Boeing has delivered the first of 80 aircraft to be updated under Phase 1 of the Canadian Forces' C$880 million ($646 million) CF-18 Hornet modernisation project. Phase 1 involves installation of the Raytheon APG-73 radar, Have Quick jam-resistant radios, combined IFF interrogator/transponder, new mission computers, stores management and global positioning/inertial navigation systems. Completion of the first phase in 2006 will make Canadian CF-18s fully interoperable with allied forces, says Boeing. The US manufacturer is providing C$507 million in industrial offsets to Canada under the programme. Canada's Bombardier is performing the upgrade, with the last aircraft due for handover in 2006. Canada will retain the Hornet until at least 2017. Phase 2 projects are still in development and planning stages while a number of other programmes, including new air-to-air missiles, are running in parallel with Phase 1.
Source: Flight International
