(Ottawa) Canada has reached an agreement with the United States government and Lockheed Martin/Pratt & Whitney to purchase 88 F-35 stealth aircraft, with the first four examples to be delivered in 2026.
Posted 10:04am Updated 10:43am
The cost of acquiring these fighter jets to replace the aging CF-18 fleet is estimated at approximately US$19 billion, with an estimated value of US$85 million for each aircraft and US$70 billion over a life cycle of about 30 years.
This amount covers related equipment and materials, maintenance services and the establishment of a training program. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026, and the fleet is expected to reach full operational capability between 2032 and 2034, according to the Canadian government’s timetable.
The acquisition of these fighter jets, which several of Canada’s allies have also opted for, is even more important in the context of the current geopolitical upheaval, Defense Minister Anita Anand instructed in a virtual press conference on Monday.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVE
Anita Anand
“It’s the right plane arriving at the right time at the best price for Canadians,” she said, praising the “modern, reliable and agile” nature of the planes, which would enable Canada “to meet its commitments,” both here as well as within NATO and NORAD.
The acquisition and initial support of F-35 fighters has the potential to contribute $425 million annually to Canada’s GDP and create nearly 3,300 direct and indirect jobs for Canadian industrial and value-added partners over a 25-year period.
end of a saga
This announcement marks the end of a buying process set in motion under the former government of Stephen Harper, which Justin Trudeau’s Liberals hoped to shove into oblivion in 2015 before eventually changing guns.
Since then, costs have skyrocketed due to inflation and the exchange rate. For comparison, according to a 2012 report by the Auditor General, buying 65 fighters should cost around $25 billion.
However, Minister Anand assured that the “very complex” procurement process had been competitive, and she argued that the past few years had also allowed the equipment to evolve and “become more efficient”.
This contract is the largest in the past 30 years for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The first four F-35s are scheduled to arrive in Canada in 2026. They are to be followed by six more aircraft in 2027 and 2028, after which the delivery rate will accelerate.
No fine is foreseen for late deliveries. “Canada buys equipment from an established production line. Given the program’s track record, we have confidence in this provider,” Minister Anand said.
A deterrent force
The Maryland-based supplier saluted Ottawa’s “honor” by targeting its devices, Mike Schmidt, the U.S. Air Force lieutenant general and the bureau’s program director, said in a statement. Spouse of the F-35.
“With its power projection, the F-35 is at the pinnacle of deterrence. His forward presence will continue to ensure that potential adversaries prefer the path of diplomacy to armed conflict.
According to the company, more than 890 of these devices are currently in use at 26 bases around the world.