RCAF Airbus CC-150 Polaris Replacement Program

Jason Dykstra (Wyvern)

Jason Dykstra (Wyvern)

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In January of 2021, the RCAF issued an ITQ to replace their 40 year old CC-150 Polaris tanker aircraft. The requirement states that their replacement must be operated by a fellow NATO nation, thus narrowing the tender to the KC-46 and A330 MRTT.

The A310s were originally purchased by Wardair, in 1987. The aircraft were sold to to the Canadian Forces after the merger of Wardair and Canadian Pacific, and were quickly turned into cargo aircraft. They replaced the role of the CC-137 as the RCAF's main tanker. The Polaris fleet has since supported numerous overseas operations that the RCAF was deployed on.

The CC-150 fleet has now entered into its late thirties, and will serve until the late 2020's. A replacement is needed, and if everything goes to plan, a formal requirement will be announced either by the end of this year, or the beginning of the next. One of the requirements is that it must be able to carry enough fuel to cross the Atlantic and refuel CF-188 Hornets on the same journey, which is something the CC-150 is already capable of doing. The need for a replacement has been made clear by recent maintenance issues the fleet has experienced, mostly over the past four years.

I hope to post details of the specifications of the CC-150 and its potential replacements tomorrow. My guess will be that the A330 MRTT is chosen, as it is a proven platform already in service with multiple NATO and NATO-allied airforces, although it would be a tad bit large.

The details of the acquisition are described in greater detail in this video:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODNprWqCOfU&ab_channel=AlexPraglowskiAviation


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Wyvern
 
And... let's the fun begin. Canadian procurement (screwed since, what, 1956 and the last Sabres mk.6 ?) versus Airbus / Boeing tanker war.

If the two heavy trends (Canadian F-35 procurement, cough, and KC-46 saga, cough, cough) ever blends...

There will be blood !
 
I would say that Airbus is probably being viewed with more favour, since the stink that Boeing kicked up when the C-Series was owned by Bombardier still, has still left a bit of an impact on Canadian lawmakers, from what I've seen.

As mentioned, the A330 MRTT would be a bit too large, and the KC-46/KC-767 would be more of a direct replacement. That being said, the A330 MRTT is proven, and there are many Canadian carriers who operate the type in civilian service. If it were to be ordered, its larger size would give greater capability, if a fleet of 5 was ordered. If the RCAF wishes to keep its current capability, then they will probably order 4 A330s.
 
Specifications for the CC-150 Polaris as promised, albeit a week late.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (flight crew)
  • Capacity: 194 passengers (up to) or 33,000 kg (73,000 lb) payload
  • Length: 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 43.9 m (144 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 15.8 m (51 ft 10 in)
  • Empty weight: 80,000 kg (176,370 lb)
  • Gross weight: 157,000 kg (346,126 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CF6-80C2A2 high bypass turbofan engines, 220 kN (50,000 lbf) thrust each
Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.84
  • Range: 9,600 km (6,000 mi, 5,200 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft)
Click to expand...
This is in comparison to the performance of the KC-46:

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3 (2 pilots, 1 boom operator) basic crew; 15 permanent seats for additional/optional air crew members, including aeromedical evacuation crew members
  • Capacity: seating for up to 114 people, 18 463L pallets, or 58 patients (24 litters, 34 ambulatory) and 65,000 lb (29,500 kg) payload
  • Length: 165 ft 6 in (50.5 m)
  • Wingspan: 157 ft 8 in (48.1 m)
  • Height: 52 ft 1 in (15.9 m)
  • Empty weight: 181,610 lb (82,377 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 415,000 lb (188,240 kg)
  • Fuel Capacity: 212,299 lb (96,297 kg)
    Fuel Capacity (vol): 31,220 US gal (118,200 l)
    Maximum Transfer Fuel Load: 207,672 lb (94,198 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan, 62,000[158] lbf (280 kN) thrust each
Performance

  • Maximum speed: 570 mph (914 km/h, 500 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 530 mph (851 km/h, 460 kn)
  • Range: 7,350 mi (11,830 km, 6,385 nmi) ; global with in flight refueling[158]
  • Service ceiling: 40,100 ft (12,200 m)
Click to expand...
And the A330 MRTT:
General characteristics

  • Crew: 3: 2 pilots, 1 AAR operator
  • Capacity: Various passenger configurations are available including 291 passengers (United Kingdom)[153] and 8 military pallets + 1LD6 container + 1 LD3 container (lower deck cargo compartments)
  • Payload: 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) non-fuel payload
  • Length: 58.80 m (193 ft)
  • Wingspan: 60.3 m (198 ft)
  • Height: 17.4 m (57 ft)
  • Wing area: 362 m2 (3,900 ft2)
  • Empty weight: 125,000 kg (275,600 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 233,000 kg (514,000 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Trent 772B, or General Electric CF6-80E1A4, or Pratt & Whitney PW 4170; turbofans, 320 kN (72,000 lbf) 320 kN each
  • Fuel capacity: 111,000 kg (245,000 lb) max, 65,000 kg (143,000 lb) at 1,000 nmi (1852 km) with 2 hours on station
Performance

Click to expand...
There is also the option of converting used 767s into tankers, but this will only be delaying the inevitable, as used 767s would need to be replaced within the next ten to fifteen years anyways.

