Long range patrol (LRP) squadrons from 19 Wing Comox and 14 Wing Greenwood deployed through June and July to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, with two CP140M Block IV Aurora aircraft for Exercise RIMPAC 2024.
The two aircrews, along with their maintenance teams, formed a LRP detachment with members from 415 (Long Range Patrol Force Development) Squadron and the 1 Canadian Air Division LRP Standards and Evaluation Team. In addition, RCAF members augmented RIMPAC at the Combined Air Operations Centre and Combined Task Force 172 (Maritime Patrol) watch teams. The national objective was to build capable adaptive coalition partners to promote regional stability in the Pacific region.
Members from 19 Operational Support Squadron and 14 Operational Support Squadron formed a Deployed Mission Support Centre, and three maintenance teams provided 24-hour coverage throughout the flying phases of the exercise. The CP140 detachment was able to fly 170 hours, with no lost hours due to aircraft maintenance. A 100 per cent serviceability record for the CP140 aircraft at an exercise of this duration is a great accomplishment, attributed to the professionalism of the 407 (Long Range Patrol) Squadron and 405 (Long Range Patrol) Squadron maintenance teams. The maintenance detachment also completed a propeller change before the aircraft transited back to Canada, accomplished in record time with support of the spare parts in the CP140 “pack up kit,” and with support from United States Navy facilities at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay.
The Aurora has gone through extensive modernization, and it is nearing its final configuration. Members of 415 Squadron accompanied the crews to roll out new mission computer software and data link capability (LINK-16). LINK-16 enhances the ability to share a tactical picture with allied nations; the first operational missions for the CP140 with LINK-16 were also a huge success.
RIMPAC, as a biennial joint exercise hosted by US Navy Commander Third Fleet Pacific, fosters multi-national cooperation and trust through interoperability and professional engagements. The dynamic maritime exercise provides numerous mission sets for crews, including anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and electronic warfare trials. Exercises of this nature provide first-class opportunities to work closely with allied nations, advance fleet readiness capabilities, and foster relationships and interoperability with like-minded partner nations.
Overall, RIMPAC 2024 was a huge success for the RCAF and the CP140 detachment members from 14 Wing and 19 Wing.
