Canada confirms 16 F-35 fighters, decision on the rest of the fleet still pending

Canada will secure at least 16 F-35 Lightning II fighters for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), while keeping the purchase of the remaining 72 jets from a total order of 88 under review.

The country has already fully paid for four aircraft and procured parts for eight more, which will be delivered to Luke Air Force Base in the United States, where the first Canadian pilots and maintenance crews will undergo training in 2026. Defense Acquisition Secretary Stephen Fuhr stated that there are no plans to cancel the contract for jets already paid for, while the decision on the full program is still under review.

Canada has participated in the Joint Strike Fighter program since 1997, investing around $500 million, with Canadian contracts related to the F-35 totaling over $1.8 billion.

The intent to acquire 88 jets was formalized in 2023 as part of the fleet modernization project, replacing the CF-188 Hornets. However, recent reports indicate that Ottawa is evaluating European alternatives, such as the Saab Gripen, possibly keeping only the first F-35 batch and diversifying the rest of the fleet, in light of rising costs and logistical challenges.

Canadian experts and authorities are discussing the feasibility of operating a mixed fleet. Using different aircraft models would require duplicated infrastructure, training, and maintenance, increasing costs and operational complexity. Despite this, proponents argue that maintaining varied capabilities is strategic to address different scenarios. Meanwhile, the RCAF will continue operating its CF-18s, expected to remain active until the early 2030s, while awaiting the government’s final decision on the F-35s.

Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @RCAF_ARC | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team