The CF-18 is a close Air Support...in 1970's when Canada had annonced the replacement program of the CF-101/CF-104 and CF-116..we had three choice :
- Tornado
- F-16
- F-18
The F-16 was the primary choice for future fleet because he was not expensive and that can permit to CF to maintain a fleet of 600+ fighter and was used for long range patrol. But at this time that was a program for multi-role fighter who can replaced all the fleet of CF-101,CF-104 and CF-116 for one unique aircraft (that was the project of conservative and Liberal)..the remaining choice was the Tornado and F-18 (based aircraft carrier)...the Tornado was very expensive but seriously better than the F-18 because he wasn't designed for aircraft carrier (short range patrol) but for long range patrol (don't need external fuel tank). But that was confirmed a contract of 150 CF-18 and 50 in option but was finally changed for 138 CF-18 and the option of 50 was abandoned. The CF-18 today have many problem and never receive modernization like since 2000s in PHASE I and PHASE II for 5 billion dollar (40 million each CF-18). They have no replacement project, Harper had announced a program of 100 F-35 for finally 65 and later confirmed isn't sure due of the poor capacity of F-35.
But the CF-18 are a close-air, the 88 CF-116 was supposed to be replaced in 1980s like the CF-101 and CF-104 but finally had a full services duty to 1995. Today some Gen. such Gen. Rick Hillier (Former General) had said we need a large among of fighter (Interceptor and multi-role) approximately 500-600 fighter because the 80 CF-18 who still in services are not enough to protect Canadian sky this is the minimum for USA to secure his sky imagine for Canada two time larger than USA...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9afjpS8VA0w here a video from Discovery Channel about the CF-18 close air support..to prepare CF in Afghanistan
- Tornado
- F-16
- F-18
The F-16 was the primary choice for future fleet because he was not expensive and that can permit to CF to maintain a fleet of 600+ fighter and was used for long range patrol. But at this time that was a program for multi-role fighter who can replaced all the fleet of CF-101,CF-104 and CF-116 for one unique aircraft (that was the project of conservative and Liberal)..the remaining choice was the Tornado and F-18 (based aircraft carrier)...the Tornado was very expensive but seriously better than the F-18 because he wasn't designed for aircraft carrier (short range patrol) but for long range patrol (don't need external fuel tank). But that was confirmed a contract of 150 CF-18 and 50 in option but was finally changed for 138 CF-18 and the option of 50 was abandoned. The CF-18 today have many problem and never receive modernization like since 2000s in PHASE I and PHASE II for 5 billion dollar (40 million each CF-18). They have no replacement project, Harper had announced a program of 100 F-35 for finally 65 and later confirmed isn't sure due of the poor capacity of F-35.
But the CF-18 are a close-air, the 88 CF-116 was supposed to be replaced in 1980s like the CF-101 and CF-104 but finally had a full services duty to 1995. Today some Gen. such Gen. Rick Hillier (Former General) had said we need a large among of fighter (Interceptor and multi-role) approximately 500-600 fighter because the 80 CF-18 who still in services are not enough to protect Canadian sky this is the minimum for USA to secure his sky imagine for Canada two time larger than USA...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9afjpS8VA0w here a video from Discovery Channel about the CF-18 close air support..to prepare CF in Afghanistan