All 77 of Canada’s CF-18 fighter jets will be able to fly until 2025 – and even later.

That comes from Lt.-Gen. Michael Hood – the head of the RCAF.

And Hood says Canada’s allies are developing ways to upgrade the aging aircraft – to reduce risks and costs – if they are needed for even longer periods of time.

The information comes from documents filed with the House of Commons defence committee this week – as the Liberal government prepares to negotiate the purchase of 18 new Super Hornet fighter jets.

The government says it needs the Hornets to address an urgent shortage of warplanes until a competition to replace all 77 of Canada’s CF-18s can be finished – a process it says could take up to five years.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s office says Hood’s comments don’t address the fact many of the aging CF-18s are out of service on any given day because of maintenance issues.