Canada Receives First Six Upgraded CF-18 Fighter Aircraft

The Canadian CF-18 aircraft were upgraded in collaboration under the U.S. Navy's F/A -18 Hornet Extension Program.

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) announced that the CF-18 Hornet Extension Project (HEP) has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) as part of a five-year collaboration with the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265). This involves the delivery of the first six HEP2 upgraded fighter aircraft to 3 Wing Bagotville, Canada.

A total of 84 aircraft will undergo upgrades through this project, which will provide all aircraft with HEP 1 interoperability upgrades and 36 aircraft with HEP 2 combat capability upgrades.

The RCAF worked with PMA-265’s Canadian Foreign Military Sales (FMS) team to procure various systems and weapons for the HEP. The FMS team facilitated these procurements to meet the RCAF's deadlines.

The extension project enhances the RCAF’s CF-18 Hornets with improved weapons and avionics capabilities, supporting the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s mission. This project is aimed at maintaining RCAF readiness as it transitions from CF-18 fighters to the next-generation CF-35A, expected to be fully operational in the early 2030s.

Full Operational Capability is expected in spring 2026, when all 84 CF-18s will be delivered, upgraded, and operational.

PMA-265 has partnered with the RCAF for nearly 45 years. Since April 1980, PMA-265’s FMS team has facilitated aircraft upgrades through U.S. Navy-developed engineering change proposals and various efforts, including the procurement, delivery, and integration of the Joint Direct Attack Munition weapons system, as well as upgrades to the aircrew trainer.

PMA-265 provides total life cycle support management for the F/A-18A-D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler weapons systems, acquiring, delivering, and sustaining these aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators, as well as international partners including Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain, and Switzerland.