Canada is evaluating the option of buying second-hand F/A-18s from Australia.
“Australia has flown a very similar F-18 to ours, it is one of the reasons why we have sent a team down to take a look at various options,” Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters on 6 September. “Our engineers will take a look at all the specs to make sure the airframe is worthy enough, making sure we look at the systems that are also employed. They will provide an assessment in short order.”
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)