Steffan Watkins  Profile picture
I'm a research consultant, a writer, a source. I track aircraft & ships using publicly available info. I fact-check public officials regularly. I show my work.

Jan 12, 2023, 15 tweets

🇨🇦 Where is the #RCAF today?

🇨🇦 #RCAF CC-177 Globemaster III (4/5, 80% ✅)

‣ 177701 just got back from Haiti
‣ 177702 is somewhere on the other side of the planet
‣ 177703 is still in San Antonio 🇺🇸 (since August 🧑‍🔧)
‣ 177705 arrived in Bagotville yesterday

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#8WingTrenton #429Sqn

Whoops.

🇨🇦 #RCAF CC-150 Polaris (5/5, 100% ✅)

‣ 15001 is back from Mexico 🇲🇽.

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#437Sqn #8WingTrenton

🇨🇦 #RCAF CC-144C/D Challenger (3/4, 75% ✅)

‣ 144617 doesn't seem to be operational, and hasn't been since September 2022. Are they waiting for a part? Waiting on a mechanic? On schedule and it's just a big job? IDK. 🤷‍♂️

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#412Sqn #8WingTrenton

🇨🇦 #RCAF CP-140 Aurora (6/14, 43% 🚨)

‣ Operational aircraft are located at:
#CFBComox (2)
#CFBGreenwood (4)
‣ No RCAF aircraft are currently deployed to Keflavik 🇮🇸 for GIUK gap patrols
‣ Block IV upgrades are underway

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#404Sqn #405Sqn #407Sqn

🇨🇦 #RCAF CC-130J Hercules (11/17, 65% ⚠️)

‣ 130604, 130617 are still assigned to ATF-P 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
‣ 130606 (ATF-P 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿) deployed on #OpIMPACT 🇮🇶🇯🇴🇰🇼🇱🇧 and is very active using Mode-S.

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#436Sqn #8WingTrenton

🇨🇦 #RCAF CC-130H Hercules (8/12, 67% ⚠️)

‣ Distribution for fixed wing SAR, etc:
#CFBComox (2)
#CFBGreenwood (2)
#CFBWinnipeg (2)
#CFBTrenton (2)

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#413Sqn #424Sqn #426Sqn #435Sqn

🇨🇦 #RCAF CC-295 Kingfisher

🇨🇦 #RCAF CH-149 Cormorant (6/13, 46% 🚨)

‣ Distribution for rotary wing SAR, etc:
#FOLIqaluit (1)
#CFBGreenwood (1)
#CFBGander (2)
#CFBComox (2)

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#103Sqn #413Sqn #442Sqn

The #RCAF really need these upgrades and additional CH-149 Cormorant helicopters.

Because a Top Aces LearJet that's been used for CF-18 Hornet intercept exercises flew from the West Coast to Halifax over the past few days (C-GTXE #C0792F #BRUSR02), and a CH-149 Cormorant has deployed to Iqaluit, I suspect a #NORAD exercise is immanent.
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Just to wrap it in a bow, remember this morning when I said there was a CC-177 Globemaster III that flew to #3WingBagotville? Well, they flew to #FOLIqaluit today as #CFC4093, strongly suggesting an immanent #NORAD / CF-188 Hornet exercise.
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A little bird told me that 177702 was headed for Malaysia, per the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia, who posted it to Facebook.

So, that's #OpMANTIS 9/2023? 🤔

#OpMANTIS, since 2015. It looks like #CANSOFCOM has again decided to assume a largely passive public affairs posture. They're really quite intent to make other people tell their story, and not tell anyone anything themselves.

canada.ca/en/department-…

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