This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force. List of aircraft of Canada's air forces includes all aircraft operated by the RCAF and its predecessors, current and past, while List of aircraft of the Royal Canadian Navy covers all RCN aircraft.

Current aircraft An internal National Defence military readiness report noted that about 40 percent of aircraft in the current inventory could be considered "serviceable" as of early 2025. A 2025 report by the Auditor General of Canada found that one of the RCAF's biggest obstacles was a shortage of both trained fighter pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians. AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes Combat aircraft CF-18 Hornet (CF-188) United States Multirole CF-18A/B Hornet HEP II 85 98 CF-18A and 40 CF-18B have been delivered for a total of 138. 72 CF-18As and 31 CF-18Bs in inventory, 85 in operational use."Directory: World Air Forces". Flight International, 11–17 November 2008.F/A-18A/B HornetUnited StatesMultiroleFA-18A/B Hornet HUG 3.21012 F/A-18A and 6 F/A-18B have been delivered from AustraliaF-35 Lightning IIUnited StatesMultiroleCF-35A0/8888 on order. First flight 23 September 2026Maritime patrolCP-140 AuroraUnited StatesASW/PatrolLockheed CP-140M14 Will be replaced by up to 16 Boeing P-8ACP-8A PoseidonUnited StatesASW/PatrolCP-8A Poseidon014 on order, plus 2 optionsReconnaissanceCE-145C VigilanceUnited Statessurveillance/reconnaissanceBeechcraft King Air 350ER3 Transport aircraftCC-130J Super HerculesUnited StatesTactical airlifter/SARLockheed Martin C-130J-3017CC-138 Twin OtterCanadaSearch and Rescue (SAR)DHC-6 Series 3004CC-144 ChallengerCanadaTransportBombardier Challenger 604, Bombardier Challenger 65042 Challenger 604, 2 Challenger 650CC-150 PolarisMultinationalTransport/TankerAirbus CC-150, Airbus CC-150T32 tanker and 1 VIPCC-330 HuskyMultinationalTransport/TankerA330-20039 new and used aircraft to be converted to MRTT role. First aircraft arrived in Canada on 31 August 2023. CC-295 KingfisherSpain Search and Rescue (SAR)Airbus CC-2958Sixteen aircraft ordered to replace CC-115 Buffalo and CC-130 Hercules in the SAR role.CC-177 Globemaster IIIUnited StatesStrategic airlifterBoeing C-17A ER5 HelicoptersCH-139 JetRangerUnited StatesTrainerBell 206B-31313 Airbus Helicopters H135 ordered as replacement.CH-146 Griffon United States / CanadaTrainer/Transport/SARCH-146C Mk II Griffon8185 tactical helicopters and 15 SAR. Eight armed in 2009 to escort CH-147 Chinooks in Afghanistan.CH-147F ChinookUnited StatesTransportBoeing CH-47F14CH-148 CycloneUnited StatesASW2728 helicopters delivered, 1 crashed into the Ionian Sea off the coast of Greece on April 29, 2020 while operating from the frigate HMCS Fredericton.CH-149 CormorantUnited Kingdom / ItalySAR1313 aircraft to be upgraded plus additional 3 new-build helicopters ordered Trainer aircraftCT-114 TutorCanadaAir Demonstration, proficiency flyingCanadair CL-41A24Used by 431 Air Demonstration Squadron (The Snowbirds).CT-142 Dash-8CanadaTrainerDHC-8-10243 Dash 8-400 Ordered CT-145/C-90B King Air United States TrainerC90B 7 7 Beechcraft King Air 260 ordered as replacement. CT-156 Harvard II United States Trainer 22 24 leased in 2000, 2 added in 2002. Two lost in crashes.Dassault/Dornier Alpha JetFrance / GermanyJet TrainerDassault/Dornier Alpha Jet Type A16Based in Montreal and operated by Canadian Air Combat and Electronic Warfare Support Services as well as 414 Squadron.Grob G 120GermanyTrainerG120A1423 G120 TP Ordered UAV IAI Heron Israel ISR 2 2 in service, formerly operated 3. UMS Skeldar V-200 Sweden ISR CU-176 Gargoyle 6 Known as CU-176 Gargoyle in Canadian Service. RQ-21 Blackjack United States ISR 10

Rotary Wing

Leased and contractor aircraft The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in the past decade. Transport aircraft have been leased as required. Despite RCAF marking all aircraft have civilian registration numbers.

