The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF;
French: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the
air and
space force of Canada.[3] Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower".[4] The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified
Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12,074
Regular Force and 1,969
Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1,518 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and nine
unmanned aerial vehicles.[1][5] Lieutenant-General
Eric Kenny is the current
Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chief of the Air Force Staff.[6]
In 1975, some commands (ADC, ATC, TC) were dissolved, and all air units were placed under a new environmental command called simply Air Command (AIRCOM; French: Commandement aérien). Air Command reverted to its historic name of "Royal Canadian Air Force" in August 2011.[7]
The Royal Canadian Air Force has served in the
Second World War, the
Korean War, the
Persian Gulf War, as well as several
United Nations peacekeeping missions and
NATO operations. As a NATO member, the force maintained a presence in
Europe during the second half of the 20th century.
The
Canadian Air Force (CAF) was established in 1920 as the successor to a short-lived two-squadron
Canadian Air Force that was formed during the
First World War in Europe. Wing Commander
John Scott Williams was tasked in 1921 with organizing the CAF, handing command over later the same year to Air Marshal
Lindsay Gordon.[8] The new Canadian Air Force was a branch of the
Air Board and was chiefly a training militia that provided refresher training to veteran pilots.[9][10] Many CAF members also worked with the Air Board's Civil Operations Branch on operations that included
forestry,
surveying and anti-smuggling patrols.[11] In 1923, the CAF became responsible for all flying operations in Canada, including civil aviation. In 1924, the Canadian Air Force, was granted the royal title, becoming the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Most of its work was civil in nature; however, in the late 1920s the RCAF evolved into more of a military organization. After budget cuts in the early 1930s, the air force began to rebuild.[citation needed]
Second World War
During the
Second World War, the RCAF was a major contributor to the
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and was involved in operations in the
United Kingdom, Europe, the north Atlantic,
North Africa, southern Asia, and with home defence. Eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty-four Americans came north to volunteer for the RCAF and over 850 died in action.[12] By the end of the war, the RCAF had become the fourth largest Allied air force.[13]
During World War II the RCAF was headquartered at a six-storey office building at 20-23
Lincoln's Inn Fields (built 1937), London.[14] A commemorative plaque can be found on the outside of the building.[citation needed]
1945–1968
After the war, the RCAF reduced its strength. Because of the rising
Soviet threat to the security of Europe, Canada joined
NATO in 1949, and the RCAF established
No. 1 Air Division RCAF consisting of four wings with three fighter squadrons each, based in France and West Germany. In 1950, the RCAF became involved with the transport of troops and supplies to the
Korean War; however, it did not provide RCAF combat units. Members of the RCAF served in USAF units as exchange officers and several flew in combat. Both auxiliary and regular air defence squadrons were run by
Air Defence Command. At the same time, the
Pinetree Line, the
Mid-Canada Line and the
DEW Line radar stations, largely operated by the RCAF, were built across Canada because of the growing Soviet nuclear threat. In 1957, Canada and the United States created the joint
North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). Coastal defence and peacekeeping also became priorities during the 1950s and 1960s.[citation needed]
In the early 1990s, Canada provided a detachment of CF-18 Hornets for the air defence mission in
Operation Desert Shield. The force performed
combat air patrols over operations in Kuwait and Iraq, undertook a number of air-to-ground bombing missions, and, on one occasion, attacked an Iraqi patrol boat in the
Persian Gulf.
In the late 1990s, Air Command's
CF-18 Hornets took part in the
Operation Allied Force in
Yugoslavia, and in the 2000s, AIRCOM was heavily involved in the
Afghanistan War, transporting troops and assets to Kandahar. Later in the decade-long war, AIRCOM set up a purpose-specific air wing, Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing, equipped with several
CH-146 Griffon and
CH-147 Chinook helicopters, CC-130 Hercules,
CU-161 Sperwer and leased
CU-170 HeronUAVs in support of the Canadian Forces and
ISAF mission. The wing stood down on 18 August 2011.
