Canada has signed a government-to-government agreement to modernize five maritime patrol aircraft operated by the Portuguese Air Force. The contract, valued at 39 million Canadian dollars, will be managed by the Canadian Commercial Corporation, while General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada will perform the upgrades. The program aims to extend the service life of Portugal’s P-3C Orion fleet and improve its ability to support NATO maritime security operations. The aircraft plays a crucial role in missions such as anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, intelligence gathering, and search-and-rescue operations across the Atlantic Ocean. The initiative also strengthens defense cooperation between Canada and Portugal while supporting jobs within Canada’s aerospace industry.
