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Based on information released by the Canadian Department of National Defence, ICAS has provided the locations and ranges of Canadian air units possessing fighter jet capabilities.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) currently possesses two types of fighter aircraft,: the CF-188 Hornet (or CF-18 Hornet) and the F/A-18 Hornet.
CF-188 Hornet.
Photo: Royal Canadian Air Force
F/A-18 Hornet.
Photo: U.S. Naval Institute
Two wings possess the CF-188 Hornets,: the 3 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville and the 4 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake. The RCAF purchased a total of 25 F/A-18 Hornets from the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017. The first two F/A-18A arrived at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake on February 16, 2019. These F/A-18 Hornets will be employed at 3 Wing Bagotville and 4 Wing Cold Lake to supplement RCAF’s current fighter jet capacity.
Canadian Department of National Defence is considering replacing its current aging CF-18 (CF-188) with more modernly-designed aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II. However, the competition for Canada’s new aircraft has been an ongoing and controversial progress. News report suggested that there are currently three companies that remain in the competition, F-35 from Lockheed Martin Canada, F/A-18 Super Hornet from Boeing, and the updated version of the Gripen from Saab.
Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, located in northern Alberta, primarily hosts two active Tactical Fighter Squadrons (401, 409), the 410 Tactical Fighter (Operational Training) Squadron, the 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, and the 42 Radar Squadron.
Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, located in Quebec, primarily hosts two Tactical Fighter Squadrons (425 and 433) and the 12 Radar Squadron.
Disclaimer:
Due to technical limitations of the mapping program, this map only depicts air power projection in and directly around the Arctic circle.
Clarification:
Canadian Forces Base Bagotville located in the southern region of Canada is intentionally left on the map because its forces are included in Canada’s air power projection in the Arctic.
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