Canada to Spend $1.24 Billion on Rescue Helicopter Upgrades Through Sole-Sourced Deal

A Royal Canadian Air Force Cormorant helicopter from 103 Search and Rescue Squadron based at 9 Wing Gander takes off from the airport in Deer Lake, N.L. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan

Canada is planning to spend $1.24 billion to upgrade its fleet of military search-and-rescue helicopters ⁠—more than $200 million more than what was originally budgeted.

Defence Minister Anita Anand and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek announced the sole-sourced deal to upgrade the military’s Cormorant helicopters late this afternoon.