The contract has a value of CND $ 1 billion (EUR 690 million) and includes upgrades of 13 existing Cormorant SAR helicopters and the augmentation of a further three aircraft, delivering greater capabilities and extending fleet life expectancy to 2042+. Leonardo writes in a press release. The programme will be executed by Team Cormorant led by Leonardo and comprising IMP Aerospace and Defence, GE Canada and Collins Aerospace Canada. The majority of the Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade (CMLU) work will be performed in Canada, primarily at IMP’s Halifax, N.S. facilities. According to the company, the CMLU Project will transition Canada’s AW101/CH-149 Cormorant SAR helicopter fleet to the latest standard currently being delivered for SAR in Norway. The CMLU project is to cover state-of-the-art avionics, a new glass cockpit, more powerful digitally-controlled engines, wireless in-cabin communications, the latest SAR sensors including electro-optical infrared device and a mobile phone detection location system.
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