Mar 15, 2019 SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Government of Canada awards contracts for search and rescue illumination flares

WINNIPEG, March 15, 2019 /CNW/ - Through Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is ensuring that our women and men in uniform have the equipment they need to do their jobs and protect Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, announced three contracts totalling $48 million awarded to Magellan Aerospace Corporation, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for LUU-2 illumination flares.

Critical to operations, these flares will be used by the Royal Canadian Air Force to illuminate the sky during night-time search and rescue operations. The contracts will be in place for the next five years.

This procurement will create jobs and economic growth in Canada and is aligned with the Defence Procurement Strategy.

Quotes

"These contracts provide the highly trained members of the Royal Canadian Air Force with the equipment they need to respond quickly and safely in potentially life-saving, night-time search and rescue operations and help bring Canadians home. This critical procurement is another example of how our government is building a more agile and better-equipped military, while creating jobs and economic growth in Canada."

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

"Search and rescue services are incredibly important to Canadians, and a core mission of our Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian Armed Forces flies approximately 1,000 search and rescue missions each year, and it is critical that we provide our women and men in uniform with the equipment they need to provide this life-saving service to Canadians. These contracts will ensure the Royal Canadian Air Force is well equipped and able to succeed day or night."

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan
Minister of National Defence

Quick facts

    --  The Government of Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged,
        reaffirms Canada's commitment to invest in our military, and sustain our
        search and rescue capabilities.
    --  The three contracts provide a combined 10,000 units of the illumination
        flares over a five-year period, as well as non-recurring expenses
        related to manufacturing.
    --  The LUU-2 illumination flares will be used by the Royal Canadian Air
        Force during night-time search and rescue operations. The flares descend
        from aircraft by parachute and produce 1.8-million candlepower of light
        for a five-minute period.
    --  Alongside the Canadian Coast Guard, the Canadian Armed Forces responds
        to more than 9,000 search and rescue calls annually, approximately 1,000
        of which result in the launching of search and rescue air assets.
    --  Magellan Aerospace Corporation has 585 employees in Winnipeg, and these
        contracts will create or sustain approximately 20 jobs.

Related links

Canada's defence policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged
Illumination flare contract tender

SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada