The Real Reason Canada Might Not ‘Pull the Trigger’ on the F-35 Fighter

As the Royal Canadian Air Force slowly transitions to the F-35 as their primary fighter platform, the worry in Canada is that the United States could exercise a high degree of control over the Canadian stealth fighter fleet, even once the jets are delivered and already in service with the RCAF.

According to the terms of F-35 sales across the world, the U.S. government retains control over all F-35 spare parts worldwide — even those housed in foreign countries.

Canadian F-35 parts, German parts, all F-35 parts are owned by Uncle Sam.

And given the newly testy relationship between the U.S. and Canada following President Trump’s destructive trade war, Canadians are reevaluating the F-35 choice.

What would stop Washington from stoppering the flow of spare parts to sustain foreign F-35 fleets or even requisitioning F-35 parts from anywhere on the globe?

It is a concern also shared by other American allies, wary of the future actions of an American increasingly seen as hostile, if not flaky and outright unreliable.

Consternation in Canada

Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin, a retired commander with the Royal Canadian Air Force who served as its head from 2012 to 2015, said that Canada must turn away from the American platform. In a public LinkedIn post, Blondin argued that the United States is now a fundamentally different ally than it has been in the past.

“Reliance on a US defence umbrella, a critical factor since the end of WW2 for so many countries, is no longer guaranteed. 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,” Blondin said. “The toothpaste cannot go back in the tube. We have no choice but to consider its impact and figure out how to adjust to this newly created global insecurity.”

“The reality is that, without US consent, no country can hope to operate the F-35 for long: the US controls its operating software, updates, upgrades, maintenance, parts and armament,” Blondin, who served as a fighter pilot, said.

“The current US F-35 programme 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 defence, and for the 50-year-life of the programme.  Believing that the currently “allowed” Canadian production of F-35 parts is a guarantee for the future of the Canadian F-35 programme would be naïve at this point.”

International Concern Grows

It’s not just the Canadians who have lost trust in the F-35 program either. Some of the United States’ European allies have also voiced regret at choosing the F-35 as the future jet of choice for their air forces.

Rasmus Jarlov, a Danish parliamentarian, took to X to address rumors of a supposed kill switch installed on F-35s. “As one of the decision makers behind Denmark’s purchase of F35’s, I regret it,” Jarlov said. Though he dimmed on whether an F-35 kill switch exists or not, it hardly matters, as the United States can “certainly disable the planes by simple stopping the supply of spare parts.”

“Therefore, buying American weapons is a security risk that we can not run. We will make enormous investments in air defence, fighter jets, artillery and other weapons in the coming years, and we must avoid American weapons if at all possible.”

Prior Commitments

Irrespective of what Canada decides to do, America’s northern neighbor has plunked down a considerable amount of money already as a down payment on the first 16 F-35s out of a projected 88-strong total.

Though the Royal Canadian Air Force has long been loath to fly a mixed fleet of fighters and avoid the logistical, training, and maintenance complexities of such an arrangement, the question has been seriously raised.

As part of Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project to choose the replacement for Canada’s Cold War-era CF-18 Hornet fleet, Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen E came second, with some suggesting the smaller Swedish jet should get a second look for suitability as the backbone of the RCAF.

Though certainly a less capable platform, geopolitical tempers are at a roil, potentially providing the impetus for a reevaluation.

What Happens Now? 

With Canada hosting the G7 summit this summer in Alberta, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, fresh off his recent election win, will be keen to show President Donald Trump that Canada won’t be bullied around.

In addition to a strategy that emphasizes how deeply beneficial — and intertwined — the American and Canadian economies are, as well as a possible critical minerals deal, Carney could also bring up the F-35 program.

Pointing out the qualms that other allies have had about America’s reliance, not just Canadians, might be close enough to the bone to persuade skeptics of a deal with a bellicose White House. 

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.