edward Arner, international director of business development for Lockheed Martin, told Defense Watch that the company does not comment on an active competitive tender. But some sources have suggested that Lockheed Martin might not bid.

It costs companies millions of dollars to prepare a bid for submission. A firm has to determine it has some reasonable chance of winning.

Lockheed Martin is examining the 4,000 page (yes 4,000 page) request for proposals issued by the Canadian government.

While the C-130J might be an excellent aircraft some inside the company are getting the impression that the RCAF is interested in a smaller aircraft than the C-130J (the argument being that such a plane would be more maneuverable in the mountains).

It still remains to be seen whether the company will bid.

Defence Watch will provide updates as more details on the FWSAR project come in.