The Department of National Defence brought in CP-140As in 1991 to bolster the CP-140 Aurora fleet. The Arcturus shares the same airframe as the Aurora, but is not equipped for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Because it lacks the Aurora’s heavy ASW electronics, the Arcturus is a lighter and more fuel-efficient aircraft.
However, the lighter aircraft fills many of the same roles as the CP-140: maritime surveillance, search and rescue (SAR) operations, drug trafficking interdiction and territorial sovereignty patrols. It is also used for pilot and crew training.
Like the Aurora, the Arcturus’s crew size varies depending on the mission. Typically, its complement of ten personnel includes two pilots, one flight engineer, four navigators and three Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AESOP).
