Turbulence Ahead: Navigating the Gap Between Fleets
BY JOETEY ATTARIWALA
IMP Aerospace and Defence is a cornerstone of Canada’s defence industrial base and has been a steadfast partner to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for decades. As one of the country’s foremost In Service Support (ISS) organizations, IMP’s contributions span all domains of defence, from air to naval and land-based support.
With the Canadian government recently announcing a historic increase in defence spending, the country stands at the precipice of military recapitalization not seen in generations. This promises significant modernization and capability enhancement for the CAF — but also brings immediate challenges for longstanding Canadian defence firms like IMP.
As the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) transitions to new aircraft platforms, IMP, like other similar organizations, is working diligently to navigate an extremely difficult scenario — a temporary but significant downturn in domestic ISS activity caused by the simultaneous retirement of two major aircraft fleets: the CP-140 Aurora (P-3 Orion) and the CC-130H Hercules. These fleets, which IMP has supported extensively for years, are giving way to modern replacements like the P-8 Poseidon, the CC-330 Husky and the CC-295 Kingfisher.
While this modernization is a critical and welcome investment for Canada’s long-term defence posture, the new aircraft come with extended initial warranty periods and require very little engineering, logistics, or depot maintenance in the early years. For instance, the P-8 Poseidon is expected to require no depot-level support for six to seven years, and its early logistics support is already locked in through its acquisition contract. The result is that companies like IMP find themselves temporarily sidelined from providing the services they excel at, precisely at the moment when Canada is spending more on defence than ever before.
This paradox has real consequences. It’s not just about financial impacts — it’s also about the livelihoods of highly skilled aerospace technicians, engineers, and support staff who form the backbone of Canada’s defence industrial workforce and the sovereign capability. The irony is not lost on IMP: while the government makes announcements about bolstering domestic defence industry capabilities, this unique corner of the sector is facing near-term turbulence.
INTERNATIONAL WORK
To address this transitional period, IMP is actively pursuing international work. The company is continuing to market its world-renowned ISS capabilities to allies and partners around the globe, particularly to the United States. However, this strategy is not without its own uncertainties. The increasingly fluid state of Canada–U.S. trade relations, particularly with rising protectionism and ongoing trade disputes, adds a layer of unpredictability that complicates long-term planning.
Despite these challenges, IMP remains focused on maintaining Canada’s defence readiness and preserving industrial capabilities that have taken decades to develop. One immediate suggestion to bridge this transition period is to carry out maintenance and de-modification work on the CP-140 and CC-130H fleets to prepare them for resale. Canada currently operates 14 CP-140 Auroras and 12 CC-130H Hercules aircraft. Investing in these assets could serve a dual purpose — supporting jobs and preserving industrial capacity in the short term while increasing the marketability of these aircraft on the global stage.
And there is indeed a market. The P-3 Orion, of which the CP-140 is a variant, remains in demand, especially in countries such as Portugal, Argentina and Chile who continue to operate and grow their P-3 fleets. These nations rely heavily on maritime patrol and surveillance to protect coastlines, conduct search and rescue, and interdict illicit trafficking. IMP is uniquely positioned to support this demand — after all, it is the last remaining OEM Approved P-3 Orion Service Center in the world. The company’s legacy with this platform, combined with decades of engineering expertise and deep technical knowledge, makes IMP the obvious choice for nations seeking to extend the operational life of their aircraft.
IS FULL RETIREMENT OF THESE
FLEETS THE RIGHT CHOICE?
Similarly, the global fleet of Hercules aircraft remains enormous, with an estimated 3,000 C-130s flying worldwide. IMP’s experience, coupled with being an OEM Approved Hercules Service Center and C-130J Heavy Maintenance Center, places it in an ideal position to offer sustainment services globally, especially as more nations seek to extend the utility of their legacy fleets rather than replace them outright. Moreover, we at CDR argue that Canada should itself reconsider the full retirement of its legacy Hercules and Aurora fleets as these aircraft still have significant service life and offer unmatched versatility.
Canada’s CP-140s and legacy CC-130s could be repurposed for critical roles such as northern patrol and logistics missions in support of NORAD and Arctic operations, where increased surveillance, search and rescue, and airlift capacity will be essential. These aircraft could also be modified for aerial firefighting, a role that is growing in urgency as Canada confronts worsening wildfire seasons. These are all capabilities that Canada needs — and already owns the airframes to support. Keeping these aircraft operational would also preserve industrial capacity within Canada and support hundreds of jobs.
TARGETING CPSP & RCD
Beyond aerospace, IMP’s capabilities span naval and land systems support through its dedicated Naval and Land Services division. The company is keenly interested in Canada’s upcoming major procurement initiatives, particularly from an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) perspective. Of note is the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program (CPSP), which seeks to replace Canada’s aging Victoria-class submarines with a modern fleet capable of persistent under-ice and blue water operations. IMP is currently engaging with all the major submarine manufacturers involved in the CPSP and is prepared to offer comprehensive support for whichever platform is selected.
Additionally, IMP has expressed strong interest in supporting the River-class destroyer program, another pivotal initiative expected to reshape Canada’s naval capabilities over the coming decades. With decades of experience in systems integration, maintenance planning, lifecycle support, and engineering services, IMP is ready to support these new naval platforms from inception through to end-of-life sustainment.
LUNAR GATEWAY PROJECT
IMP’s capabilities extend beyond the terrestrial as they are highly adept at space technologies, so the company is keenly following developments of the Lunar Gateway program.
Taken as a whole, IMP Aerospace and Defence exemplifies the kind of industrial partner Canada needs now more than ever — agile, capable, experienced, and committed to both national defence and the wellbeing of the highly skilled workforce that supports it. The current challenges facing the company are not due to any lack of competence or performance, but rather the structural timing of Canada’s aircraft transitions in the absence of a comprehensive defence industrial strategy and the dynamics of global trade.
There is, however, a path forward. With government support, interim sustainment contracts, and strategic investment in preparing retiring fleets for resale, companies like IMP can be buffered through this transition. Export markets, while competitive and complex, also offer major opportunities — especially when supported by targeted government advocacy and trade diplomacy. Moreover, leveraging legacy platforms for new roles domestically offers a fiscally responsible path to meet urgent operational needs while preserving Canadian capability.
As the country enters this new era of defence renewal, ensuring that core capabilities like those provided by IMP are not lost during the transition is critical. Canada’s recapitalization of the military should be inclusive of the defence industrial base that has made these new investments possible in the first place. By working together — industry and government — Canada can ensure that its defence sector not only survives this transitional period but emerges stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
Joetey Attariwala is CDR’s Senior Staff Writer