Hornets will be out in force today but no need for bug spray.
In preparation for the upcoming North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) air defence artillery exercise involving 22 Wing North Bay and the South Carolina Army National Guard’s 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (263rd AAMDC), two Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets will fly over North Bay today.
The CF-18s will be flying over the city to help the 263rd AAMDC set up their Sentinel radars and Avenger air defence artillery batteries for the exercise. People in North Bay may see and hear the CF-18s as they fly.
A versatile, world-class fighter aircraft, the supersonic CF-188 Hornet, or CF-18 as it is popularly known, can engage both ground and aerial targets. Its twin engines generate enough thrust to lift 24 full-size pick-up trucks off the ground.
As the Royal Canadian Air Force’s frontline multi-role fighter, the modernized CF-18 is used for air defence, air superiority, tactical support, training, aerobatic demonstration, and aerospace testing and evaluation.
The CF-18 has recently been put through a two-phase modernization program, a comprehensive mid-life upgrade to ensure that the Canadian Forces have a modern fighter fleet.
Because of its superior power and speed, and its exceptional tracking capabilities, the CF-18 has had great success in many military operations in Canada and around the world.
Canada's first operational deployment of the CF-18 took place during the Gulf War, when Canada sent 24 CF-18s to Qatar to participate in the American-led Desert Shield and Desert Storm campaigns. Similarly, Canada deployed 18 CF-18s to Italy to take part in the Kosovo campaign in 1999.
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, Canada’s fighter force is committed to protecting North America from future threats. As part of Operation Noble Eagle, NORAD’s mission to safeguard North American skies, CF-18s maintain a constant state of alert, ready to respond immediately to potential threats to continental security.
