The Government of Australia has agreed to sell 18 used F/A-18 A/B Classic Hornets to the Canadian Government.
The decision has been made after Canada expressed its interest in September for purchasing the aircraft and associated spares.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is expected to retire its fleet of F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets by 2022.
Australia selected a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to replace its classic Hornet fighter fleet.
Commenting on the sale, Australia Minister for Defence Marise Payne said: “Australia greatly values our longstanding and broad bilateral defence relationship with Canada, and this decision is another example of our close and strong partnership.
“The aircraft will supplement Canada’s existing fleet as it develops and implements its plan to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter jet fleet.”
The first two Hornets will be delivered to Canada in 2019, while the first two Joint Strike Fighters are expected to arrive in Australia by the end of 2018.
Canada originally planned to purchase new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft from Boeing.
The deal was, however, cancelled due to a trade dispute between Boeing and Canadian company Bombardier.
The Canadian Government plans to purchase 88 advanced fighter aircraft to permanently replace the RCAF’s CF-188 Hornet fighter fleet.
Source: Airforce-Technology
