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Canada to get at least 16 F-35s
Deputy Defence Minister Stefani Beck, a top Canadian Department of National Defence official, has told a House of Commons committee on Oct. 7, 2025 that Ottawa is proceeding “full steam ahead” on the F-35 fighter program until it hears otherwise.
Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of the $27.7 billion purchase from US defence giant Lockheed Martin last spring, shortly after coming to power.
He suggested a decision on whether to buy a limited number of F-35s and look elsewhere to fill out the fleet or to proceed with the full purchase of 88 fighters would be made by late summer.
So far, nothing has been said.
“What we have as direction is to continue with the contract… with the arrangements that we have in place until we hear otherwise. We are full steam ahead, full steam ahead focused on making sure we’ve got the infrastructure, the pilots, the training in place for the arrival of those F-35s.” Beck told MPs.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is committed to buying at least 16 F-35s — four already paid for and eight with money put down on the parts. The first jets are due to be delivered next year to a US Air Force (USAF) base, where pilot and technician training will take place.
Mixed fleet of fighters
“We are public servants,” Beck said, highlighting that the decision is with the government. “We offer the facts and the decisions are made and we take guidance from our elected leaders.”
As reported by CBC News, Conservatives on the committee made it clear they’re in favour of the F-35 and anxious to see the program moved ahead.
Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, RCAF Commander and Chief of the Air Staff, was put on the spot about whether she supports the notion of a mixed fleet of fighters. She partially ducked the questions by saying the service will be required to manage two fleets throughout the introduction of the F-35 because the current CF-18s are expected to continue flying until the early 2030s.
The Government of Canada announced on Jan. 9, 2023 Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft’s procurement as a result of the Future Fighter Capability Project competition.
Replacing RCAF CF-188 Hornets
On Jul. 16 2010, the Government of Canada under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced its intention to buy 65 F-35s to replace the Canadian Forces’ 80 CF-188 Hornets.
Then, on Oct. 19, 2015 the Liberal Party of Canada under Justin Trudeau won the country federal election and in early Jun. 2016 decided to buy the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as more affordable alternative to the F-35.
But Canada’s government cancelled a planned $2 billion purchase of 18 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters because of a decision by Boeing to launch a trade challenge against Canadian planemaker Bombardier, which the US giant accuses of dumping airliners on the domestic American market.
In May 2019 the Canadian government launched a new fighter competition to replace RCAF’s CF-18 Hornets.
Lockheed Martin pitched its F-35 stealth fighter, Boeing offered the F/A-18 Super Hornet and Saab the latest variant of its JAS-39 — the Gripen E version.
Airbus with the Eurofighter and Dassault with the Rafale withdrew earlier from the competition citing concerns about meeting Canadian requirements for interoperability with US forces for NORAD security.
Photo credit: Alain Rioux via Wikipedia
