The government has been actively considering the issue of CF18 replacement since at least the early 2000's.  I'm projecting that this decision won't be finalized until 2030 at the earliest. By virtue of vacillation, political gamesmanship, and factors wholly unrelated to the technical merit of the aircraft, billions of dollars will have been spent for naught in the process. This decision really needs to be removed from the political sphere, and delegated to an expert committee with power to make a decision within a budget approved by Parliament.