Key Points and Summary – Canada’s search for 88 new fighters to replace its aging CF-18s narrowed dramatically when Ottawa quietly pushed Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet out of the competition.
-Officially, the contest came down to Saab’s Gripen E and Lockheed Martin’s F-35A. In reality, Boeing’s own trade complaint against Bombardier—over CSeries jets sold to Delta—poisoned its prospects.
Block III Super Hornet. A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 flies past the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Philippine Sea Aug. 21, 2013. The George Washington was underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.
-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made clear Canada would not buy from a company “suing” its aerospace sector, and a new procurement rule penalizing firms that harmed Canadian interests sealed Boeing’s fate.
-The result: a politicized fighter race where trade warfare mattered as much as performance.
Why Canada Kicked Boeing’s Super Hornet Out of Its Fighter Jet Contest
When the Royal Canadian Air Force announced it was opening a competition to replace its aging CF-18 fighters in 2017, the need was to purchase 88 fighter aircraft to fulfill its requirements for the next several decades.
Among the competitors vying for the role of Canada’s next fighter were the Lockheed Martin F-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Saab JAS-39 Gripen, and the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Dassault Aviation was involved in the competition for the Rafale but withdrew early in November 2018.
F/A-18 Super Hornet. Image: Creative Commons.
However, in late 2021, the Canadian government issued a statement noting that the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet was culled from the competition in what it called a “key milestone in the process to replace Canada’s fighter jets,” saying that the two remaining candidates in the competition were the Saab Gripen E and the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) hopes to eventually (still pending in December 2025) receive a total of 88 fighters, with deliveries beginning “as early as 2025.” The RCAF presently has some 75 CF-18A/B+ jets and is planning to add 18 former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18A/B Hornets to that fleet in the near term, as a stopgap measure.
Boeing Ousted Over Lawsuit In the US
The War Zone contacted Boeing at the time for a comment regarding Canada’s decision and received a reply.
“We are disappointed and deeply concerned by Canada’s announcement that the U.S. Government-Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet proposal will not be included in the next phase of Canada’s Future Fighter Capability procurement process.
“The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III offers proven capability and interoperability to the U.S. and its allies, as well as brings unmatched capability and lifecycle value to the Royal Canadian Air Force and a robust industrial/economic package that would deliver 250,000 jobs and CAD $61 billion to Canada’s economy [around US $47.6 billion at the then rate of conversion].
181115-N-RF825-0074
PHILIPPINE SEA (Nov. 15, 2018) Sailors prepare an F/A-18 Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, for take-off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during dual carrier operations with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Ronald Reagan and John C. Stennis are underway and conducting operations, in international waters as part of a dual carrier strike force operations. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Pacific region routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional security, stability, and prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jason N. Tarleton/Released)
“We are working with the U.S. and Canadian governments to understand the decision better and looking for the earliest date to request a debrief to determine our path forward then.”
Canadian Auditors Skewer The Australia F/A-18 Purchase
Less than three months after the U.S. government signed off on Australia’s sale of 25 F/A-18A/B aircraft to the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, which reports directly to the country’s House of Commons, released a report that panned the move.
“We found that Canada’s [existing] fighter force could not meet the government’s new operational requirement, which is to have enough aircraft ready each day to meet the highest NORAD alert level and Canada’s NATO commitment at the same time,” the Auditor General’s report stated.
“The fighter force could not meet the requirement because National Defense was already experiencing a shortage in personnel, and the CF-18 was old and increasingly hard to maintain.”
What Led To Canada’s Decision To Cut Boeing’s F/A-18?
Canada’s government decided to eliminate the Super Hornet’s bid primarily due to a trade dispute initiated by Boeing against the Canadian company Bombardier.
Bombardier and Delta Airlines made a deal to sell 75 CSeries light airliners to Delta, and Boeing then filed a formal complaint.
Super Hornet. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Boeing alleged foreign government subsidies and other unfair business practices had given Bombardier an unfair advantage and accused it of “dumping” the aircraft into the U.S. market at an artificially low price.
“We have obviously been looking at the Super Hornet aircraft from Boeing as a potential significant procurement of our new fighter jets,” Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said back in the fall of 2017.
“But we won’t do business with a company that’s busy trying to sue us and put our aerospace workers out of business.”
Boeing lost the case when the US International Trade Commission ruled against the aerospace giant in 2018.
However, Boeing’s actions soured Canada-U.S. trade relations, and Canada responded by implementing a rule that made it a significant disadvantage for any company harming its economic interests to win future contracts, effectively disqualifying the Super Hornet from further consideration for its permanent fleet replacement.
Additionally, some internal Canadian government and military assessments raised questions about the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) readiness to operate a new fleet and whether the Super Hornet met all its requirements.
Political Fallout From The Boeing Lawsuit
Canada’s government responded by creating a new procurement policy that would penalize companies that had harmed Canada’s economic interests. This rule directly impacted the Super Hornet, making it ineligible for the permanent fleet competition, the BBC reported.
Readiness and requirements were also factors in Canada’s decision. Before the cancellation, some government assessments suggested the RCAF had more pressing needs, such as more technicians and pilots, rather than a new fleet. There were also reports that the Super Hornet did not meet specific requirements in the permanent fleet competition, though these specific requirements were not publicly released.
Competition and Cost Factors
The Super Hornet was one of three aircraft competing to replace the aging CF-18 fleet. While the trade dispute was the primary reason for its disqualification, the evaluation criteria included factors beyond just cost.
The F-35 is clearly the better aircraft, and the US Navy chose it to replace the F/A-18 Hornet.
Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lighting IIs fly in formation with two ROKAF F-35As during Freedom Shield 25, a defense-oriented exercise featuring live, virtual, and field-based training, March 13, 2025. The aircraft participated in dynamic targeting and aerial refueling training, validating the capability of ROK and U.S. Air Forces, to find, fix, and defeat a range of threats. (Photo courtesy of Republic of Korea Air Force)
The Super Hornet is a larger, heavier “bomb truck” with more internal fuel and payload capacity. At the same time, the Gripen is a more agile, cost-effective multi-role fighter with lower operating costs and a smaller logistical footprint.
Key advantages for the Super Hornet include a larger payload, whereas the Gripen excels in maneuverability, lower maintenance, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
