Go Bold #47: Brigadier-General Todd Balfe on upgrading the RCAF CF-18 Hornet fighter fleet

This episode is focused on the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) modernization effort to enhance its fleet of CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft.The $1.3 billion (CAD) project to upgrade the CF-18 Hornet fleet is meant to ensure Canada's fighter fleet remains capable of responding to threats until new jets acquired under the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) reaches Operational Capability. You'll hear my guest and I refer to FFCP in our discussion -- that platform will be the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.The upgrade effort is known as the Hornet Extension Project, or HEP for short. It is required to keep the CF-18 fleet interoperable and compliant with aviation regulations, and to maintain operational parity with current threats.The Hornet Extension Project will see upgrades to all CF-18’s in the fleet, and that includes jets that were acquired from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under the Interim Fighter Capability Project (IFCP).The Hornet Extension Project will have two Phases.HEP 1 focuses primarily on interoperability and regulatory upgrades for all CF-18’s.HEP 2 is a further enhancement that will see 36 jets configured as the most capable fighters in the Royal Canadian Air Force.HEP 2 upgrades include a new radar, advanced weapons capability, enhanced survivability, and mission support and security requirements which are primarily required to support new weapons for the CF-18.This upgrade effort is being conducted in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps, who are also upgrading their legacy Hornet fleet.Joining me to talk about all of this is Royal Canadian Air Force Brigadier-General Todd Balfe, who manages the Hornet Extension Project. The General puts context into the modernization, so we thank him for his time, and for his kindness.Go Bold!