Another source:
skiesmag.com

Boeing to bid KC-46 on future RCAF tanker program - Skies Mag

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It is possible, and would probably occur. Obviously, it depends on whether Air Canada is willing to give up their A330s (although I guess some good money in these hard times would be rather persuasive enough).
 
You could say that the government owns the aircraft anyway, as they put up the money to get them (I should say they put up taxpayers money)

While I was at YYC (Calgary International) a couple of years ago, Air Canada was in the process of getting 787's
 
kitnut617 said:
You could say that the government owns the aircraft anyway, as they put up the money to get them (I should say they put up taxpayers money)
Click to expand...

How so? My understanding is that Air Canada has been privatized since 1989.
 
Yes, that's the 'official' line anyway. However, whenever Air Canada gets itself into trouble, the government always bails them out --- It doesn't happen to other Canadian airlines though ---
 
Wyvern said:
In January of 2021, the RCAF issued an ITQ to replace their 40 year old CC-150 Polaris tanker aircraft. The requirement states that their replacement must be operated by a fellow NATO nation, thus narrowing the tender to the KC-46 and A330 MRTT.

The A310s were originally purchased by Wardair, in 1987. The aircraft were sold to to the Canadian Forces after the merger of Wardair and Canadian Pacific, and were quickly turned into cargo aircraft. They replaced the role of the CC-137 as the RCAF's main tanker. The Polaris fleet has since supported numerous overseas operations that the RCAF was deployed on.

The CC-150 fleet has now entered into its late thirties, and will serve until the late 2020's. A replacement is needed, and if everything goes to plan, a formal requirement will be announced either by the end of this year, or the beginning of the next. One of the requirements is that it must be able to carry enough fuel to cross the Atlantic and refuel CF-188 Hornets on the same journey, which is something the CC-150 is already capable of doing. The need for a replacement has been made clear by recent maintenance issues the fleet has experienced, mostly over the past four years.

I hope to post details of the specifications of the CC-150 and its potential replacements tomorrow. My guess will be that the A330 MRTT is chosen, as it is a proven platform already in service with multiple NATO and NATO-allied airforces, although it would be a tad bit large.

The details of the acquisition are described in greater detail in this video:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODNprWqCOfU&ab_channel=AlexPraglowskiAviation


Related Articles:

skiesmag.com

Boeing sees potential for its aircraft in many future roles - Skies Mag

In a talk with Skies, Boeing Canada managing director Charles “Duff” Sullivan discusses fighter jet capabilities, future tanker roles, the Max return, and more.
skiesmag.com skiesmag.com

Canada Invites Industry To Qualify For CC-150 Replacement | Aviation Week Network

A new contract to replace five CC-150 multirole tanker-transports operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force has started a process to qualify companies to enter a competition.
aviationweek.com aviationweek.com

skiesmag.com

Canada seeking qualified bidders for Polaris replacement - Skies Mag

The invitation to qualify is the first step in a three-phase procurement process to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force CC-150 Polaris strategic airlift fleet.
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sldinfo.com

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Wyvern
Click to expand...

Makes sense logically and logistically

cheers
 
Apparently they're going to buy used A 330s and rebuild as apposed to buy new build.
From the chatter I have heard it's apparently easier to do it this way from a bureaucratic stand point then to buy new. It's also becomes less "political" this way.
What have we done to ourselves?
 
Money to purchase new airplanes comes out of one shoe box, while money for overhauls comes out of a second shoe box.

Consider all the "creative accounting" that went into HMCS Bonaventure. Her biggest problem was a rusted out fire ring main, that they had not considered during the original estimate. So instead they installed a whole bunch of "$1000.00 lockers" to cover the cost of replacing the fire ring main. This is similar to the USAF's embarrassment over over-priced toilet seats or expensive wrenches.
 
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I must rant. I forgot the nine Poseidon, three AirSeeker and three E-7 (I'm not using that daft name that sounds like a rugby club jape) that also have boom receptacles and can't be refueled by AirTanker's Voyagers.

For the full rant see here:

shop.keypublishing.com

Air-to-Air Refuelling Aircraft

Air-to-Air Refuelling Aircraft Modern Military Aircraft Series: Volume 3 Modern strategists talk about force multipliers , and for air operations, air-to-air refuelling is without doubt the greatest force multiplier of all. In-flight refuelling has allowed not only the longest bombing missions...
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A book wot I wrote.

