Mr. Chair, I'll answer the last part of the question first.
I don't think Canada's role on the international stage will change; I think it will be fortified.
We have been successfully employing old fleets to great effect. You speak of the Cyclone coming in, Mr. Norlock. They're working on a couple that are on the ground right now. They aren't being flown operationally yet, but they're on the way. As we're waiting for them to arrive, the tremendous work that continues to be carried out by the very aged Sea King is very impressive. Our Sea Kings are really in quite good shape. They're being held together in many cases with a lot of work behind each hour, that's for sure, but they work. They are supplying what the ships need when they go out. The F-18 is aging as well. It provided tremendous service over Libya, and it provides tremendous service in the protection of the sovereignty of Canada.
I think Canada has developed a reputation that says we will use our equipment. We will maintain our equipment very well, it will be interoperational, and we will be able to use it to great effect. But it becomes easier when we retire fleets that have been retired. Our old E models that you and I got to know so well in Trenton are now replaced by the J models. Some H models are still there, working quite well. These allow us to maintain that capability much better.
Some are coming online. You spoke to the Chinooks, the first of which will arrive this summer. That will refurbish a capability that we once had and leased from the Americans with the D-model Chinooks for the last part of our time with the air wing in Afghanistan. We will now have that as part of our fabric and have that for Canadian emergencies, for continental emergencies, and for expeditionary requirements as the government requires.
I don't think our role will change. I think it will be enhanced, because we will probably be able to get out the door with more, and more quickly.