The Royal Canadian Air Force is planning to spend about $800-million to keep its aging CF-18 fighter jets in the air until their long-overdue replacements are built.
Over a year ago, the auditor general warned the jets were at risk of being outmatched in the air due to a lack of combat upgrades since 2008.
Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger says money will pay for upgrades to the CF-18s' weapons, sensors and defensive systems so the planes can meet the threats of today and tomorrow.