Bagotville – Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced the beginning of construction on a new Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) facility at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Bagotville.
This facility will enable Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members to posture and deploy Canada’s incoming fleet of CF-35A fighter jets in a flight-ready state in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations.
The new 7,400 m2 QRA facility at CFB Bagotville will include aircraft hangar bays, office space and sleeping quarters for personnel, and a 17,000 m2 secure fenced compound surrounding the facility. Once completed, it will help CAF personnel support Canada and the Norad mission and quickly respond to any threats in North American airspace.
Construction is estimated at approximately $120 million and will sustain more than 600 jobs in the region. The facility is expected to be completed in 2027. The design and construction contract has been awarded to Pomerleau Inc of Lévis, QC.
This investment is part of Canada’s $38.6 billion Norad Modernization Plan, announced by the Government of Canada in June 2022. This represents the most significant upgrade to Canada’s NORAD capabilities in almost four decades. In particular, the QRA facility is part of the NORAD Modernization Plan’s Defence of Canada Infrastructure Project (DCFI), which commits funding to upgrade fighter infrastructure and NORAD QRA capabilities at bases across Canada to operationalize and employ the CF-35A for continental defence.
This project will provide Canadian Armed Forces personnel with the infrastructure they need to support the Norad mission, including Operation NOBLE EAGLE, which deters, detects, and defeats potential threats to U.S. and Canadian airspace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
“This investment in Bagotville will enable our personnel at the base to plan, posture, and deploy our new fleet of CF-35A fighters rapidly and effectively. Today’s milestone is a clear sign of Canada’s commitment to modernizing our Norad infrastructure and capabilities in support of the continental defence mission. In close collaboration with our American allies, our government will continue to make the necessary investments to protect North America as our continent faces new security challenges.” – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence