As the Finland and Switzerland, Canada should very soon choose the new fighter that will replace its fleet of F / A-18 Hornets, locally redesignated CF-188 or CF-18A +. If the date for submission of the application files has been postponed for a few months Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the 88 new Canadian fighter jets are still expected by 2025, with deliveries to end in 2035. This schedule however means that the current CF-18 Hornets will have to play extensions at least until 2030, and most probably beyond, until the new aircraft are not only received but also fully operational within the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
So that the Hornet fleet can last another fifteen years, several decisions have been made by the Canadian authorities. On the one hand, about twenty Hornets were bought second-hand in Australia, in order to allow the RCAF to field an additional squadron of Hornets and to avoid the overuse of some 75 CF-18s still in service in Canada. But this decision has however raised many criticisms given the advanced age of Australian aircraft. On the other hand, Ottawa has asked Washington to authorize the sale of equipment and weapons to modernize in depth, but at reduced cost, at least two squadrons of CF-18 Hornets. However, this request has just been accepted by the American authorities.
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