Ottawa looking at retiring some older military equipment — including the Snowbird jets

The Department of National Defence is actively considering whether to retire some older ships, planes and other items of equipment that have become difficult and costly to maintain — including the aircraft belonging to the iconic Snowbird demonstration squadron.

In an interview with CBC News, Defence Minister Bill Blair insisted no decisions have been made and he's waiting on advice from military leaders.

Blair said the 1960s-vintage CT-114 Tutor jets used by the Snowbirds have been in service too long. He said he's asked the commander of the air force whether the planes — which were given a life extension to 2025 and are now going through an additional upgrade — have finally «aged out.»

«The reality is the Tutor plane is well past its utility,» Blair said. «There are even some safety issues that are deeply concerning to me and I've received assurances that through this flight season… they can manage those safely, but it continues to persist as a concern.»

Blair did not elaborate on those safety issues. The aircraft have crashed a number of times. Capt. Jennifer Casey, an air force public affairs officer, died on May 17, 2020 when the Snowbird she was in crashed after takeoff near Kamloops, B.C.

The air force recently installed new avionics the defence department says can keep the demonstration jets flying until perhaps 2030 — almost 70 years after they were purchased.

Defence sources say the navy's 1990s vintage minesweepers, known as maritime coastal defence vessels (MCDVs), could also be on the chopping block.

«There's a number of our ships that have… they're becoming increasingly expensive, almost prohibitively expensive to maintain and… even to staff,» Blair said, adding he's awaiting a recommendation from the commander of