From 18 March to 1 November 2011, the RCAF was engaged in
Operation Mobile, Canada's contribution to
Operation Unified Protector in Libya. Seven CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft and several other aircraft served under Task Force Libeccio as part of the military intervention.[15]
On 16 August 2011, the Government of Canada announced that the name "Air Command" was being changed to the air force's original historic name: Royal Canadian Air Force (along with the change of name of Maritime Command to Royal Canadian Navy and Land Force Command to Canadian Army). The change was made to better reflect Canada's military heritage and align Canada with other key
Commonwealth countries whose military units use the royal designation.[16]
The RCAF adopted a new badge in 2013, which is similar to the pre-unification RCAF badge (although placed in the modern frame used for command badges). The Latin motto of Air Command – Sic itur ad astra – which was the motto of the Canadian Air Force when first formed after the First World War (before it became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924) was retained. Though traditional insignia for the RCAF was restored in 2015, there has been no restoration of the traditional uniforms or rank structure of the historical service (apart from a rank of "aviator", which replaced that of "private" in 2015).[17]
On 17 April 2014, Prime Minister
Stephen Harper announced that Canada was dispatching six
CF-18s and military personnel to assist NATO in operations in Eastern Europe.[18]
As of 15 May 2023, CC-130J model Hercules aircraft began performing SAR operations based out of
CFB Trenton so CC-130 (non-J model) airframes could be relocated to other squadrons.[26]
9 new and used aircraft to be converted to MRTT role. Initial units to enter service in fall 2023.[27][28][29] First aircraft arrived in Canada on 31 August 2023.[30] Aircraft still has civilian registration 9K-APC and RCAF numbering 30002.
All 16 aircraft were expected to be delivered by the end of 2022.[31][32][33] However, initial operating capability is not anticipated until 2025/26.[34] Additional trainer aircraft for maintenance personnel arrived in 2020 without SAR equipment and not part of the operational fleet.
Airbus A310 transports purchased in 1992 for use as strategic transports and air-to-air tankers to replace the
Boeing CC-137. Two have been converted to tankers and are designated the CC-150T. One is permanently configured for
VIP transport; all five aircraft are operated by
437 Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario.
Single-engined lead-in fighter trainer leased in 2000. 17 aircraft in service beginning of 2024, based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, SK and 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, announced 'taken out of service as per April 2024
Five strategic airlifters operated by
429 (T) Squadron based at 8 Wing
Trenton, Ontario. Four were delivered from 2007 to 2008, a fifth was delivered in 2015.[50]
Utility and VIP transport aircraft first delivered in 1982. Early Challenger 600 and 601 models were supplemented by 604 models in 2002. Four aircraft are operated by
412(T) Sqn and based in Ottawa, but belong to 8 Wing Trenton.
Entered service in 1962 as a basic and advanced jet trainer with 190 originally ordered, replaced by the
CT-156 Harvard II and
CT-155 Hawk in 2000. A total of 26 aircraft remain in service, 24 of which are used by
431 Air Demonstration Squadron, "The
Snowbirds". Five are used by Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) for test support and pilot proficiency flying.[41][42]
A twin-engined utility transport operated since the 1970s, four remain based at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, operated by 440 Transport Squadron.
Twin-engined converted regional airliner entered service in 1987 as an aerial navigation and tactics trainer, Four are operated by 402 "City of Winnipeg" Sqn and stationed at
17 Wing, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Four-engined tactical transport. Several versions have been operated since 1960. Remaining CC-130Hs used for search and rescue and air-to-air refuelling. 12 aircraft remain in service,[51] 4 of which have been converted to air-to-air tankers. Based at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, and 17 Wing, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Four-engined maritime patrol aircraft based on the American
Lockheed P-3 Orion; entered service in 1980, 18 aircraft now based at 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, and 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia.[51]
Four-engined tactical airlifter replacing earlier Hercules variants in that role.[52] A total of 17 are in service operated by 436 (T) Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton.[53]
Fighter entered service in 1982 when 98 single-seat CF-18As and 40 two-seat CF-18Bs were ordered. Seventeen have been lost since 1984.[54] Stationed at 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec and 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta; 60 CF-18As and 25 CF-18Bs remain in active service.[51][55]
Triple-engined search and rescue helicopter that replaced the
CH-113 Labrador. Fourteen delivered between 2000 and 2002. Based at (103 Squadron) 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland; (413 Squadron) 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia; and (442 Squadron) 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia. One aircraft has been lost in a training accident.
Single-engined utility and training helicopter. Ordered for 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at CFB Portage la Prairie, MB; an older variant (CH-136 - Jetranger A model), was used by Regular Forces in CFB Lahr in Germany and in Canada from 1972 - 1995 which were replaced by
CH-146 Griffons. 12 aircraft remain, leased from
Allied Wings, used for flight training in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
A utility transport tactical helicopter (UTTH) that entered service between 1995 and 1997. Original purchase of 100 aircraft to replace the CH-136 Kiowa (Bell 206), CH-135 Twin Huey (Bell 212), CH-118 Iroquois (Bell 205), and Boeing C-Model Chinooks CH-47C. Based at Bagotville, Quebec (439 Squadron), St. Hubert, Quebec (438 Squadron), Cold Lake, Alberta (417 Squadron), Gagetown, New Brunswick (403 Squadron), Valcartier, Quebec (430 Squadron), Goose Bay, Newfoundland (444 Squadron), Edmonton, Alberta (408 Squadron), and Borden, Ontario (400 Squadron); also perform search and rescue duties at 8 Wing Trenton (424 Squadron). Deployed to Afghanistan to provide escorts for the Chinooks, armed with a combination of 7.62mm C-6 machine gun, 7.62mm
Dillon Aero M134D Gatling gun, and GAU-21 .50 caliber machine gun on one or both doors.[57][58][59] 9 ex-RCAF Griffons, designated CT-146, are leased from
Allied Wings for pilot training at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. CT-146 Griffons are painted all black and have RCAF roundel, RCAF wordmark, Canada wordmark and civilian registration numbers.[citation needed]
The CH-147F Chinook is an advanced, multi-mission, medium to heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary mission is the tactical transport of equipment and personnel during domestic or deployed operations.
450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, under the command of
1 Wing Kingston, Ontario, and based in
CFB Petawawa, Ontario, was re-established as the home of Canadaʼs fleet of 15 CH-147F Chinooks. The first two airframes underwent intensive operational test and evaluation in the United States for several months before Canada received the first airframe 147303 at an official acceptance ceremony at the
Ottawa International Airport on 27 June 2013.[60][61][62] Fifteen aircraft were initially acquired, but one crashed in 2023.[63][51] Full operational capability by June 2018.[64] The Auditor General criticized National Defence for "underestimated and understated" the complexity of the purchases of the Chinook, "[t]he way the advance contract notification instrument was applied in the directed procurement of the Chinook helicopters did not comply with the letter or intent of the applicable regulations and policies".[65]
Ship-based transport/anti-submarine helicopter based on the
Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk. Twenty-eight ordered to replace the Sea King from 2009. Delays pushed first delivery to 2015.[51] One aircraft was lost in an accident in April 2020.[66]
Leased and contractor aircraft
The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in the past decade. Transport aircraft have been leased as required. Despite RCAF marking all aircraft have civilian registration numbers.
Two aircraft leased from Transwest Air Limited. Used by the Multi-Engine Utility Flight (MEUF) in
CFB Trenton. Flown by RCAF pilots, they are used for light transport of personnel and equipment within North America.
