MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul)   Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Orders and Deliveries   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)  

First overhauled CH-149 Cormorant starts flight checks in Yeovil under mid-life upgrade; Canada plans AW101 fleet growth to 16

The first Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant helicopter overhauled under a mid-life upgrade (MLU) has begun flight checks in Yeovil. In parallel, Canada’s AW101 procurement will add three new aircraft, bringing the total Cormorant fleet to 16.

Discovered 2026-07-08T07:45:04.822654-07:00 | 2026-07-08T07:45:04.822654-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Marks a tangible milestone in the CH-149 Cormorant mid-life upgrade, with the first overhauled aircraft now in flight-check phase.
  • Canada’s concurrent plan to buy three additional AW101s increases the operational fleet to 16, shaping long-term availability for RCAF search-and-rescue missions.
  • The program ties depot-level overhauls to fleet modernization timelines—key for managing readiness and sustainment execution in a critical SAR capability.

Reported By

FlightGlobal
Sources Tracked
1
First Seen
2026-07-08T07:45:04.822654-07:00
Latest Update
2026-07-08T07:45:04.822654-07:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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