Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Defence Minister Bill Blair are slated to take part in news conference Thursday, announcing Boeing as the company of choice to replace the Canadian Armed Forces’ aging patrol planes.

The choice to go with a sole-source multibillion-dollar contract would shut the door on Quebec-based Bombardier, which has been vying for an open bid.

According to the Canadian Press, two sources have confirmed that following cabinet approval last week, the Treasury Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, and rubber-stamped the purchase of 16 P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft to replace the current fleet of fifty-year-old planes.

The federal government has only said that it will be providing an update on equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces during the afternoon news conference, but didn’t specify what equipment it was regarding.