Canada is approaching the final of the "fighter" tender. Yesterday, December 2, the press service of the Canadian Ministry of Defense announced that the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block III aircraft dropped out of the tender for the purchase of new fighters.
Thus, two unequal competitors — Saab Gripen E and Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II - came together in the final. It is planned that the winner of the tender will be named next year, and deliveries of new aircraft will begin in 2025.
Gripen E Fighter Promo video for Canada
Canada plans to purchase 88 fighters to replace the aging CF-18 Hornet. The cost of the Air Force rearmament project is estimated at 19 billion Canadian dollars ($15 billion). Initially, the Canadian Air Force planned to purchase American F-35 fighters, but in November 2016, Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan announced that the country was officially abandoning the purchase of the planned batch. At that time, it was decided to choose new fighters for the Canadian Air Force at an open tender.
F-35A promo video for Canada
Canada's purchase of F-35 Lightning II fighters has repeatedly been the subject of political controversy. In 2010, the government of the Conservative Party of Canada announced plans to purchase 65 F-35A aircraft. However, when the Liberal Party of Canada won the elections in 2015, the new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to terminate the deal and resume procurement by tender. At the same time, Canada remained a participant in the international Joint Strike Fighter program, under which the F-35 Lightning II aircraft are being developed.
Participation of the Canadian Defense Industry in the production of F-35 fighters
Image source: thedrive.com
