The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) recently announced that the CF-18 Hornet Extension Project (HEP) achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC), a significant accomplishment in a five-year collaborative effort with the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265). This milestone marks the delivery of the first six HEP2 upgraded fighter aircraft to 3 Wing Bagotville, Canada. In total, 84 aircraft will be upgraded through this project, which will provide all aircraft with HEP 1 interoperability upgrades and 36 aircraft with HEP 2 combat capability upgrades. The RCAF collaborated with PMA-265’s Canadian Foreign Military Sales (FMS) team to procure various systems and weapons for the HEP. PMA-265’s FMS team facilitated these procurements to meet the RCAF’s tight deadlines.
“Achieving this milestone and ensuring the timely delivery of the first six aircraft required extensive coordination and cooperation among industry partners, PMA-265 and the Navy F/A-18 enterprise, including the Air Weapons Laboratory and radar teams at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake,” said PMA-265 Canadian and Spanish F/A-18 Program Manager Don Valentine. “By executing procurement of weapons, hardware and software products to meet RCAF’s milestones, PMA-265 has provided the necessary support that has made the RCAF Hornet program an active and significant participant in international operations.”
The extension project enhances the RCAF’s CF-18 Hornets with advanced weapons and avionics capabilities, ensuring the aircraft remain deployable and interoperable as it supports the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s mission to protect North America. This project is crucial for maintaining RCAF readiness as it transitions from the CF-18 fighters to the next-generation CF-35A, anticipated to be fully operational in the early 2030s. Looking ahead, Full Operational Capability is expected in spring 2026, when all 84 CF-18s will be delivered, upgraded and operational.
PMA-265 has partnered with the RCAF for almost 45 years. Since April 1980, PMA-265’s FMS team has supported the RCAF by facilitating aircraft upgrades through U.S. Navy-developed engineering change proposals and various efforts, including procurement, delivery and integration of the Joint Direct Attack Munition weapons system, procurement and incorporation of the Navy Aircrew Common Ejection Seat as well as upgrades to the aircrew trainer.
PMA-265 provides critical current and future capabilities in the form of total life cycle support management for the F/A-18A-D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler weapons systems. It is responsible for acquiring, delivering and sustaining the F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft, ensuring mission success for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators, as well as international partners to include Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland.
