Lockheed Martin has received a 5-year, $500 million contract extension to provide support services for Canada's C-130J aircraft, the company announced Friday.

The deal will see Lockheed provide in service support for the Royal Canadian Air Force's 17 Super Hercules aircraft, Lockheed said in a statement.

Lockheed has supported the Canadian Super Hercules fleet since 2007, and the latest deal extends that original contract.

Lockheed will be the lead on providing all performance-based logistics, supporting the operations, sustainment and maintenance needs of the fleet.

The fleet has done everything from humanitarian aid operations to troop and equipment transport to the country's far north, Lockheed said.

The company said it is committed to ensuring that a majority of the maintenance work is done in Canada.

Before Canada procured the C130-J it had used the C-130E in the 1960s and acquired a C-130H fleet in the 1990s.

Lockheed delivered the Super Hercules fleet to Canada from 2010 to 2012.

Canada to consult on CF-18 jet replacement
Ottawa (UPI) Jul 8, 2016 - Canadian officials will meet with suppliers and government representatives next week at the Farnborough Airshow regarding a replacement for the country's CF-18 Hornet aircraft, the Office of the Minister of National Defense announced this week.

Government officials from National Defense, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development will be consulting interested aircraft suppliers this summer to gather the most current and accurate information on available aircraft options, the office said in a statement.

"All interested potential suppliers are welcome to participate in the consultation process in order to present the best information on available fighter aircraft to support the Government of Canada in making its decision on various options for the replacement of Canada's fleet of CF-18s," the statement said.

Undertaking early consultation at the front end of the procurement process will provide the government with information to assess risk and analyze options.

Ottawa will seek information on costs, delivery times, interoperability and benefits to the Canadian economy.

Officials will also meet with allies regarding their experiences with the aircraft options.

"Following an analysis of the up-to-date information obtained as a result of the consultation process, the Government of Canada will assess the available options of the CF-18s as soon as possible," the defense minister's office said.