Denmark maritime patrol aircraft joins Operation Ocean Shield

A Challenger (CL-604) maritime patrol aircraft from the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) is currently supporting NATO's counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield Task Force 508 (CTF-508).
The Danish aircraft is stationed in the Seychelles with aircrew and 21-strong support team.
This is the fourth time the Royal Danish Air Force is participating in the counter-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia. The aircraft is equipped with radar to conduct surveillance over sea as well as an infrared and optical camera to collect intelligence about Somali pirates’ activities.
defenceweb

Government of Canada to Reduce Challenger Fleet

The Canadian Minister of National Defence, announced today that the Government of Canada will reduce the Royal Canadian Air Force's fleet of CC-144 Challenger aircraft from six to four effective immediately. Savings from this initiative are estimated at $1.5M per year and will be redirected towards higher operational needs such as search and rescue.
news.gc.ca

Canada To Seek Less Expensive Maritime Patrol Plane, Upgrade More Auroras

Budget problems have scuttled Canada’s quest for a large, long-range maritime surveillance aircraft, with the focus now shifting to the acquisition of a smaller, more affordable plane.
As a stop-gap measure, the Royal Canadian Air Force will upgrade additional Aurora CP-140 surveillance planes.
Canadian Defence Minister announced March 19 that Canada was upgrading four more Auroras, bringing the total of modernized surveillance aircraft to 14. The Auroras were originally purchased in 1981, and the Air Force now expects the planes to keep flying until 2030.
Over the last decade, other Auroras have received new wings and upgraded radars and sensors.
The Aurora US military equivalent is the P-3 Orion.
Airbus Military has provided information to the Air Force on the use of its C-295 aircraft to fill the role of a medium-sized maritime surveillance aircraft. Airbus Military officials also have pointed out to the Canadians that Chile has acquired the C-295 in an anti-submarine warfare configuration.
Boeing and Field Aviation of Toronto are also working on what company officials call a “P-8 light.” That maritime surveillance aircraft would be based on a Bombardier Challenger 605 airframe but use technology developed for the P-8A Poseidon.
The new work will involve the installation of upgraded avionics and missions systems, such as the Link 16 datalink, beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications capability and an improved self-defense system.
The aircraft also will be structurally overhauled with new wings and a tail.
In 2012, Boeing made a presentation to the Canadian Air Force, pointing out it could purchase a fleet of P-8As but the RCAFdetermined that the P-8A was unaffordable.
defensenews

Boeing reveals low-cost Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Challenger MSA

Boeing has formally launched an offer to supply customers unable to afford its 737-based P-8 surveillance aircraft with a modified Bombardier Challenger 605 business jet instead.
The Boeing-led programme will be ready to deliver a Challenger 605 derived maritime surveillance aircraftfrom 2015. Field is currently adapting a Boeing-owned 604-model aircraft as a demonstrator, with this to be flown in early 2014 and to be made swiftly available to support customer evaluations.
Boeing will supply the platform’s mission system equipment, with the 605 to be flown with two operators positioned at consoles inside its cabin. Potential buyers will be offered a wide range of payload options.
Noting that more than 40 Bombardier aircraft, including Challengers, have previously been modified for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications for multiple users.