Secretary of State for Protection Procurement Stephen Fuhr stated Canada has no plans to exit the contract for the 16 F-35s already in manufacturing, with a choice pending on the remaining 72 jets.
Canada will get at the least 16 F-35 Lightning II jets to equip the Royal Canadian Air Pressure (RCAF), with a choice nonetheless pending on the remaining 72 jets out of a complete order of 88. The announcement follows the stories in March 2025 about Canada reconsidering its participation within the F-35 program following diplomatic tensions with the US.
Following these stories, Canada was stated to be contemplating leaving altogether the F-35 program and contemplating alternate options, with the Saab JAS-39 Gripen named one doable contender. Then protection minister Invoice Blair stated on Mar. 14: “Canada is actively taking a look at potential alternate options to the U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighter and can maintain conversations with rival plane makers.”
Nevertheless, no remaining choice has been made but, and it’s not anticipated to contain the 16 jets Canada already paid for.
Canada obligated to 16 plane
Canada’s Secretary of State for Protection Procurement Stephen Fuhr took half in an interview on CBC’s Rosemary Barton Dwell talk-show. One of many questions particularly concerned the potential for Canada exiting the contract after the primary 16 F-35s.
In his reply, Fuhr stated he “doesn’t assume the federal authorities plans to get out of its contract to purchase American-made F-35 fighter jets as 16 planes are presently being manufactured.” The CBC report on Oct. 5, 2025, quoted Fuhr: “I don’t assume that’s the path we’re heading. However there’ll be a choice and we’ll make it after we’re prepared.”
F-35A at Abbotsford Worldwide Airshow, British Columbia, Canada (August 8, 2025). Developed from F-22’s P&W F119 engine, the F-35’s P&W F135 is taken into account one of the highly effective operational fighter jet engines on the planet, producing over 40,000 lbs of thrust. pic.twitter.com/oWmfjtqICR
— Air Energy (@RealAirPower1) August 20, 2025
Though not acknowledged explicitly by Fuhr, a spokesperson later clarified that he was referring to the 16 jets that Canada has transferred funds for, not the whole fleet. “Canada is contractually obligated to 16 plane, that are in numerous phases of manufacturing with the producer. A choice on the complete program is presently below overview,” stated the spokesperson.
It’s unclear if Canada would have exited the whole program with none F-35 jets had it not transferred funds for the primary 16 plane. Canada is contemplating with nice seriousness the choice and the impression of the fallout with the U.S.
Canada has to date paid in full for 4 plane, and elements for eight different jets have been bought. The F-35s can be delivered to Luke AFB in Arizona, the place the primary Canadian pilots and floor crew and maintainers will endure coaching subsequent 12 months.
Canada in F-35 program
Canada is a companion within the Joint Strike Fighter program, with roughly USD 500 million spent since 1997 and Canadian firms securing F-35-related contracts for over USD 1.8 billion. The federal government determined to purchase 65 F-35s in 2010 with out competitors, nonetheless in 2015 the plan was scrapped in favor of an open competitors.
The federal government finally introduced on Jan. 9, 2023, the intent to buy 88 F-35s from Lockheed Martin in a deal valued, on the time, $13.2 billion This was a part of the Future Fighter Functionality Mission (FFCP) to interchange the RCAF’s fleet of legacy CF-188 Hornets (native designation of the F/A-18). The deliveries of the primary 16 plane are anticipated to start out by early-2026.
Canada’s then Protection Minister Invoice Blair hinted in Mar. 2025, whereas saying “potential alternate options” to the F-35, that the plan may change, and Ottawa may settle for the primary batch of F-35s whereas diversifying the remainder of the fleet. Reviews had stated that Canada might take a look at European suppliers, with Sweden’s Saab Gripen as a serious contender.
The RCAF presently operates 70-75 CF-188A/B+ jets and has additionally bought 25 older 18 F/A-18A/Bs from the Royal Australian Air Pressure (RAAF). Of those, 12 are single seater F/A-18As, six are twin-seat ‘B’ variants, whereas the remaining seven are non-flyable Hornets to be cannibalized for spares and elements. These are anticipated to proceed flying till the early 2030s.
