TheRoyal Canadian Air Force (RCAF;French:Aviation royale canadienne -ARC,lit.'Canadian royal aviation') is theair andspace force of Canada.[5] Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower".[6] The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unifiedCanadian Armed Forces. As of 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12,074Regular Force and 1,969Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1,518 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and nineunmanned aerial vehicles.[3][7] Lieutenant-GeneralEric Kenny is the currentCommander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chief of the Air Force Staff.[8]
In 1975, some commands (ADC, ATC, TC) were dissolved, and all air units were placed under a new environmental command called simplyAir Command (AIRCOM; French:Commandement aérien). Air Command reverted to its historic name of "Royal Canadian Air Force" in August 2011.[9]
The Royal Canadian Air Force has served in theSecond World War, theKorean War, thePersian Gulf War, as well as severalUnited Nations peacekeeping missions andNATO operations. As a NATO member, the force maintained a presence inEurope during the second half of the 20th century.
TheCanadian Air Force (CAF) was established in 1920 as the successor to a short-lived two-squadronCanadian Air Force that was formed during theFirst World War in Europe. Wing CommanderJohn Scott Williams was tasked in 1921 with organizing the CAF, handing command over later the same year to Air MarshalLindsay Gordon.[10] The new Canadian Air Force was a branch of theAir Board and was chiefly a training militia that provided refresher training to veteran pilots.[11][12] Many CAF members also worked with the Air Board's Civil Operations Branch on operations that includedforestry,surveying and anti-smuggling patrols.[13] 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, with forest patrols of the northwest a major part of its operations;[14] however, in the late 1920s other agencies took up most civil tasks, with the notable exception of aerial photography surveys, and the RCAF evolved into more of a military organization.[15] After budget cuts in the early 1930s, the air force began to rebuild.[16]: 47
During theSecond World War, the RCAF was a major contributor to theBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan and was involved in operations in theUnited 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.[17] By the end of the war, the RCAF had become the fourth largest Allied air force.[18]During World War II the RCAF was headquartered at a six-storey office building at 20-23Lincoln's Inn Fields (built 1937), London.[19] A commemorative plaque can be found on the outside of the building.[20]
After the war, the RCAF reduced its strength. Because of the risingSoviet threat to the security of Europe, Canada joinedNATO in 1949, and the RCAF establishedNo. 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 theKorean 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 byAir Defence Command. At the same time, thePinetree Line, theMid-Canada Line and theDEW 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 jointNorth American Air Defense Command (NORAD). Coastal defence and peacekeeping also became priorities during the 1950s and 1960s.[16]: 245, 377
An RCAFCIM-10 Bomarc missile on a launch erector inNorth Bay. Viewed as an alternative to the scrappedAvro Arrow, the Bomarc's adoption was controversial given its nuclear payload.
In the early 1990s, Canada provided a detachment of CF-18 Hornets for the air defence mission inOperation Desert Shield. The force performedcombat 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 thePersian Gulf.
In the late 1990s, Air Command'sCF-18 Hornets took part in theOperation Allied Force inYugoslavia, and in the 2000s, AIRCOM was heavily involved in theAfghanistan 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 severalCH-146 Griffon andCH-147 Chinook helicopters, CC-130 Hercules,CU-161 Sperwer and leasedCU-170 HeronUAVs in support of the Canadian Forces andISAF mission. The wing stood down on 18 August 2011.
From 18 March to 1 November 2011, the RCAF was engaged inOperation Mobile, Canada's contribution toOperation 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.[21]
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 keyCommonwealth countries whose military units use the royal designation.[22]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).[23]
On 17 April 2014, Prime MinisterStephen Harper announced that Canada was dispatching sixCF-18s and military personnel to assist NATO in operations in Eastern Europe.[24]
The Royal Canadian Air Force has about 406 aircraft in service[citation needed], theoretically making it the third-largest air force in theAmericas, after theUnited States Armed Forces, and theBrazilian Air Force. However, an internal National Defence military readiness report noted that only about 40 percent of aircraft could be considered "serviceable" as of early 2025.[25] A 2025 report by theAuditor General of Canada found that one of the RCAF's biggest obstacles was a shortage of both trained fighter pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians.[26]
28 helicopters delivered[28], 1 crashed into the Ionian Sea off the coast of Greece on April 29, 2020 while operating from the frigate HMCS Fredericton.
An RCAFCC-150 Polaris refuelling two CF-18 Hornets nearCFB BordenAirbus A310 transports purchased in 1992 for use as strategic transports and air-to-air tankers to replace theBoeing CC-137. Two have been converted to tankers and are designated the CC-150T. One is permanently configured forVIP transport; all five aircraft are operated by437 Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario.
In 2022, two ex-Kuwait AirwaysAirbus A330-200 were selected to be converted asAirbus A330 MRTT to replace the CC-150 Polaris. The two aircraft will arrive in winter 2023 and converted byAirbus Defence and Space (mainly in Spain and repainted in France).[51] On June 19, 2023 a contract was awarded for the acquisition of nineCC-330 Husky aircraft (mix of 4 new and 5 used A330-200), associated equipment, integrated logistic support elements, training simulator(s), and sustainment.[52]
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 by412(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 theCT-156 Harvard II andCT-155 Hawk in 2000. A total of 26 aircraft remain in service, 24 of which are used by431 Air Demonstration Squadron, "TheSnowbirds". Five are used by Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) for test support and pilot proficiency flying.[40][41]
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 at17 Wing, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
An RCAFCC-130H Hercules on approach toWinnipeg James Richardson International AirportFour-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,[28] 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 AmericanLockheed P-3 Orion; entered service in 1980, 18 aircraft now based at 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, and 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia.[28]
Four-engined tactical airlifter replacing earlier Hercules variants in that role.[54] A total of 17 are in service operated by 436 (T) Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton.[55]
An RCAF CF-18 Hornet during the Bagotville Air ShowFighter entered service in 1982 when 98 single-seat CF-18As and 40 two-seat CF-18Bs were ordered. Seventeen have been lost since 1984.[56] Stationed at 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec and 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta; 60 CF-18As and 25 CF-18Bs remain in active service.[28][57]
Triple-engined search and rescue helicopter that replaced theCH-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. A total of 15 were delivered and put into service by RCAF SAR, airframes numbered 901 through 915. A total of 2 aircraft have been lost, airframes 914 and 903, both on training missions.
