Government of Canada provides an update on the location of the Western Main Operating Base for the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability Project

November 12, 2024 – Edmonton, Alberta – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Department of National Defence (DND) is making progress on the planned location of the Western Main Operating Base (MOB-West). Negotiations are underway between the DND and the Edmonton International Airport (YEG) to formalize an agreement for the location of the new MOB-West for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) CC-330 Husky Fleet.

The location for MOB-West will complement the fleet’s MOB-East location at 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario, as announced by Minister Blair on March 8, 2024, with the nine aircraft split between these two locations. The new MOB-West location is expected to include a hangar, operations, maintenance, logistics/warehousing, and training and administrative spaces to support RCAF operations for the CC-330 Husky aircraft. 

This investment will be part of Canada’s $38.6 billion North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Modernization Plan, which was announced by the Government of Canada in June 2022 and represents the most significant upgrade to Canada's NORAD capabilities in almost four decades.

In the coming months, DND will be completing further due diligence activities, environmental reviews, site studies, and land value assessment activities for the MOB-West location before taking the final step of formalizing this agreement with the Edmonton International Airport (YEG). The related project scope and cost estimates will also be finalized and shared once negotiations conclude.