Presumably solely 16 F-35s
Within the Rosemary Barton present, Fuhr instructed the host that Prime Minister Mark Carney “will decide [on the contract] when he’s prepared.” Proper now, there’s solely the affirmation for the primary batch, because the spokesperson for Fuhr stated “Canada is contractually obligated to 16 plane, that are in numerous phases of manufacturing with the producer.”
“There’s infrastructure being constructed out on the two foremost working bases. And when [Carney] is snug with making a choice, he’ll make it,” additional stated Fuhr. He additionally denied any ties between the choice on the F-35 and Canada’s push to barter a commerce take care of President Donald Trump. “No, I’m not contemplating that. Once more, we’re a sovereign nation. We’ll make our personal selections and we’ll stand on our personal two toes,” he stated.
The CBC additionally touched upon a June Auditor Basic of Canada (equal to the Authorities Accountability Workplace within the U.S) report that famous a whopping improve from the $19 billion price ticket to $27.7 billion for the 88 F-35As. The AG cited “inflation and elevated international demand for munitions” as two of the prime causes, since Canada would even be anticipated to purchase missiles just like the AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder, moreover presumably air-to-ground munitions.
Moreover, F-35A Lightning II-centric infrastructure upgrades are additionally required at Canada’s older bases at CFB (Canadian Forces Base) Bagotville, Quebec, and CFB Chilly Lake, Alberta, to deal with the jets. These works are additionally operating delayed, presumably including to the general cost-overruns.
Blended fleet
The potential of buying a European various just like the Saab JAS-39 Gripen had additionally shone the highlight on the logistical and infrastructural difficulties of working three several types of plane, given the varied provide chains and operational and coaching programs. Opinions are divided amongst Canada’s political and navy management.
Finish Ex! 🇨🇦🇬🇧RCAF wraps up 3 intense weeks at #CobraWarrior 25-2 with @RoyalAirForce. Day & night time ops with @NATO allies sharpened ways & boosted interoperability. Canada strengthened its function in securing airspace, wherever the missions take us.#AirPower #OpREASSURANCE pic.twitter.com/1yggofpSMb
— Royal Canadian Air Pressure (@RCAF_ARC) October 3, 2025
Fuhr is in favor of a combined fleet, telling CBC: “What occurs if you must persist in that area for months and months and years? The instrument that you simply use, is it the appropriate instrument to do this job? That’s a really simplistic manner of taking a look at it. However we have to have an entire wide selection of functionality units to take care of all of the eventualities that we might face.”
Excellent work by the Canadian 🇨🇦and Continental 🇺🇸 #NORAD areas for his or her operational excellence throughout #GlobalGuardian. Bomber missions display the credibility of our forces to deal with a worldwide safety setting that’s extra numerous and unsure than at some other… pic.twitter.com/TdzgVnyUvF
— North American Aerospace Protection Command (@NORADCommand) August 26, 2025
An Oct. 7, 2025, report by CBC quoted Deputy Protection Minister Stefani Beck telling a Home of Commons committee that Canada is continuing “full steam forward” on the F-35 “till [they] hear in any other case.” CBC additionally stated the brand new RCAF commander Lt. Gen. Jamie Spenser-Blanchet was requested in regards to the combined fleet of plane, nonetheless “She partially ducked the questions by saying the air power can be required to handle two fleets all through the introduction of the F-35 as a result of the present CF-18s are anticipated to proceed flying till the early 2030s.”
Speiser-Blanchet did, nonetheless, say that working two separate fleets can be extra expensive and complex. “It might duplicate a specific amount of infrastructure and coaching,” she stated.
From Sept 11–15, 410 Sqn deployed to CFB Comox for #FOXFRENZY25. Each day CF-18 Hornet flights supported Fighter Pilot Course and readiness coaching. This key occasion boosts prep for future CAF missions. #RCAF #CAFTraining 📸:S1 Brendan Gibson pic.twitter.com/Uyk52o67qF
— RCAF Operations (@RCAFOperations) September 17, 2025
The identical report additionally quoted retired RCAF Maj. Gen. Duff Sullivan, who supported the concept of a combined fleet, pointing to the U.S. Air Pressure’s use of F-22s and F-16s in Alaska, with Canadian CF-18s additionally used for continental protection. “So right here now we have three several types of plane, however what makes us inter-operable are our ways and procedures, not the kind of plane.”
