Policy

Construction Ceremony for $120 Million Quick Reaction Alert Facility in Bagotville

Mishall Rehman August 28, 2024

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Another groundbreaking ceremony was held at the base in Bagotville.

Less than a year after construction began on the new Air Force Expeditionary Capability facility, a construction ceremony was held, this time for the new Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) facility.

According to the military, the new facility will allow it to deploy Canada’s incoming new fleet of CF-35A fighter jets at the ready to support NORAD and support Operation NOBLE EAGLE, which allows Canada to monitor potential threats to its airspace 24/7.

“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,” said Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair.

Construction for this facility is valued at $120 million and is expected to sustain 600 jobs in the region. The contract for this construction has been awarded to Pomerleau Inc. of Lévis, QC. Image: A rendering of the QRA facility.

A $120 Million Facility

According to the Department of National Defence (DND), the new facility will be 7,400 m2 and include aircraft hangar bays, office space, sleeping quarters for personnel, and a 17,000 m2 secure fenced compound surrounding it.

Construction for this facility is valued at $120 million and is expected to sustain 600 jobs in the region. The contract for this construction has been awarded to Pomerleau Inc. of Lévis, QC. According to DND, the new facility will be built using a “modified design-build approach,” meaning the design and construction of the building have been awarded to a single contractor.

The building will be constructed using LEED Silver standards and will attempt to use energy-efficient options when viable. The new QRA facility should be up and running by 2027.

Marie-France Lalonde, parliamentary secretary to the minister of national defence was on hand for the ceremony in Bagotville. Image courtesy of Lalonde.

NORAD Modernization

The investment in this new facility is part of Canada’s overall commitment to pour $38.6 billion into the NORAD Modernization Plan. Specifically, the QRA facility is part of the NORAD Modernization Plan’s Defence of Canada Infrastructure Project (DCFI), which is targeted to upgrade fighter infrastructure and NORAD QRA capabilities across Canadian bases.

“For decades, NORAD has ensured the defence of North American aerospace. Today, we are reaffirming our commitment to this unique binational command, and investing in new infrastructure so that Canadian Armed Forces members can effectively deploy fifth-generation fighter jets in support of NORAD’s mission. Our government will continue to invest in new military infrastructure that supports the combat power of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Marie-France Lalonde, parliamentary secretary to the minister of national defence.

NORAD is responsible for ensuring U.S. and Canada have aerospace control, . Image: Two CF-18 Hornets from 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta, approach a CC-150 Polaris Airbus from 437 Transport Squadron in Trenton, Ontario to conduct air-to-air refueling operations over the Canadian Arctic during the NORAD Exercise AMALGAM DART 21-2, on March 23, 2021. Photo: MCpl PJ Letourneau. Image courtesy of CAF.

In June 2022, Anita Anand, then minister of national defence, announced funding for NORAD. This announcement signified the most significant upgrade to Canada’s NORAD capabilities in more than four decades.

NORAD is responsible for ensuring U.S. and Canada have aerospace control, which includes “air defense operations, through a network of alert fighters, tankers, airborne early warning aircraft, rotary wing air interceptors, and ground-based air defense assets cued by interagency and defense radars,” stated the Canadian Armed Forces.

Visit here to view the Canadian government’s NORAD Modernization Plan’s Defence of Canada Infrastructure Project (DCFI).