The Canadian
CF-35 is a proposed variant that would differ from the
F-35A through the addition of a
drogue parachute and may include an F-35B/C-style refuelling probe.[25][75] In 2012, it was revealed that the CF-35 would employ the same boom refuelling system as the F-35A.[76] Following the
2015 Federal Election the
Liberal Party, whose campaign had included a pledge to cancel the F-35 procurement,[77] formed a new government and commenced an open competition to replace the existing
CF-18 Hornet.[78] On 28 March 2022, the Government of Canada announced that the competition had placed the F-35A first and planned to buy 88 of them. Under procurement rules, the government entered into negotiations with Lockheed Martin.[79] On 9 January 2023, the government of Canada officially ordered 88 F-35As.[20][21]
General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian
As of 25 September 2023, Royal Canadian Air Force was looking at purchasing the MQ-9 along with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, in a CA$5 billion contract. The drones were reportedly to be stationed at CFB Greenwood and CFB Comox, with personnel in Ottawa and Yellowknife to support the program. A contract was announced on 19 December 2023 for 11 MQ-9B drones, 219 Hellfire missiles, and 12 Mk82 500-pound bombs.[80]
Boeing P-8A Poseidon
November 30, 2023 - Canada finalized a government-to-government agreement with the US government for the acquisition of up to 16
P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the RCAF. Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for up to two additional.[81]
Airbus CC-330 Husky (A330-200) MRTT
In 2022, two ex-
Kuwait AirwaysAirbus A330-200 were selected to be converted as
Airbus A330 MRTT to replace the CC-150 Polaris. The two aircraft will arrive in winter 2023 and converted by
Airbus Defence and Space (mainly in Spain and repainted in France).[82]
June 19,2023 - Contract awarded for acquisition of nine CC-330 Husky aircraft (mix of 4 new and 5 used A330-200) , associated equipment, integrated logistic support elements, training simulator(s), and sustainment.[83]
Weapons and other equipment
Weapons systems are used by the CF-18 Hornet, CP-140 Aurora, CH-146 Griffon and the CH-148 Cyclone.
The
commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, commands and provides strategic direction to the Air Force. The commander of
1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian NORAD Region, based in Winnipeg, is responsible for the operational command and control of Royal Canadian Air Force activities throughout Canada and worldwide. 2 Canadian Air Division was established in June 2009, and consists of training establishments. The other division, 3 Canadian Space Division, was established in 2022.[88]
As of 2024[update], there are 15
wings across Canada, 13 operational and 2 used for training. Wings represent the grouping of various
squadrons, both operational and support, under a single tactical commander reporting to the operational commander. Ten wings also include a Canadian Forces base along with other operational and support units.
The rank of
general is held when an
air officer is
Chief of the Defence Staff. The last air force officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff was General
Thomas J. Lawson, who was appointed to the position in 2012. The commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force holds the rank of
lieutenant-general. Divisions are commanded by major-generals. Brigadier-generals are typically second-in-command of a division. Wings are commanded by colonels. Squadrons are commanded by lieutenant-colonels. Majors are typically second-in-command of squadrons, or flight commanders. Captains, lieutenants and second lieutenants are the junior level leaders in RCAF squadrons and headquarters.
On 1 April 2015, the rank structure and insignia changed.[91] The rank of private was replaced with that of aviator, represented with a propeller for the rank insignia. The previously used term "
leading aircraftman" was considered not to be gender neutral.[92] The rank insignia were also changed: enlisted ranks were changed from gold to pearl-grey (silver) and officers rank braid was changed from gold to pearl-grey on black, similar to the pattern used before unification of Canada's armed forces in 1968.[92] A revival of the former rank titles of the RCAF did not occur, however, as such an extensive change was considered "too complicated and confusing".[91] Instead, the current rank titles were retained (with the exception of aviator). The
Royal Flying Corps, considered to be a predecessor of the RCAF, used rank titles similar to the existing rank titles of the RCAF.[92]
Roundels used from 1920 until 1945 were usually the same as
Royal Air Force roundels although not all variations were used and colours were matched to locally available paints.
On 9 November 1984,
Canada Post issued "Air Force" as part of the Canadian Forces series. The stamps were designed by Ralph Tibbles, based on an illustration by William Southern. The 32¢ stamps are perforated 12 x 12.5 and were printed by Ashton-Potter Limited.[94]
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Douglas, W. A. B.The Creation of a National Air Force: Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force, v. 2. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (in co-operation with the Department of National Defence), 1986.
ISBN0-8020-2584-6.
Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon (February–May 1979). "A Grumman by Any Other Name...". Air Enthusiast (9): 26–39.
ISSN0143-5450.