The GLLE – Griffon Limited Life Extension project will extend the life of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s fleet of 85 CH-146 Griffon helicopters to at least 2031. To do so, we will:
- replace a number of the aircraft’s avionics systems, including communications radios and cryptographic equipment, cockpit voice and flight recorders, navigation systems, automatic flight control systems, and control display units,
- upgrade the cockpit displays,
- upgrade engines, and
- integrate sensor systems.
The project will also upgrade flight simulation and training devices to ensure alignment with the fleet modifications, and the provision of equipment and spare parts.
The CH-146 is a proven, durable utility tactical transport helicopter that fills a number of functions. It has participated in tactical troop transport, reconnaissance, escort and surveillance, casualty evacuation, disaster relief, special operations aviation support, and search and rescue.
Implementation
Contract award: 2022
Initial operational capability: 2024
Full operational capability: 2027
Project updates
- January 26, 2019
- The Government of Canada announces that Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited will perform design work for the definition phase.
- January 11, 2019
- Expenditure authority is approved and the project enters the definition phase.
Project costs
The cost of the project is:
- Up to $90 million for the definition phase
- Up to $800 million for the span of the Griffon Limited Life Extension project
Based on the Bell 412EP civilian helicopter, the CH-146 Griffon utility tactical-transport helicopter moves troops and materiel. The Griffon is also used to provide aerial firepower, casualty evacuations, counter-drug operations, SAR operations, and surveillance and reconnaissance missions. There are currently 83 operational aircraft and two maintenance training aircraft in the RCAF’s CH-146 Griffon fleet.
The majority of the CH-146 fleet is assigned to 1 Wing, which is the RCAF’s Tactical Aviation Wing. 1 Wing is now integrating 417 Combat Support Squadron (4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta) and 439 Combat Support Squadron (3 Wing Bagotville, Québec) into its operations to recover RCAF pilots who have ejected from their aircraft.
427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (located at CFB Petawawa, Ontario) operates CH-146s under Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. CH-146 Griffons also fly SAR missions with the 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 8 Wing (Trenton, Ontario), and local base rescue support to training, operations and exercises at 5 Wing (Goose Bay, Newfoundland-Labrador).
According to DND, CH-146 Griffons are regularly deployed with Operation LENTUS, which provides domestic disaster response in support of provincial governments. Internationally, CH-146 Griffons and CH-147F Chinooks were most recently deployed in Mali as part of Operation PRESENCE. They were part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Forward Aeromedical Evacuation capability in support of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
The RCAF received its Griffons in the 1990s. Mindful that technology keeps advancing and that aircraft age, DND is extending the CH-146’s operational lifespan into the 2030s through the Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) program, which is being managed under contract by Bell Textron Canada Limited (Bell), the CH-146’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
Through GLLE, the Griffons will be updated and improved by replacing a number of the aircraft’s avionics systems (including communications radios and cryptographic equipment, cockpit voice and flight recorders, navigation systems, automatic flight control systems, and control display units), upgrading engines, and integrating sensor systems. The project is in its testing phase, with the first GLLE developmental aircraft test flight due to fly in Spring 2024.
“DND’s decision to continue with Griffon operations until at least the mid-2030s is generating interest by current military users of the Bell 412 to follow a similar path,” said Marc Bigaouette, Bell’s Director of Canadian Government Programs. “It should be noted that the conceptual work for this new platform is entirely done in Canada. This, along with the fact that we have selected Pratt & Whitney Canada and CMC Electronics as partners, means that the level of Canadian content associated with this project is substantial and potentially unrivalled for an undertaking of this kind. Also, in an effort to expand the base of expertise for this new variant of the Bell 412, more than 85% of the fleet will be modified by our partners Alpine Aerotech and Heli-One.”
