WASHINGTON — Canada on Monday announced plans to purchase 88 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters for CA$19 billion ($14 billion).
Defense Secretary Anita Anand, in an online briefing, said the Royal Canadian Air Force would receive its first four Lockheed Martin-made F-35s in 2026, the next six in 2027, and another six in 2028. The rest would come in subsequent years come.
The fifth-generation fighter jets will replace Canada’s current fleet of CF-18 Hornets, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s version of the F/A-18, Anand said. Canada expects the entire F-35 fleet to be delivered in time for the service to phase out the older fighters by the end of 2032.
Anand said Canada, meanwhile, has procured Australian F/A-18 fighters to supplement its CF-18s. Canada plans to upgrade its CF-18s as part of the Hornet Extension Project so they can last until 2032.
Anand said the purchase will be the Air Force’s largest naval investment in the past three decades and is necessary given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s “increasingly assertive behavior in the Indo-Pacific.”
“The F-35 is a modern, reliable and agile fighter aircraft that is used by our closest allies on missions around the world,” Anand said. “It’s the most advanced fighter on the market and the right aircraft for our country.”
Canada initially said it would purchase the F-35 aircraft in March 2022.
The US military and Lockheed welcomed Canada’s announcement in a company statement.
“Canada is our friend and close ally,” said US Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, program manager for the F-35 Joint Program Office. “The F-35 is the best in the world, providing unmatched interoperability for America, Canada and the other 15 nations that have chosen the fighter. It’s a global game changer. Through force projection, the F-35 is at the forefront of deterrence. His forward presence will continue to ensure that potential adversaries prefer diplomacy to armed conflict.”
“We are honored that the Canadian government has selected the F-35 and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Defense Industry to supply and service the aircraft,” said Bridget Lauderdale , vice president and general manager for Lockheed’s F-35 program. “The choice of [the] F-35 bolsters Allied Air Forces in Canada, North America and around the world.”
The selection marks a reversal for the administration of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said before taking office in 2015 that Canada would not buy the F-35. Anand said on Monday that the plane has since “matured”.
“We are now seeing that many of our allies… are using the F-35s,” Anand explained. “I am focused on ensuring we are delivering for the Canadian Forces and our country and our multilateral commitments. And with this aircraft, which as I said has matured, we are doing just that.”
Canada has confidence in Lockheed’s ability to deliver F-35s on time so the country can phase out its CF-18s, Anand said, noting that she has no concerns about the associated supply chain.
Acknowledging that Canada’s colder temperatures make for a “unique” operating environment, Anand said the F-35 was selected after a “robust” decision-making process that took weather into account. Noting Norway’s success in flying the fighter jet, as well as the United States’ experience flying in Alaska, she added that Canada will take steps to ensure its F-35s can operate in the Arctic.
Canada will ensure its F-35s have tow parachute capabilities to land on “short, icy, wet arctic runways,” Anand said, and that its fighters have true north navigation capabilities rather than magnetic north so they can fly precisely deep in the arctic.
Anand said Canada will build operational and training squadron facilities, including maintenance bays and simulator training, at two of its military bases, Bagotville in Quebec and Cold Lake in Alberta.
Anand also said Canada is investing in a number of infrastructure upgrades nationwide to better support the North American Aerospace Defense Command and F-35 operations.
“Together, these projects will strengthen our military advantage to keep Canadians safe and they will create economic opportunities for our country,” Anand said.
She added that the acquisition and initial maintenance of the F-35 could contribute more than CA$425 million to the local economy each year and create nearly 3,300 jobs annually over a 25-year period.
Companies in Canada have already secured nearly $3 billion from the country’s participation in the F-35 program, Anand said, which will continue to grow as Canada increases its involvement.
Stephen Losey is an air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at the Air Force Times and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover US Air Force operations.