No upgrades for Canada Arctic air defense

OTTAWA, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Canada's Conservative government has no plans to replace 40-year-old military aircraft that patrol the Arctic region, an Ottawa newspaper reported.

The Ottawa Citizen said despite Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's assertions the country will defend its Arctic sovereignty rights as international disputes arise, his government hasn't budgeted anything for the replacement of the four Twin Otter aircraft that operate out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

The Twin Otter planes, which can carry 20 people, were purchased in 1970 and were scheduled to be decommissioned in 2010 but defense officials told the newspaper it appears that will be extended as far as 2017.

Several months ago, Harper announced funding for more ships and manpower to monitor Arctic waters but the associated legislation made no provision for replacing the aging air fleet, the newspaper said.

With the Arctic ice shield gradually melting, Canada Russia, the United States, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland have been jostling to define their share of the Arctic with regard to potential energy resources and shipping routes.