OTTAWA, Jan 16: Ottawa will buy 17 military transport planes from US aircraft maker Lockheed Martin, media here reported on Wednesday, in a purchase that is part of a broad effort to modernise Canada’s air force.

Lockheed Martin beat out European aerospace rival Airbus to seal the deal, valued at some US$4.8 billion, the daily National Post newspaper wrote.

The Canadian government approved the purchase of the C-130J aircraft after 17 months of negotiations with Lockheed Martin.

The deal, which includes a 20-year maintenance contract, will enable the government to replace the aging fleet of Lockheed-built Hercules aircraft currently in use by Canada’s air force.—AFP