As we’ve pointed out in many posts, Canada’s CF-18 Hornets are aging and obsolescent. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has needed a replacement for the Hornets for many years.
Since 2010, the Canadian government has been arguing the merits and reasons against procuring the fifth-generation aircraft. However, the actual process began in 1997.
The United States Department of Defense conceived the Joint Strike Fighter program, which produced the F-35. This program required participation from many countries, which either contributed to its manufacturing or procured it for their own armed forces.
F-35: Joint Strike Fighter Program in 1997
Since 1997, Canada has been involved in the Joint Strike Fighter Program (JSF) through the Department of National Defence (DND), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), and Industry Canada (IC).
This early involvement allowed Canadian industry to join the F-35 JSF supply chain.
Canada’s initial participation required a $10 million (in US dollars) investment to be an “informed partner” during the evaluation process. Once Lockheed Martin was selected as the JSF’s primary contractor, Canada elected to become a level-three participant (along with Norway, Denmark, Turkey, and Australia) in the project.
In 2002, an additional $100 million US from DND over 10 years and another $50 million from IC were dedicated.
This allowed Canadian companies to compete for work on the JSF program, including the airframe, systems, engines, and associated services.
Opportunities include manufacturing and services in major structural assemblies, electronic systems, advanced composites, high-speed machining, simulation and training, tooling, and sustainment.
Timeline Of Canada’s F-35 Purchase
On July 16, 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper‘s Conservative government announced that it intended to procure 65 F-35s to replace the existing 80 McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornets for $9 billion Canadian ($16 billion Canadian with all ancillary costs, such as maintenance, included) with deliveries planned for 2016.
In April 2012, the release of a highly critical Auditor General of Canada report on the failures of the government’s F-35 program prompted the media to label the procurement a national “scandal” and “fiasco.” Canadian political parties and the media were bickering over the F-35 program between the two timelines.
In September 2013, Lockheed Martin announced that if Canada did not decide to buy the F-35, then Canadian industry would lose $10.5 billion in potential future F-35-related aerospace contracts.
Company Executive Vice-President Orlando Carvalho indicated that Lockheed Martin would honor existing contracts with Canadian firms but that future contracts would go to companies in nations that buy the F-35.
In August 2014, Industry Canada released a report showing that 32 Canadian companies had received $587 million US in contracts for work on the F-35 program, an increase of $83 million US since 2013.
The F-35 Becomes A Key Point In The Federal Election of 2015
The Conservative Party and the Labor Party used the F-35 as a key issue in the upcoming election. Justin Trudeau, the leader of the Liberal Party, promised that an “open and transparent competition” would take place to choose a more affordable aircraft than the F-35.
In late October 2015, Trudeau won the election for Prime Minister by a large margin. A year later, his administration announced that Canada would purchase 18 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets as “interim” fighters, stating that flying CF-18 Hornets past their lifespan “would be imprudent and irresponsible.” (Note: 10 years later, Canadian pilots are still flying the CF-18).
In early 2017, the government announced it would not pursue the Super Hornet deal.
On June 7, 2017, the new Strong, Secure, Engaged Canada’s Defence Policy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to procuring 88 new advanced fighter aircraft for the RCAF.
The government of France and its commercial partner, Dassault Aviation, officially withdrew from the competitive process in November 2018. The UK government and its commercial partner, Airbus, followed in August 2019.
Canada Adopts The F-35 Again
On January 9, 2023, the Canadian government announced that it had finalized an agreement with the United States Government and Lockheed Martin with Pratt & Whitney to acquire F-35 fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
“Canada is confident that the F-35 represents the best fighter jet for our country at the best price for Canadians,” the government said.
Initially, the first eight aircraft would be delivered to the F-35A Pilot Training Center in Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, to enable the training of RCAF pilots. At the same time, the Department of National Defence completes the necessary infrastructure to support aircraft delivery in Canada.
Canada F-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The first aircraft is expected to be delivered to Luke AFB in 2026 and arrive in Canada in 2028.
After the war of words between President Trump and Canadian government officials, on March 14, 2025, Defense Minister Bill Blair announced that Canada was looking at potential alternatives to the F-35 due to American tariffs and talk of annexation.
This would necessitate another decade of proposals, bids, etc, and it would set the RCAF back even further. This is a fiasco entirely of its own making. This bickering over the F-35 has already stretched 15 years. What’s next?
About the Author
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
Swamplaw Yankee
May 11, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Yep: trudeau this, trudeau that. The Yankee defence structure seems to be avoiding the biggest actors in Canada. They seem amazed that their expected stealth plane cash flow from Canada has square danced from corner to corner. They seem amazed that the expected military super partner of 1939 has vanished, poof, replaced by a puny defence 1 % of GNP. Throw on a few extra mini points and the Liberal defence budget of decades can hardly keep the few military museums open.
