In August 2013, L-3 Communications’ MAS division in Mirabel, PQ received a 5-7 year, C$ 683 million / $669 million continuation of their 2012 complete in-service support (ISS) contract for Canada’s 5 CC-150 Polaris aircraft. The full amount will only be realized if the 2-year option is exercised. L-3 MAS will be responsible for overall program management, materiel management, engineering support, flightline maintenance, and heavy maintenance, plus component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services.
The Polaris fleet are Airbus A310s based at CFB Trenton, ON, and 2 of the 5 have been converted to add probe-and-drogue aerial refueling to their standard roles of VIP transport, passenger/ medical transport, or up to 32 tonnes of standard cargo. The A310 MRTT was Airbus’ 1st foray into aerial tankers, and until recently, the converted German and Canadian air force planes were their only operational examples. In the last couple of years, deliveries of the larger, dual refueling mode A330 MRTT/ KC-30 to Australia, Britain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have changed that picture, placing Airbus on a more even operational footing with Boeing. Sources: L-3, Aug 15/13 release | RCAF.
Update
May 5/16: Canada’s replacement for the CC-150 Polaris aerial refueling tanker will only be considered after the fighter to replace the Hornet has been selected, according to the head of Royal Canadian Air Force. Lt.-Gen. Michael Hood told lawmakers that its fighter selection will in turn determine its tanker needs saying, “So whether it is a probe-and-drogue, as we use right now, or a boom that flies into a refueling receptacle, we will replace the tanker aircraft with whatever our front-line fighter is at the time.” Canada’s Polaris lifespan is to run until 2026.