Why Canada’s Air Force Is In Such Rough Shape

The CF-18, a Canadian version of the F/A-18 Hornet, has been Canada’s fighter of choice since the 1980s. As a variant of the F/A-18, it is a versatile multi-role fighter that poses a capable threat to its enemies.

However, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has a problem. Its fighter fleet is growing old, and spare parts are running low.

For the past several years, Canada has been trying to modernize and eventually replace its CF-18 fleet with new fighters that will keep the RCAF a credible force.

The Canadian F/A-18

The CF-18 Hornet was introduced to the RCAF in 1982, following the New Fighter Aircraft Project competition. This competition aimed to find a suitable replacement for the CF-104 Starfighter, CF-101 Voodoo, and CF-116 Freedom Fighter. The F/A-18 Hornet was selected due to its proven design and the substantial industrial benefits it offered. The CF-18s were delivered between 1982 and 1988, equipping five squadrons in Canada and three in West Germany at CFB Baden-Soellingen.

The CF-18 Hornet is a versatile and powerful aircraft. It boasts a length of 17.07 meters, a wingspan of 12.31 meters, and a height of 4.66 meters. With an empty weight of 10,455 kilograms, the CF-18 can achieve a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and has a range of 3,700 kilometers. Its twin engines provide a maximum standard thrust of 4,850 kilograms each, which can be increased to 7,290 kilograms with afterburners. The CF-18 is equipped for various roles, including air defense, air superiority, ground attack, tactical support, training, aerobatic demonstration, and aerospace testing and evaluation.

Why Canada Wants to Replace its CF-18s

Despite its strong capabilities, the CF-18 fleet is aging and facing increasing challenges. Acquired in the 1980s, these aircraft are now well past their prime. The prolonged service life of the CF-18s has led to higher maintenance costs and reduced reliability. Additionally, the jets’ combat relevance is in decline, with outdated avionics and reduced survivability against modern air defenses.

Canada’s defense commitments, both domestically and internationally, necessitate a modern and capable fighter fleet. Domestically, the CF-18s are vital for protecting Canadian airspace and supporting NORAD. With threats like Russia increasing its air activity and pushing further into the Arctic, Canada needs to maintain its defensive posture. Internationally, the CF-18’s diminished combat effectiveness threatens Canada’s ability to contribute meaningfully to NATO missions and collective defense should the need arise.

The process to replace the CF-18s has been ongoing since 1997, with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II being the primary candidate. However, this procurement has faced numerous delays and political challenges. The F-35 has been recommended twice, in 2010 and 2014, as the lowest-cost option that meets Canada’s requirements and offers the best industrial benefits. Despite these recommendations, the procurement process has been mired in politics and public apathy.

In recent years, Canada has formally decided to acquire 88 F-35As, with initial deliveries expected in 2026. This transition is crucial for Canada’s future security, but delayed deliveries mean that the RCAF will continue to rely on the aging CF-18s for several more years. The CF-18 fleet, even bolstered by the purchase of 18 ex-Australian F/A-18A-Bs, will struggle to effectively fulfill its defense obligations until the full complement of F-35s arrives.

The Decline of the RCAF

Unfortunately for Canada, its fighters are not the only issues the RCAF has been facing in recent years. The RCAF has been facing a personnel shortage of trainers and pilots for some time now. This shortage stems from low morale in the RCAF, which has had trouble retaining experienced personnel. Many pilots in the RCAF believe themselves to be inadequately trained and ill-equipped for the various missions they may be sent on, leading to many leaving the RCAF.

This trend spells trouble for Canada’s plans to phase out the CF-18, as Canada does not have the personnel to train pilots on the F-35 while maintaining a combat-effective fleet. As Canadian news sites wrote, “there will be insufficient experienced pilots to effectively transition the force onto the F-35 while maintaining any meaningful combat capabilities in the remaining two CF-18 HEP II squadrons out to 2032.” This reflects broader trends in the Canadian Armed Forces, which has been struggling with lower recruitment rates and loss of skilled personnel. If this continues unaddressed, Canada will have serious problems fulfilling its treaty obligations with NATO and other military partners.

All in all, the CF-18 is a fine aircraft, but after several decades in service, it has finally reached its limits. With a shortage of spare parts, maintaining the aircraft is becoming more difficult and more expensive as time goes on. With the lack of trained personnel, maintaining full combat readiness is also becoming increasingly more difficult for the RCAF. The silver lining for Canada is that the CF-18 is slated to be replaced by the F-35, which is a far superior aircraft. However, that transition also requires time and experienced personnel. Overall, the Canadian Armed Forces is in a state of decline, and the CF-18 problem is just one example of a much larger downward trend.

About the Author:

Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.