What is wrong with the Yankee defence structure? Looking hard for square dance partners? Square dance with Mexico. Why are the laddies not burning the ass off Mexico for prompt payment for new air frames? The Mexican Cartels can purchase new F-35’s faster than the Liberal political structure in Canada. Get all the cartels to bulk buy and who needs Canada. Chuck DeVore seems right on in his projections and Zi will loan the cartels enough cash for 500 plus air frames.
The defence structures in the USA seem to be reading exclusively the MSM of Canada, the “CBC”. The bilge the CBC army of staffers ladles into the USA MSM is so leftie-pinkoe that no one even bothers to argue contrary!!
As every Yankee knows from their alphabet agencies, Canada is 100% spy free. Last one spy in Canada, was Igor Gouzenko, + who reads his third book, Titan, anymore? The USA alphabet agencies all confirm that there are zero spies in Canada. The inner beltway “knows all”!
That is why the Putin FSB and Zi triad spy cells protected the Bin Ladin HQ located in South Parkdale. These spy organizations kept the state monster, “CBC” in line, ladling bilge to the inner beltway brainiacs. There is no Muslim radical/terrorist/whatever in Canada. Yes, zip, so move along please, now!
So, every defence contractor in the USA knows there was no 9-11! Zip, 9-11. Certainly no Bin Ladin HQ working full tilt in Toronto’s South Parkdale district. Got the point, defence type laddies! The USA alphabet agencies totally refuse to show any evidence of such fictitious Putin or Zi activities in Canada! Good enough for the super efficient DNI, etc. Good enough for the MAGA elite.
Then, defence industry laddies, why the pressure on Canada? Put the pressure on Putin and Zi who run these huge “non-existent” networks in Canada. Tell these buddies of Trump that you want a few sales of the F-35 from Canada. Now!
Creating Potemkin Village media imagery in the 1945 realm, is useful, but not for any real reflection of what goes on inside Canada.
Bin Ladin was protected as muslim cash funded the HQ in Toronto’s South Parkdale for 9-11. The 2 enemies of the USA have Canada under control. Otherwise, your USA alphabet agencies would warn you of anything like 9-11! Yes! Correct! Repeat, we understand.
Canada is just not talking about a 5% GNP for the defence needs of Canada, NORAD, NATO, Ukraine, etc. Zip. The need to raise hourly wages, institute free health care for the world, DEI, Wokeism, globalist Davos blather is supreme in Canada. There is no cash for F-35 pipedream marketing, laddies.
A recession may hit, high interest rates will force out seniors from their homes, Liberal DEI + CBC will poke at the MAGA elite: that is the stealth or F-35 horse insiders tip from the Stable Boy tout sheet handout. -30-
Michael
May 12, 2025 at 6:45 am
”This is a fiasco entirely of its own making.”
Now honestly, do you think you’d be frantically writing all these articles if
A) there hadn’t been endless delays in the project?
B) Airtime/groundtime ratio had been anywhere normal? ie you get a plane you can actually use as intended when you need it?
C) The seller hadn’t started insulting, threatening, not honored existing trade agreements and de facto initiated hostile economic actions against the buyer?
Talk about trying to shift blame.
Brent Dawson
May 12, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Though in my opinion not the best choice for Canadian’s I was ok with selling out to the US and buying the f35.
Until the US went from being an ally and friend to an annoyance.
You keep quoting Yvon Blondin from 3 years ago.
Didn’t you read his last recommendation?
Here I’ll post it for you …
Canadian general who recommended F-35 deal now calls for purchase of other jets
Retired Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin says building Canada’s future fighter force solely on the American-made F-35 would be “irresponsible” given the hostility of the U.S. government.
“Reliance on a U.S. defence umbrella, a critical factor since the end of WW2 for so many countries, is no longer guaranteed,”
Blondin emphasized that Canada should not base its future fighter force solely on the F-35, as doing so would leave the country vulnerable to potential disruptions in access to critical software and maintenance.
He argued that while the F-35 is a capable aircraft, it comes with significant limitations, particularly when it comes to ensuring full control over Canada’s air defense capabilities.
Limitations like ferry range, top speed, inability to supercruise and operational tempo.
James
May 13, 2025 at 10:28 pm
You Canadians are a riot. You say the F35 isn’t good enough for you!!! LMAO! It has problems you say. What a laugh that is. Your country isn’t qualified to say anything about this jet or any other weapon system. Your military is strictly third world, barely Gen 4. You’re flying 45 year old Hornets, and you still want to debate whether to buy the American plane or start a whole new contract with Saab, which will take more years to fulfil!!! You guys are a joke. Americans had no idea how badly your military has deteriorated. We thought you were a reliable partner, but you turned out be a totally UNRELIABLE empty suit. America or NATO will not be calling on Canada in an emergency. You have nothing to give, nothing to add to the fight. No Navy, Air Force or Army. So you go on deciding what to buy, nobody cares. You have become an obsolescent joke living off of past glory. So take it easy, enjoy your “free” medical care and socialist government. America has the whole load. Thanks for nothing Canada.