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Key Points and Summary: Canada’s aging CF-18 fleet, acquired in the 1980s, showcases the Royal Canadian Air Force’s pressing need for modernization. Despite upgrades and second-hand purchases, the jets’ reliability and combat relevance are in decline.

-Prolonged service increases maintenance costs and undermines Canada’s defense commitments—especially important for NORAD and NATO operations. Plans to replace the CF-18s with 88 F-35A fighters highlight the urgency, but delayed deliveries extend reliance on outdated aircraft for years to come.

-This underscores broader procurement dysfunction within Canadian defense policy. While the CF-18 has provided dependable service for decades, Canada’s future security hinges on a timely and successful F-35 transition.

Canada’s CF-18 Dilemma: Why Old Jets Can’t Keep Up

Canada’s fleet of CF-18 Hornets, procured in the 1980s, reflects the country’s struggles with defense procurement and modernization. Designed during the Cold War, these fighters have served admirably for decades but are now far past their prime.

The question of how much longer Canada can rely on these aging aircraft is not merely technical or operational; it also highlights broader strategic, political, and economic challenges.

The CF-18, a variant of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, was initially tailored to meet Canada’s requirements for air defense, interdiction, and reconnaissance. While advanced in its day, its capabilities now pale in comparison to modern fighters. These aircraft face increasing issues, including airframe fatigue, outdated avionics, and reduced survivability against adversaries with advanced air defenses and stealth capabilities.

Canada has tried to maintain readiness by upgrading systems and extending the CF-18’s life, but these measures come with significant costs and cannot overcome the aircraft’s inherent limitations.

The reliance on the CF-18 raises critical questions about Canada’s ability to fulfill its defense commitments. Domestically, the aircraft are vital to protecting Canadian airspace and supporting NORAD, the joint Canada-U.S. aerospace defense partnership. With Russian air activity increasing, reliable and modern fighters are essential. Internationally, the CF-18’s diminished combat effectiveness threatens Canada’s ability to contribute meaningfully to NATO missions and collective defense. In an era of intensifying great-power competition, this compromises Canada’s standing as a credible ally.

Replacing the CF-18 has been a long and contentious process. After years of indecision, Canada committed in 2022 to purchasing 88 F-35A Lightning II fighters. While this was a positive step, the procurement process has been plagued by delays, reflecting systemic dysfunction in Canada’s defense acquisition system. The F-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, offers advanced capabilities and enhanced interoperability with allies.

However, the first operational F-35s are not expected until 2026, with full fleet capability unlikely before the early 2030s. This leaves Canada relying on aging CF-18s for the foreseeable future, increasing maintenance costs and operational risks.

Prolonging the CF-18’s service life is not sustainable. The incremental costs of maintaining these aging aircraft divert resources that could be better spent on accelerating F-35 acquisitions or addressing other defense priorities.

As the fleet ages, availability declines, maintenance downtime increases, and safety concerns grow. These challenges place additional strain on pilots and ground crews, who must balance the demands of outdated equipment with preparing for a transition to new platforms, exacerbating personnel burnout and retention issues.

Canada has pursued interim measures, such as acquiring 25 second-hand F/A-18 Hornets from Australia. While this has helped extend operational life, these aircraft are also nearing the end of their serviceable lifespan. Leasing modern fighters could provide a temporary solution, but such arrangements are politically and financially contentious. Ultimately, these stopgaps fail to address the systemic issues underlying Canada’s inability to modernize its air force promptly.

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (July 11, 2016) A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet flies alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker flown by a crew from the 465th Air Refueling Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., in support of Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Grady Epperly)

The CF-18’s predicament underscores deeper structural problems in Canadian defense policy. Successive governments have deferred difficult decisions, prioritizing short-term political considerations over long-term military needs. The Trudeau government’s 2017 defense policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, pledged increased spending and modernization, but progress has been slow. While the F-35 decision is a step forward, the broader challenges that hinder Canada’s defense posture remain unresolved.

The CF-18 has been a cornerstone of Canadian air defense for nearly forty years, but its time is running out. Continuing to rely on these aging fighters risks not only financial inefficiency but also Canada’s credibility as a defense partner. The F-35 acquisition is necessary and overdue, but the transition must be managed far more efficiently than has been the case to date. As geopolitical tensions rise, particularly in the Arctic and North Atlantic, Canada cannot afford to let its air force fall behind. The CF-18’s legacy is one of reliability and service, but the future demands a modern and capable fleet. Prioritizing a smooth and timely transition should be an overriding goal for Canadian defense policymakers.

Canada Air Force

Two Canadian Forces, 410 Squadron CF-188B Multi-Role Fighters, one painted in special anniversary colors, flying over the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) for planned engagements during the Tiger Meet of the Americas. The Inaugural Tiger Meet of the Americas brought together flying units from throughout North America that have a Tiger or large cat as their unit symbol. The Tiger Meet of the Americas closely mirrors the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)/Europe Tiger Meet in its goal of fostering camaraderie, teamwork and tactics familiarization.

About the Author: Andrew Latham 

Andrew Latham is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities and a professor of international relations and political theory at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. Andrew is now a Contributing Editor to 19FortyFive.