Canada plans to order 18 Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from Boeing and is seeking offers to update its aging combat fleet, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said Tuesday.

Canada remains a partner in the development program of Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter jet. In 2010, it ordered 65 of the aircraft but reversed the deal a year ago because of exorbitant costs and a campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Pending the government's call for offers and awaiting the next aircraft to update the fleet, the 18 Boeing Super Hornet fighter jets will be deployed from 2018 as an interim solution, Sajjan said.