Chris
 
GTX said:
CJGibson said:
three E-7 (I'm not using that daft name that sounds like a rugby club jape)
Click to expand...
What “Wedgetail”? You do know where the name comes from don’t you?
Click to expand...
Of course. We don't see many soaring majestically over the British Isles - or the NE Atlantic, or the northern hemisphere. Iolair would be a better name. Most Brits would just think of this:
1664949675385.png

Have you read my piece in The Aviation Historian about naming the F-111? I'd have called it Taipan. Fantastic name, but as the UK Air Staff said, nobody in the UK would know what it was.

Chris
 
GTX said:
Oh the ignorance of people…
Click to expand...
Well, the unfortunate truth my dear GTX is that we Brits have a long tradition of truncated names/derogatory nicknames for aircraft - Tiffie, Mossie, Flying Shite, Arse Face One etc. Grub Street did an entire book on them, but I would not like to see such a fine aircraft as the E-7 called 'Wedgie'. The Sun would have a (rugby) field day.

Chris
 

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aim9xray said:
Right then. Can't unsee that one. "Wedgie" it is.

(Sorry, still doesn't top EA-18G "Growler". Offensive on both sides of the pond. Offensive in Oz would make a trifecta. Maybe the "Drop Growler"?)
Click to expand...
Are there offensive words in Oz English?
 
CJGibson said:
I do hope the other five are getting booms.

Chris
Click to expand...

The official statement is that 8 are definitely getting the full MRTT treatment, including boom. The ninth may be left as a head of government VIP transport.

The Strategic Tanker Transport Capability Project and NORAD Modernization - Canada.ca

Since 1992, the CC-150 Polaris aircraft and its crews have provided outstanding service to Canada. The roles of this fleet include providing air-to-air refuelling to our fighter fleet and our Allies and partners aircraft, providing cargo and personnel airlift, strategic Government of Canada...
www.canada.ca www.canada.ca
 
And as per Canadian tradition we aren't purchasing enough but at the very least they are a vast improvement in capability over the CC - 150 .
 
Last edited:
And the first CC-330 Husky (002) is in Ottawa (CYOW).

skiesmag.com

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001 is getting the AAR pods so it should arrive later this year. 003 and 004 are scheduled for 2024.

The four brand-new A330-200s will be assembled by Airbus at its Toulouse, France, site, and will enter the MRTT conversion line in Getafe, Spain, in mid-2025. The RCAF is expected to take delivery of both new and used MRTT aircraft (CC-330s) in 2027.

I believe the flying boom for 001, 003 and 004 will be added at a later date.
 
CJGibson said:
I do hope the other five are getting booms.

Chris
Click to expand...
No RCAF aircraft have ever been equipped to refuel from flying booms.
Rather, all the CF-18s are equipped with US Nvy style probe-and-drogue refuelling systems. We suspect that RCAF F-35s will also come with USN probes.
Sorry: I should have written: “Back in my day, no RCAF airplanes could refuel from USAF flying booms.
 
Last edited:
riggerrob said:
No RCAF aircraft have ever been equipped to refuel from flying booms.
Rather, all the CF-18s are equipped with US Nvy style probe-and-drogue refuelling systems. We suspect that RCAF F-35s will also come with USN probes.
Click to expand...
Canada has 5 C-17 airlifters... that are equipped for boom refueling.

Also:
The aircraft will be able to refuel not only current and future Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter aircraft including the F-35, but also fighter aircraft used by the US as part of NORAD and by NATO partners.
Click to expand...
www.defense-aerospace.com

Canada Orders 9 Airbus A330 Tankers in C$3.6 Billion Deal

OTTAWA –-- In support of Canada’s defence policy, the Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Canadian Armed Forces with the modern...
www.defense-aerospace.com
 
riggerrob said:
No RCAF aircraft have ever been equipped to refuel from flying booms.
Rather, all the CF-18s are equipped with US Nvy style probe-and-drogue refuelling systems. We suspect that RCAF F-35s will also come with USN probes.
Click to expand...
But adding booms will let USAF planes refuel from RCAF tankers.

And, I'm not sure the Canadian F-35As will have the -C probes installed.
 
riggerrob said:
No RCAF aircraft have ever been equipped to refuel from flying booms.
Rather, all the CF-18s are equipped with US Nvy style probe-and-drogue refuelling systems. We suspect that RCAF F-35s will also come with USN probes.
Click to expand...

That was apparently the plan first time around (c2011) but with the new tankers coming with booms, more or less stock F-35As (with the Norwegian drag chute) are the plan this time.

It might actually be cheaper to add the booms on the tankers than to modify the F-35A to fit the probe.
 

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