Each bomb, the Department of National Defence told Postmedia News, cost between $34,000 and $43,000.
Canada deployed seven of its aging CF-18 fighter jets to participate in the NATO-led mission, which raged from February to October 2011. The squadron was based in Sicily, and participated in bombing runs against pro-Gadhafi forces and helped enforce the no-fly zone over Libya's skies.
All of the 695 bombs dropped by the RCAF in the course of conflict were so-called "smart bombs," which are guided into their targets as they fall.
About 98 per cent of bombs dropped were from the Paveway II family of laser-guided smart bombs, commonly used by the American military. Canada favoured the smaller 500-pound version of the bomb - dropping 495 - as opposed to the 2000-pound version, of which the RCAF dropped 188.
The RCAF also appears to have experimented with the Joint Direct Attack Munition family of GPS-guided smart bombs, dropping just 11 of the 500-pound versions and two 2,000-pound versions.
Air-dropped bombs are no longer manufactured in Canada, since the SNC-Lavalin munitions factories in Quebec were sold to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada Inc. in 2007.
Without a domestic supplier, the RCAF must look south of the border to buy bombs.
"The majority of the ordnance dropped by the CF-18 Hornet is procured from American sources," Josee Hunter, a spokeswoman for DND said.
Bomb Type — number dropped — unit cost — total cost
GBU 12 Paveway II — 500 lbs. — 495 x $35,000 = $17,325,000
GBU 10 Paveway II — 2000 lbs. — 188 x $37,500 = $7,050,000
GBU 38 JDAM — 500 lbs. — 11 x $34,000 = $374,000
GBU 31 JDAM — 2000 lbs. — 2 x $43,000 = $86,000
Source: calgary herald
Author: Jeff Davis and Lee Berthiaume
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