A pan-Canadian common front, including Bombardier and other Quebec companies, is challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the issue of replacing surveillance aircraft. The absence of a call for tenders would “unnecessarily hamper” the technological advances developed here, they argue in a letter obtained by La Presse.

In their missive, these 16 signatories do not hide their concern that this billion dollar contract to replace the aging Aurora CP-140s of the Royal Canadian Air Force will be awarded by mutual agreement. Everything indicates that Boeing would win the agreement.

“This will unnecessarily hamper growth and innovation in Canada’s world-renowned aerospace and defense sectors,” they wrote, calling in passing for a meeting with Mr. Trudeau.

In addition to Bombardier, the Canadian subsidiary of General Dynamics – which has decided to team up with the Quebec multinational in this file – is among the signatories. In addition to the aircraft manufacturer, there are the names of six other Quebec companies at the bottom of the letter: DCM Group, On Board Data Systems, Atlas Aeronautik, Kinnear Rembourrage, Plastiques Flexibulb and Les Industries Sidtor. The others are based in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

These companies are part of the Canadian aerospace and defense supply chain. The pan-Canadian common front is not directly attacking Boeing, but rather the lack of commitment of the Trudeau government to opt for a call for tenders to replace the old CP-140s.

The replacement of the CP-140s, a potential contract of 9 billion, took a political turn. The Ministry of Defense favors Boeing’s Poseidon P-8A – which is similar to the 737 family of commercial aircraft and can launch torpedoes – identified as the only aircraft that can meet Canadian requirements.

This business jet would be equipped with General Dynamics systems and would have the ability to carry out surveillance and anti-submarine warfare missions by launching torpedoes.

“An open tender for various proposals would be an opportunity for Canada to rethink its surveillance capabilities,” the letter argues. Solutions built in Canada should, and must be considered on an equal footing with those built abroad. »

It is not only Mr. Trudeau who is challenged by this common front. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and her colleagues Anita Anand (National Defence), François-Philippe Champagne (Innovation, Science and Industry) and Helena Jaczek (Public Services and Procurement) are also targeted.

In the defense sector, Bombardier already counts among its customers countries such as the United States and Germany, which have turned to its products for surveillance missions. Its Global aircraft are assembled in Ontario and converted in Wichita, Kansas.

Boeing’s Poseidon is assembled in the United States, but companies rooted in the Canadian market, such as CAE, GE Aviation Canada as well as Pratt

There are still questions surrounding the partnership announced by Bombardier and General Dynamics, owner of Gulfstream – a rival of the Quebec company in the business aviation niche. We do not know the amount of the invoice to develop a version of the Global 6500 which would be able to perform the same task as the CP-140.

The two partners will say more on May 31 at the CANSEC military fair, the defense sector meeting held annually in Ottawa.