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 byCH-146 Griffons. 12 aircraft remain, leased fromAllied Wings, used for flight training in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
An RCAFCH-146 Griffon providing close air support for units of theAfghan Armed Forces, andISAFA 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, 7.62mmDillon Aero M134D Gatling gun, and GAU-21 .50 caliber machine gun on one or both doors.[59][60][61] 9 ex-RCAF Griffons, designated CT-146, are leased fromAllied 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.[importance?]
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 of1 Wing Kingston, Ontario, and based inCFB 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 theOttawa International Airport on 27 June 2013.[62][63][64] Fifteen aircraft were initially acquired, but one crashed in 2023.[65][28] Full operational capability by June 2018.[66] 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".[67]
ACH-148 Cyclone in flightShip-based transport/anti-submarine helicopter based on theSikorsky H-92 Superhawk. Twenty-eight ordered to replace the Sea King from 2009. Delays pushed first delivery to 2015.[28] One aircraft was lost in an accident in April 2020.[68]
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.
All 16 aircraft were expected to be delivered by the end of 2022.[82][83][84] However, initial operating capability is not anticipated until 2025/26.[85] Additional trainer aircraft for maintenance personnel arrived in 2020 without SAR equipment and not part of the operational fleet.
On 28 March 2022, the Government of Canada announced that the competition had placed the F-35A first and planned to buy 88 aircraft.[92] On 9 January 2023, the Government of Canada officially ordered 88 F-35As.[79][80] Previously, a unique CanadianCF-35 variant was proposed that would differ from theF-35A by adding adrogue parachute and possibly an F-35B/C-style refuelling probe.[31][93] In 2012, it was revealed that the CF-35 would employ the same boom refuelling system as the F-35A.[94] Following the2015 Federal Election theLiberal Party, whose campaign had included a pledge to cancel the F-35 procurement,[95] formed a new government and commenced an open competition to replace the existingCF-18 Hornet.[96]
On 19 December 2023, the Government of Canada announced that a contract was signed for 11MQ-9B drones, 219Hellfire missiles, and 12Mk82 500-pound bombs in a deal worth $2.49 billion CAD.[97][98] The drones are expected to be first delivered in 2028 with full operation expected in 2033.[98] The drones are to be stationed in14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. with 55 personnel and with 25 personnel at19 Wing Comox, B.C. and in Ottawa with 160 staff to control the drones.[99] Personnel will also forward deploy to northern Canada as needed.[99]
On November 30, 2023, the Government of Canada finalized a government-to-government agreement with the US government for the acquisition of up to 16P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the RCAF. Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for up to two additional aircraft.[100]
SkyAlyne was selected to provide the training for pilots and aircrew of the Royal Canadian Air Force.[101] The training includes the following aircraft:
Pilatus PC-21, designated as theCT-157 Siskin II. This aircraft will be based atMoose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and used for advanced fixed-wing flying training and for jet programs.
De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400, designated as theCT-142Q Citadel, which will be used to train air combat system officers and airborne electronic sensor operators, and will be operated out of17 Wing Winnipeg.
Thecommander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, commands and provides strategic direction to the Air Force. The commander of1 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.[107]
As of 2024[update], there are 15wings across Canada, 13 operational and 2 used for training. Wings represent the grouping of varioussquadrons, 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 ofgeneral is held when anair officer isChief of the Defence Staff. The last air force officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff was GeneralThomas J. Lawson, who was appointed to the position in 2012. The commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force holds the rank oflieutenant-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.[110] 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.[111] 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.[111] 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".[110] Instead, the current rank titles were retained (with the exception of aviator). TheRoyal Flying Corps, considered to be a predecessor of the RCAF, used rank titles similar to the existing rank titles of the RCAF.[111]
Roundels used from 1920 until 1945 were usually the same asRoyal Air Force roundels although not all variations were used and colours were matched to locally available paints. On 5 July 1940, the RCAF was authorized to introduce the maple leaf into the roundel in place of the red centre. However, a large amount of RCAF planes still continued to use the RAF roundel until 1945 since their aircraft, including those built in Canada all came through RAF channels.[113][114]
^Royal Canadian Air Force."Royal Canadian Air Force - Mission". Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of National Defence. Archived fromthe original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved19 March 2016.
^Wise, Sydney F.; Douglas, William Alexander Binny (1980).The Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force: The creation of a national air force.University of Toronto Press. p. 93.
^Shores, Christopher F. (1984).History of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Royce Publications. p. 20.ISBN9780861241606.
^abMilberry, Larry (1984).Sixty years: The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924–1984. CANAV Books.ISBN0969070349.
^"Americans in the RCAF". Bomber Command Museum of Canada. 27 October 2017. Retrieved17 July 2023.
^Milberry, Larry, ed. (1984).Sixty Years—The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924–1984. Toronto: Canav Books. p. 97.ISBN0-9690703-4-9.
^abcdefghWaldron, Greg (9 July 2024)."Upgraded Canadian CF-18s attain IOC".Flight Global. Retrieved12 July 2024.Cite error: The named reference ":0" was defined multiple times with different content (see thehelp page).
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.
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