Dornier Alpha Jet Type A 16 aircraft are operated by Top Aces for CATS (Contracted Airborne Training Services) and are based at CFB Cold Lake and CFB Bagotville.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

RCAF UAS

SAGEM Sperwer Designated CU-161; entered service in 2003, retired IAI Heron 3 leased in 2009 for use in Afghanistan; turned over to the Royal Australian Air Force in 2011

Canadian Army/RCN UAS

BAE Systems Silver Fox Acquired in 2004 by the Canadian Forces Experimentation Centre Boeing Insitu ScanEagle Designated CU-165; operated by the Canadian Army 2008–2014 Elbit Skylark Designated CU-168; operated by the Canadian Army AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven Operated by the Canadian Army AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma Acquired in 2018; operated by the Royal Canadian Navy Prioria Robotics Maveric Operated by the Canadian Army Saab Skeldar Acquired in 2019; operated by the Royal Canadian Navy and CANSOFCOM Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack Designated CU-172; 5 acquired in 2016, operated by the Canadian Army

Future procurement AircraftOriginTypeVariantNumber on orderNotes Combat aircraft F-35A Lightning II United States Multirole F-35A block 488 Ordered in January 2023. First 4 to arrive in 2026, with all 88 to be delivered by 2032.Maritime patrolBoeing P-8AUnited StatesASW/PatrolBoeing P-8A14Plus 2 options, with delivery starting in 2026. Transport aircraftCC-295 KingfisherSpainSAREADS CASA C-29516All 16 aircraft were expected to be delivered by the end of 2022. However, initial operating capability is not anticipated until 2025/26. Additional trainer aircraft for maintenance personnel arrived in 2020 without SAR equipment and not part of the operational fleet.Bombardier Global ExpressCanadaTransportGlobal 65006Plus 4 options, replacing and augmenting Challenger 604 and 650 models, starting in 2027. Trainer aircraftCT-145E Expeditor IIUnited StatesTrainerBeechcraft Super King Air 2607To operate as part of Canada's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program.CT-153 JunoFranceTrainerAirbus H13519To operate as part of Canada's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program.CT-142Q CitadelCanadaTrainerDe Havilland Canada Dash 8-4003To operate as part of Canada's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program.CT-102B Astra IIGermanyTrainerG 120 TP23To operate as part of Canada's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program.CT-157 Siskin IISwitzerlandTrainerPilatus PC-2119To operate as part of Canada's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program. UAVMQ-9B SkyGuardianUnited StatesISR11Delivery from 2028. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Canadian CF-35 is a proposed variant that would differ from the F-35A through the addition of a drogue parachute and may include an F-35B/C-style refuelling probe. In 2012, it was revealed that the CF-35 would employ the same boom refuelling system as the F-35A. Following the 2015 Federal Election the Liberal Party, whose campaign had included a pledge to cancel the F-35 procurement, formed a new government and commenced an open competition to replace the existing CF-18 Hornet. On 28 March 2022, the Government of Canada announced that the competition had placed the F-35A first and planned to buy 88 of them. Under procurement rules, the government entered into negotiations with Lockheed Martin. On 9 January 2023, the government of Canada officially ordered 88 F-35As. Of the 88 planned F-35As, only 16 have been purchased. Due to US President Donald Trump economic threats towards Canada, the Canadian government has been looking to instead buy the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. This has led to further tariff threats from the Trump administration and the US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, threatening the stability of NORAD.

General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian On 19 December 2023 the Government of Canada announced that a contract was signed for 11 MQ-9B drones, 219 Hellfire missiles, and 12 Mk82 500-pound bombs in a deal worth $2.49 billion CAD. The drones are expected to be first delivered in 2028 with full operation expected in 2033. The drones are to be stationed in 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. with 55 personnel and with 25 personnel at 19 Wing Comox, B.C. and in Ottawa with 160 staff to control the drones. Personnel will also forward deploy to northern Canada as needed.

Boeing P-8A Poseidon November 30, 2023 - Canada finalized a government-to-government agreement with the US government for the acquisition of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the RCAF. Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for up to two additional.

Airbus CC-330 Husky (A330-200) MRTT In 2022, two ex-Kuwait Airways Airbus A330-200 were selected to be converted as Airbus A330 MRTT to replace the CC-150 Polaris. The two aircraft will arrive in winter 2023 and converted by Airbus Defence and Space (mainly in Spain and repainted in France). On June 19, 2023 a contract was awarded for the acquisition of nine CC-330 Husky aircraft (mix of 4 new and 5 used A330-200), associated equipment, integrated logistic support elements, training simulator(s), and sustainment.

Bombardier Global 6500

In December 2025, the Government announced the purchase of 6 Bombardier Global 6500 to replace the C-144 Challenger fleet, with the first aircraft delivered in summer 2027.

See also

List of aircraft of Canada's air forces Future Canadian Forces projects Equipment of the Canadian Coast Guard (aircraft)

References

Citations