Canada’s Defence Minister Bill Blair has announced that the country is reconsidering its planned purchase of F-35 stealth fighters from the U.S. and will be exploring alternative options. This decision comes in light of strained relations with the Trump administration and signals from both the government and the public that it may be wise to look elsewhere for military procurement.
Blair stated that Canada will be in discussions with other aircraft makers, including European suppliers such as Saab Gripen, to potentially modify their order of 88 F-35 jets. He mentioned that the first 16 F-35s, for which Canada has already paid, may be accepted, but the remaining fleet could be made up of different aircraft. This could mean a mixed fleet of fighter jets, which is something the air force has previously resisted due to the complexities and costs involved.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, has expressed their commitment to their partnership with Canada and has addressed misinformation about the aircraft having a “kill switch.” However, the potential penalties for Canada if they decide to not proceed with the entire purchase of F-35s remain unclear.
Retired lieutenant-colonel and former F-35 test pilot, Billie Flynn, believes that Canada needs to consider the implications of backing out of the contract on both the trust with the U.S. and the impact on Canadian aerospace companies involved in the F-35 supply chain. The potential move to explore other options for fighter jets signals a shift in Canada’s military procurement strategy and could have significant economic implications.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
