This particular program is quite substantial. We signed a contract with a consortium of Canadian companies in order to deliver it. It is the largest investment in the Royal Canadian Air Force since the Second World War.
We've also, as you've indicated, signed contracts to acquire new F-35 fighters and P-8A multi-mission aircraft. There are other significant investments in new trainers so that our people can train properly and safely.
Over the next 25 years, that program is going to provide our pilots and our aircrews.... It's really important because I think we often focus on the training of pilots. Don't get me wrong. Pilots are really important, but every plane requires a crew and that crew requires maintenance personnel and other supports, so we need to invest in that.
We've signed contracts to deliver those planes. The P-8As are going to start being delivered by 2026. We're moving really rapidly in order to get the Canadian Armed Forces exactly the tools that it needs. However, we have to make sure that our people are ready when those new aircraft arrive, so there's an urgency to this. It's why we've put $659 million in these supplementary estimates to begin that essential program.
Canada also has an extraordinary reputation around the world. As a country that has trained pilots and aircrews for other of our allies, certainly through the Second World War, we're re-establishing that capability for Canada because I think it's another significant contribution our country could make to global peace and security.