Forget the F-35: Canada Could Buy South Korea’s ‘F-35 Lite’ (Meet the KF-21)

In a world swirling with geopolitical uncertainties caused by the bellicose rhetoric from the White House, one of America’s oldest and dearest allies is thinking the previously unthinkable: should Ottawa cancel its investment in the American-led F-35 program and instead find an alternative elsewhere?

Dubious Partnership on F-35

Yvan Blondin, a former RCAF commander and retired lieutenant general, took to LinkedIn to express his frustration with Canada’s commitment to the F-35 program in light of the recent belligerent rhetoric from the White House and the current administration.

“The reality is that, without US consent, no country can hope to operate the F-35 for long,” Blondin wrote. “The US controls its operating software, updates, upgrades, maintenance, parts and armament. The current US F-35 program dependency on international partner parts production cannot be taken for granted either; the way US relationships with its closest allies are deteriorating, the current administration may at any time put an end to these contracts and repatriate the production of essential parts critical to its own defense, and for the 50-year-life of the program.”

“Reliance on a US defense umbrella, a critical factor since the end of WW2 for so many countries, is no longer guaranteed,” Blondin added. “No affected country can afford to close its eyes and hope that 2026 or 2028 elections in the US will bring everything back to “normal” … and not happen again. The toothpaste cannot go back into the tube. We have no choice but to consider its impact and figure out how to adjust to this newly created global insecurity.”

Blondin’s comments reflect an unprecedented sea change not only within the Canadian armed forces but among other allies across the globe: if the bedrock upon which NATO and other defense relationships were built, namely reliable and predictable American military support, is now in question, how should we best rearm and reorient our armed forces?

One solution could be fighters from other countries.

Seoul’s KF-21 Fighter

It is not just the American F-35 that is available on the stealth market anymore. Soon, other stealth fighters will hit the open export market, eyeing the globe for potential customers. And as Canada probes around for an alternative to the F-35, one foreign-made fighter in particular is presenting itself as an option for the Royal Canadian Air Force: South Korea’s KF-21.

Though secret, the KF-21’s capabilities are more likely to pale in comparison to those of its American cousin, the F-35. But could that change in the future? It would appear so.

Increasing Capabilities

Korean Aerospace Industries, the firm behind the KF-21 fighter, would like to improve the jet’s stealth capabilities.

This would include more mature stealth coatings applied to the entire airframe, conformal antennas, and—very importantly—internal weapon bays to hide the radar-pinging angles of munitions and fuel from detection inside the aircraft itself.

Other variants are thought to be in the works, too, including a two-seater variant with space for an electronic warfare officer, providing similar capabilities to the United States Navy’s EA-18G Growler. Exact configurations and the implications for export models are as of yet unclear.

The changes to the KF-21 would be a tall order for a country with an aerospace industry that, though certainly advanced, does not have the decades of experience building stealth fighters that countries with more mature aerospace programs like the United States have. However, for countries just now beginning their forays into fifth-generation platforms, lower-performance—but crucially, lower-cost—aircraft like KAI’s KF-21 could be an increasingly attractive option. Could Canada be one of those countries?

Recent Elections

The recent Canadian election saw a win for Canada’s Liberals. It ushered in a new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who, as the new Canadian leader, rode a wave of resentment against relations with the United States to the top. And with Canada hosting the G7 summit of advanced economies next month in Alberta, the time could be right to put some pressure on US President Trump and the Americans.

Though Canada has long eschewed operating two types of fighter jets, successfully arguing that doing so would create unnecessary and overly complicated logistical, maintenance, and training pipelines, the tide may be turning. While Canada has already plunked down the cash needed for its first 16 F-35s, part of what was originally seen as an order of 88 could—in theory—be curtailed.

As part of Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project, the competition that saw the F-35 earn the right to replace the RCAF’s aged CF-18 Hornets, Saab’s Gripen E came runner up. Some commentators have floated the idea of breaking with decades of precedence and operating a mixed fleet of fighters, suggesting that the Swedish Gripen E could be the lower-performance end of a high-low mix of fighters, including the F-35.

What Happens Now? 

Whether Canada retains and completes the projected F-35 fleet, opts for Swedish fighters, or buys into the fledgling but promising South Korean KF-21 program remains to be seen.

What is emerging, however, is an unmistakable trend: rattled by the United States and unwilling to leave their national security at the whim of the White House, partners across the globe are taking a cold, hard look at diversifying away from American military might.

About the Author: Caleb Larson 

Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.