Future Plans:

The Aurora Incremental Modernization Project (AIMP) was begun in 1998, and is planned to run until 2010, with an overall budget of $1.45 billion. AIMP is an amalgamation of 23 individual projects, grouped in four chronologically consecutive “blocks”, and overseen by the Aurora Project Management Office. Among the goals is to turn the CP-140 into a multimission platform that can provide over-land surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering capabilities in addition to its traditional maritime roles.

It is estimated that AIMP-improved CP-140s will be able to operate until approximately 2025.

Block I of the AIMP covers replacement/upgrade of HF (high-frequency) radio gear, cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder, and the SRX antennae associated components.

Block II comprises an upgrade of the Navigation Capability Group (including a new horizontal situation indicator and flight direction indicator, Global Positioning System, inertial navigation system, autopilot, radar altimeter, transponder, and Aircraft Collision Avoidance System).

Block III involves an upgrade to the Communication Capability Group (three new VHF/UHF radios, VHF/FM modernization, and a new satellite-communications-based radio), the Data Management System, and the Sensor Capability Group (including a new electro-optical system, electronic support measure system, magnetic-anomaly detection system, imaging radar, and operational mission simulator).

Block IV is tentatively planned to incorporate a new Defensive Early Warning System (DEWS) and a stand-off air-to-surface missile system, but final approval for these elements has not yet been given. Block IV will also include extensive software upgrades for Block III system elements.