Canada to acquire ex-Australian Hornets?

The Canadian Government is considering the possible purchase of second-hand F/A-18A Hornets from Australia rather than procuring 18 new F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from Boeing. Canadian officials have reportedly been to Australia to discuss the potential purchase of the Hornets. Australia plans to start retiring its F/A-18A/Bs in late 2018 when No 3 Squadron begins its transition to the F-35A. Australia’s remaining Hornet squadrons will also convert to the Lightning II by 2022, with No 2 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), No 77 Squadron and No 75 Squadron following at some one-year intervals. The Canadian Armed Forces had received 138 CF-188A/Bs beginning in 1982, of which some 30 remain in service.