Through the publication of a brief statement on its social media channels, the Government of Canada announced that the CF-18 fighters operated by its Royal Air Force are now equipped with the AIM-120D-3 air-to-air missile, which is currently the most advanced version available. This development comes just weeks after the service completed a live-fire test with this weapon and aircraft during Exercise Combat Archer, which was carried out together with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) from Tyndall Air Force Base in the state of Florida.
Expanding on some details, Ottawa reported that the process of integrating the new missiles was made possible thanks to the close cooperation of different Royal Canadian Air Force units, among them the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron and the Hornet Extension Project (HEP) Integrated Test Team, CAE Canada, the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, and the Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron. On the other hand, it should be noted that the U.S. contribution also took shape through the support provided by the Advanced Weapons Lab, which facilitated the missile’s integration into the CF-18s.
Referring to what the arrival of these new AIM-120D-3 air-to-air missiles represents, the official statement says: “The AIM-120D-3 enhances the CF-18’s capability to intercept threats at long range and strengthens Canada’s readiness for NORAD and NATO missions, including the defense of Canada and the Arctic.” Along those lines, it is worth highlighting that the country will be able to increase its interoperability with its U.S. counterparts thanks to the integration of weapons already used by USAF fighters, with which it operates in coordination under NORAD to guarantee the protection of these airspaces; in Europe, the missile has also been acquired by close U.S. allies such as Finland and Poland.
Recalling some of the characteristics that define the AIM-120D-3 missile as such, it should be highlighted that it was developed in the context of the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) program, which included various improvements related to the circuit cards in the missile’s guidance section in order to expand its agility when engaging targets. Added to this, in light of the greater prominence of electronic warfare systems on modern battlefields, the missile incorporates additional capabilities to resist potential attempts to interfere with its systems and thus maintain its effectiveness.
Beyond the technical virtues of the weapon in question, it is also useful to highlight that its incorporation into the fighter fleet’s arsenal reflects broader modernization efforts in which the Royal Canadian Air Force is currently engaged. In this regard, it is worth noting that in October 2024 the country achieved initial operational capability for its CF-18s undergoing upgrade work, representing an important milestone for plans that envisioned the modernization of 84 aircraft to the HEP 1 standard and another 36 to the HEP 2 standard. In particular, this translated into the installation of new IFF systems, Link 16 data link systems, night vision systems, mission computer upgrades, and other associated elements.
In addition, the service is preparing to incorporate a fleet of new U.S.-made F-35A stealth fighters in order to move forward with the future replacement of the aforementioned CF-18s, getting ready for the delivery of the first aircraft to the corresponding training units during the course of this year. On the other hand, although there is still no clear decision on the matter, the country could also add a complementary number of Gripen fighters manufactured by the Swedish company Saab, which, while reducing the number of aircraft acquired from Lockheed Martin, would allow Ottawa to diversify its arms suppliers and add a greater number of fighters.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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