Equipment Procurement

Roles and Missions of the Canadian Forces

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  • The Canadian Forces’ defence priorities, as articulated in the Canada First Defence Strategy (CFDS) are to: defend Canada; defend North America; and contribute to international peace and security.
  • These priorities are underscored in the CFDS by the core missions of the Canadian Forces. An independent fighter jet capability has proven crucial to the success of each of these missions, as follows:
    • Conduct daily domestic and continental operations, including in the Arctic and through NORAD;
      • As part of Operation Noble Eagle, NORAD’s mission to safeguard North American skies, CF-18s maintain a constant state of alert, ready to respond immediately to potential threats to continental security.
      • North American Aerospace Defense Command launched three pairs of fighters on September 28, 2006 from the command's Canadian NORAD Region and the Alaskan NORAD Region in response to Russian aircraft that penetrated North America’s Air Defense Identification Zone.
    • Support a major international event in Canada; CF-18s provided around the clock support to the 2010 Olympic Games in British Columbia, keeping skies safe for athletes and spectators from around the world.
    • Respond to a major terrorist attack; Canadian CF-18s formed part of the immediate response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The Commander in Chief of NORAD asked that Canadian air sovereignty assets be available as required following the attacks.
    • Lead and/or conduct a major international operation for an extended period;
      • In 1999, Canada sent 18 CF-18s to support of Operation Allied Force, the NATO-led air campaign over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
      • In 1991, Canada sent 24 CF-18s to Qatar to participate in the US-led Desert Shield and Desert Storm campaigns during the Gulf War. Canadian Air Force pilots flew more than 5,700 hours and 2,700 sorties.
      • Canada also had CF-18s on stand-by to support the multi-national fighter jet task force in Afghanistan – ready at a moment’s notice; our allies know they can count on Canada to support them.
    • Deploy forces in response to crises elsewhere in the world for shorter periods. Canada is fully committed to providing CF-18 aircraft in support of NATO when required. Additionally, Canada commits CF-18s to the NATO Response Force on a bi-annual basis. This is a robust and credible high readiness force that quickly deploys in support of the full spectrum of NATO missions.
  • Canada’s Air Force requires a fighter aircraft that is flexible enough to take on the evolving threats and missions of today and the future.
  • Some of the threats faced by the CF-18 in the 1980s and 90s have faded, others have persisted, and new ones have emerged.
  • There may very well be threats in the coming decades which we cannot possibly foresee today, but for which we must be prepared to respond.