Ottawa buys nine Airbus planes to replace Air Force Polaris fleet that transports PM

OTTAWA — The federal government says it has signed a contract with European aviation company Airbus to replace its aging Polaris fleet at a cost of $3.6 billion.

The Royal Canadian Air Force uses the Polaris planes for transporting high-ranking government officials, including the prime minister and Governor General, as well as for air-to-air refuelling and transport.

The new fleet, which will be named the CC-330 Husky, includes four new and five used aircraft that are being outfitted to feature the same capabilities.

The government bought the used planes from a company in Kuwait, and two of them are expected to begin flying out of Ottawa this fall.