Over 60 members from across the Royal Canadian Air Force’s long range patrol community, led by 415 (Long Range Patrol and Force Development) Squadron, but including members from 407 (Long Range Patrol) and 405 (Long Range Patrol) squadrons; embarked on Bold Quest 2024.
The Bold Quest series of annual capability demonstration events have provided a “battle lab,” in which allied nations have collaborated, pooled their collective resources and demonstrated new capabilities and tactics. The overall aim is to test new ideas and technologies and refine them in a fully interoperable environment.
This year, Camp Lejeune, a sprawling, 640-square-kilometre area of coastal North Carolina; served as the backdrop for a fictitious international crisis October 28 to November 6. Donovia, a hostile power bent on conquest, had invaded the allied nations of Arnland, Framland and Torrike. This set the stage for a simulated three weeks of running battles and contested amphibious landings, with 1,900 members from 16 nations acting together to thwart Donovian aggression.
High above it all, the CP140 Aurora’s role was to provide comprehensive surveillance, on demand. Using the aircraft’s electro-optical (EO) turret, members were able to peer into the battlespace and give forces on the ground up-to-the-minute updates on their opponents’ movements. The CP140 also demonstrated its capabilities as a Link 16 node, integrating into the larger tactical picture. These critical capabilities allowed the CP140 to stand apart as Bold Quest 2024’s premier reconnaissance aircraft, providing over 100 hours on-station over the course of 15 missions in support of our allies.
Though continual updates have been completed over its 45 years of service, the venerable Aurora is no longer able to keep pace with the challenges of the future. New platforms are in the procurement process, such as the MQ9B Sea Guardian and CP8A Poseidon, which are true creatures of 21st century network-centric warfare. Though the future is bright, it will still be some years before they are fully crewed and mission capable. Until then, it will be the CP140 and her crews that will stretch that gap and provide the bridge to future multi-mission employment within Canadian long range patrol.
