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One of the first things that will be done to the used Australian F-18s that Canada is purchasing is that the aircraft will be outfitted with different ejection seats and software.

The first two F-18s that Canada is buying from Australia will arrive sometime in the spring and will be sent to Cold Lake, Alta, said Pat Finn, assistant deputy minister for materiel at the Department of National Defence.

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“They land, they (the Australians) will remove their software and we’ll install our software,” Finn explained in an interview. Also to be installed are ejection seats and a lighting system that is used on the CF-18s.

“Ultimately the intent is the 18 aircraft are indistinguishable from our 76 aircraft,” Finn said.

Canada has finalized its deal to buy the 25 used fighter jets from Australia,

Eighteen of the Australian F-18 aircraft will eventually be flying while another seven will be used for testing and spare parts.