Center for analysis of world arms trade, the 6th of June. Minister of public works and purchases of Canada Karla Kuoltroy during the last exhibition of military equipment CANSEC stated, that the first batch of F/A-18A/B “Hornet” fighters from the Air Forces of Australia will be got in 2019.
Nevertheless, according to the newspaper Ottava Citizen, Minister confirmed, that the final cost of agreement on supply of 18 aircraft, spare parts, armament and equipment is not definite yet. Government of Canada previously allocated for implementation of project up to 500 million of canadian dollars. Negotiations on purchase are continuing.
In its turn, Assistant to the Deputy defense Minister of Canada for material support Pet Finn reported, that government of the state got from Australia a letter with a project valuation. According to him, with considering proposed cost the contract will be signed by the end of year, and supplies will begin in summer, 2019 (originally Government planned to get the first aircraft from the Australian Air Forces in January, 2019).
For transmission of F/A-18A/B “Hornet” to Canada Australia has to get approval of the US State Department, because of these aircraft of American production.
As the Center for analysis of world arms trade, in December 2017 Minister of defense of Australia Maris Pain, announced, that the government of the state agreed to sell 18 F/A-18A/B “Hornet” (F/A-18 Classic Hornet) fighters which are arming in the Air Force of State to Canada.
At the current moment in the armament of the Australian Air Forces there are 70 F/A-18A/B aircraft (including 16 two seated F/A-18B). The Australian Armed Forces Command plans to disarm the existing F/A-18A/B “Hornet” fighters by 2022, with their gradual replacement by the fifth generation F-35A “Lightning-2” aircraft.
According to the Ministry of National Defense of Canada, Australian aircraft have a similar “age” and type with Canadian CF-18s and can be integrated into the Air Force quickly, with minimal modifications, without training personnel and infrastructure changes. The Australian-transmitted F-18 will be modified and refined, which will lead to a configuration similar to the CF-18. They will be used by the Canadian Air Force until they receive a new generation of fighters.
Earlier federal government of Canada confirmed, that 18 “australian” F/A-18A/B “Hornet” will be used together with CF-18 aircraft on bases in Cold-Lake (Albert provinces) and Bagotville (Quebec provinces).