Bell counts down to upgraded CH-146 Griffon first flight in 2023
Bell has stripped two Royal Canadian CH-146 Griffon multirole helicopters as part of a midlife extension.(Photo: Bell)
Upgraded RCAF CH-146 Griffon helicopters are to be outfitted with better engines and avionics.
Bell has stripped two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CH-146 Griffon light/medium utility helicopters at company facilities in Mirabel, ahead of upgrading them under the Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) programme.
One of the two aircraft being reassembled will be developed as the first upgraded prototype and it will make a first flight around September 2023.
‘They are in different stages of being stripped and very shortly we will reassemble the first one,’ said Marc Bigaouette, Canadian government programme director at Bell.
‘Now that we have completed the [GLLE] definition phase and understand what the government of Canada is
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Oshkosh and Grid Aero tie-up tests new model for scaling military UAS production]()
Oshkosh and Grid Aero tie-up tests new model for scaling military UAS production
By combining established manufacturing capacity with startup aircraft design, the partnership could offer an alternative approach to scaling military uncrewed aircraft production.
-
![Poland air focus: $8.27 billion UAV market highlights value of long-term supplier relationships]()
Poland air focus: $8.27 billion UAV market highlights value of long-term supplier relationships
Poland’s growing investment in UAVs highlights how recurring procurement contracts and continuous technological development can provide suppliers with sustained opportunities beyond initial acquisitions.
-
![Saab’s flight-tested AI agents signal new era of crewed-uncrewed fighter systems]()
Saab’s flight-tested AI agents signal new era of crewed-uncrewed fighter systems
Saab is developing artificial intelligence (AI) agents for crewed and uncrewed aircraft, targeting potential operational deployment within months, while expanding its training capabilities, partnerships and ambitions for wider military applications.
-
![US Navy keeps Super Hornet production restart option open, but without defined cost or timetable]()
US Navy keeps Super Hornet production restart option open, but without defined cost or timetable
The US Navy plans to preserve Super Hornet and Growler tooling as production winds down, with restart costs unassessed and final F/A-18 deliveries expected in late 2027.
