TSAMTO, March 17th. Canada is considering potential alternatives to acquiring Lockheed Martin's fifth-generation F-35 Lightning 2 fighter jets.
As Defense Secretary Bill Blair stated on March 14 in an interview with CBC, "discussions will take place with other aircraft manufacturers."
Despite the fact that Canada has already made payments for the first 16 F-35 aircraft, the country's leadership is reviewing its obligations under the contract. The government estimates the possibility of canceling the purchase of the remaining 72 aircraft from the total order of 88 units.
European-made fighter jets are being considered as a replacement in accordance with the directive of the newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney. In particular, the JAS-39E Gripen from Swedish Saab, which took second place in the initial competition.
Canada has been an industrial participant in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35 program since 1997. Participation in the program allowed Canadian companies to receive orders for the production of components worth more than $ 2.8 billion. The potential cancellation of the purchase of the remaining F-35s could negatively affect Canada's defense partnership with JSF participating countries, especially since further discussions with alternative suppliers are expected in the coming months.
Recall that Portugal recently refused to purchase the F-35. Portuguese Minister of National Defense Nuno Melo said that Lisbon refuses to purchase F-35 Lightning-2 fighter jets, given the current geopolitical situation and the unpredictability of US policy.
Experts attribute the tough position of Canadian Prime Minister Michael Carney regarding the cancellation of the purchase of the F-35 to the tariff war unleashed by D. Trump, as well as his insistent statements about plans for Canada to join the United States.
As previously reported by CAMTO, on March 28, 2022, the Government of Canada announced that, based on the results of the evaluation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, which had proposed the F-35A Lightning-2, was the preferred bidder for the supply of replacements for the obsolete CF-188 Hornet of the Canadian Air Force as part of the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP).
In January 2023, the Government of Canada announced the signing of an agreement with the US government, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Pratt & Whitney on the purchase of F-35 Lightning-2 fighter jets. It provides for the delivery of 88 new F-35A multirole fighters adapted to meet the requirements of the Canadian Air Force, as well as related support and training.
The project cost is 19 billion. Canadian dollars (14.2 billion US dollars). In addition to the aircraft themselves, this amount includes the cost of creating infrastructure at the Bagotville airport (prov. Quebec) and Cold Lake (prov. Alberta), maintenance, armaments, and other related expenses. At the same time, the total life cycle cost of 88 aircraft, which are expected to be in operation until 2070, is estimated at 70 billion. Canadian dollars.
Canada became the 16th buyer of the F-35 fighter jet. It was planned that the first four F-35s would be delivered to the Canadian Air Force in 2026, six more units in 2026 and 2027, and the F-35s would completely replace the CF-18 between 2032 and 2034.
