The Canadian Air Force’s Modified Airbus A310s

Known as the CC-150 Polaris, the modified A310s are some of the oldest Airbus jets flying in Canada.

Apparently the oldest Airbus jets flying in Canada, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) operates a small fleet of modified, militarized, Airbus A310s. Designated as the CC-150 Polaris, this type serves as a multi-purpose, long-range aircraft used for military-passenger, freight or medical transport. Some variants are also capable of aerial refueling. Today, let’s take a look at these old Airbus widebodies.

Five in service

Operating out of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton with the RCAF’s 437 Transport Squadron, five CC-150 Polaris aircraft are tasked with serving the Canadian military and Canadian government in multiple ways.

• Two of the five CC-150s are equipped for air-to-air refueling. In fact, each tanker carries enough fuel to ferry four CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean.
• In terms of carrying passengers, the Polaris can be tasked with transporting government officials and foreign dignitaries. In addition to carrying troops to and from deployments, the aircraft have been responsible for transporting the Prime Minister, Governor General and members of the Royal Family.

Aircraft specifications

Based on the Airbus A310, these Polaris jets are an average of about 35-and-a-half years old at the time of this article’s publication. Registration numbers range from 15001 to 15005. The aircraft registered 15001 is in a VIP configuration and has a special Government of Canada livery. This is the aircraft most often tasked with flying the Prime Minister on official visits. Planespotters.net also notes that 15002 and 15003 are military transports while 15004 and 15005 are multi-role tanker transports.

Replacements on the horizon

In late August 2022, ch-aviation reported that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) had secured two civilian A330-200s for conversion into A330-200(MRTT)s. The project, arranged with International Airfinance Corporation (IAFC), was expected to have a price tag of $102 million dollars. In total, the government plans to acquire six A330 MRTTs to replace the RCAF’s CC-150 Polaris aircraft.

ch-aviation also noted that these two initial A330s slated for conversion were manufactured in 2015 and previously flew for Kuwait Airways. The pair is expected to enter service in late 2023. Prior to conversion, the jets may be tasked with operating passenger or cargo missions for the air force.

“The Government of Canada is committed to providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment they need at the best value for money. We look forward to accepting these two aircraft as they represent an important first step in eventually replacing the capability currently provided by the CC150 Polaris fleet,” -Anita Anand, Defense Minister, Government of Canada

In 2021, the Canadian government notified Boeing that their competing offer of the Boeing 767-200 variant known as the KC-46A Pegasus, did not meet the air force’s requirements.

What do you think of these aircraft and the choice to replace them with the A330 MRTT? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment!

Sources: Royal Canadian Air Force, Planespotters.net, ch-aviation