TSAMTO, April 9. The Canadian Air Force will soon receive another six of the 25 ordered F/A-18A "Hornet" fighters from the Australian Air Force.
As Scramble Magazine recalls, the Canadian government initially approved the purchase of 18 new F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" aircraft to replace the outdated CF-18s before delivering them to Boeing at a cost of about $ 5 billion. However, the project was canceled after Boeing filed a complaint with the US Department of Commerce accusing the Canadian Bombardier of receiving illegal subsidies from the Quebec regional government and dumping. As a result, the administration of former US President Donald Trump imposed a 300% duty on Bombardier aircraft.
As a response, the Government of Canada decided to abandon the purchase of the "Super Hornet" in the United States and purchase F/A-18A/B "Hornet" aircraft from the Australian Air Force.
In December 2017, Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne announced that the government had agreed to sell Canada 18 F/A-18A/B "Hornet" (F/A-18 Classic Hornet) fighters in service with the country's Air Force. The US government approved the sale of Australian F-18s in September 2018. The Government of Canada finalized the agreement in January 2019.
The cost of the aircraft themselves is 90 million canadas. The cost of operation is estimated at about 500 million canadas. including personnel, infrastructure, and modernization costs.
In addition to the 18 airworthy fighters, the Canadian Air Force will receive 7 aircraft that will be used for testing, training and as a source of spare parts. Ottawa will also purchase additional parts as part of the deal.
Once delivered, the fighters will be equipped with software for flying in Canadian airspace, ejection seats for pilots, and lighting used by the Canadian CF-18 fleet.
The first pair of purchased single-seat F/A-18A arrived in Cold Lake (prov.Alberta) from Nellis, Nevada, on February 16, 2019, where they participated in Exercise RED FLAG. On February 17, 2019, an official welcoming ceremony was held. The third aircraft was delivered to Canada on February 6, 2020.
According to the Canadian Air Force, the Australian aircraft will be delivered in batches over three years and integrated into the Air Force as modifications are completed. It was planned that the second batch of aircraft will arrive in the second half of 2019, and the last aircraft - by the end of 2021. Apparently, this schedule will not be maintained. At the moment, six more aircraft are ready to be sent.
Earlier, the Federal Government of Canada confirmed that the Australian aircraft will be used in conjunction with CF-18 aircraft at the bases in Cold Lake (prov.Alberta) and Bagotville (prov.Quebec). Currently, about 70 F/A-18A/B aircraft remain in service with the Australian Air Force (including 16 two-seat F/A-18B aircraft). The Australian Armed Forces Command plans to remove them from service by 2022.
